Public buses at the Mien Tay (Western) Bus Station in HCM City. All public transport in the city has been suspended for 15 days from July 9. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City has suspended public transportfor 15 days from July 9 to contain the spread of COVID-19.
All public buses, taxis, inter-provincial buses, contract taxis, andride-hailing cars and motorbikes will go off the roads.
But vehicles used to transport goods and materials for production and food andother basic necessities, and shuttle buses that carry workers and experts areallowed to ply.
But they can only carry half their designed capacity and no more than 20passengers at a time, and must be disinfected each time before picking up andafter dropping off people.
All passengers must wear a face mask at all times and keep a minimum distanceof two metres from others.
They must fill out a health declaration form and have their body temperaturemeasures before boarding.
City authorities will work with neighbouring provinces to secure permission forvehicles carrying goods and workers to pass.
A fixed number of taxis have been arranged to carry people to hospitals andhealth centres.
They have been instructed to keep their windows down and not use airconditioners.
Shipping goods by motorbike is allowed but the delivery people are required towear masks, frequently wash their hands with sanitiser and keep a safe distancefrom customers.
The city has also decided to shut all inland ports and ferry services alongrivers for the 15 days, except the ferries between Nha Be and Can Gio districts,HCM City and Dong Nai province, Can Gio and Can Giuo in Long An province, and CanThanh and Thanh An and Thanh An and Thieng Lieng in Can Gio.
But those in operation can only carry 50 percent of their capacity and have tobe equipped with disinfectants.
Passengers must wear masks and maintain social distance.
Traffic police and other inspectors will closely monitor the ferry services.
The city made its earlier lockdown more stringent from July 9 under Directive16 as COVID-19 showed no signs of slowing down.
Since May 31 it had social distancing under Directive No 15, which included theclosure of non-essential services and businesses, but there continued to behundreds of new infections daily./.
Air passengers are required to present a valid negative coronavirus test result before travelling from/to Ho Chi Minh City, according to a new directive by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) on intensifying COVID-19 response.
The third batch of COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine, donated by Japan, arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on July 9 morning.
Five more COVID-19 related deaths in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap were confirmed on July 9 afternoon, pushing the nation’s death toll to 110.
Air passengers are required to present a valid negative coronavirus test result before travelling from/to Ho Chi Minh City, according to a new directive by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) on intensifying COVID-19 response.
Hanoi is advancing green transportation as part of its sustainability goals but faces challenges like limited charging infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and high electric vehicle costs.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Public buses at the Mien Tay (Western) Bus Station in HCM City. All public transport in the city has been suspended for 15 days from July 9. (Photo: VNA) 
