Thai, Cambodian localities prepare for on-site teaching, tourism resumption
Thailand is planning to resume on-site teaching in Bangkok capital next month, while Siem Reap province of Cambodia is shifting its focus on making sure that this international tourism hub is read to welcome tourists back.
A resident in Bangkok gets vaccinated against COVID-19 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand is planning to resume on-site teaching in Bangkokcapital next month, while Siem Reap province of Cambodia is shifting its focus onmaking sure that this international tourism hub is read to welcome touristsback.
Khachit Chatchawanit, Permanent Secretary of the BangkokMetropolitan Administration, told local media that 33,048 out of the 37,466high school seniors in Bangkok who had registered for a vaccine have receivedtheir shots as of October 17. Meanwhile, 29,252 junior high school students whohave registered will be vaccinated by October 20.
School staff who have yet to be vaccinated will receive acombined formula of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, he noted.
On-site teaching in Bangkok will resume under universalprevention guidelines, with classrooms and schedules being re-arranged toreduce contact. The measure also limits classes to 25 students per room.Students and staff must wear face masks, be vaccinated, and get tested withantigen test kits on the first day of school.
District offices, public health service centres and otheragencies will randomly test at least 10 - 20 percent of students and educationpersonnel with antigen test kits two times each week. In addition, students andeducation personnel must record daily timelines. Outdoor activities must adhereto the public health guidelines set by authorities.
Thailand began a vaccination drive targeting children aged12 - 17 on October 4 with the aim of inoculating 5.04 million students nationwidein preparation for the reopening of educational institutions in November. ItsFood and Drug Administration recently approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine forchildren aged 12 and over.
Thailand has to date recorded 1,793,812 infections ofCOVID-19, including 18,336 deaths. Most of the new cases and fatalities havebeen recorded since April 1, when the third wave of the pandemic began.
In Cambodia, Governor of SiemReap city in Siem Reap province NounPutheara told Khmer Times that theadministration will boost the construction of the 38-road project to befinished before the end of this year as planned.
During the lockdowns, many road projectswere left abandoned due to the shortage of workers. The famous Pub Street wasliterally a ghost town with abandoned buildings and shuttered shops.
Putheara pledged to push the projectforward and keep track to make sure that 100 percent of the roadworks arecompleted, adding that some sectors rely on the roads so it is now a priorityin order to welcome local and foreign tourists back.
During the Pchum Ben holiday fromOctober 5 to 7, the Angkor heritage site in Siem Reap welcomed over 35,000visitors, according to the Authority for theProtection of the Site and Management of the Region of Angkor./.
Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said his ministry plans to implement travel bubbles this year along borders such as Trat province and Cambodia’s Koh Kong province.
Reopening the tourism industry to vaccinated foreigners from November will help drive GDP growth and sustain business confidence of Thailand, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The number of COVID-19 infections detected in the community in Laos remains high, while Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh has tightened pandemic prevention measures.
The administration of Cambodia's Phnom Penh capital on the evening of October 14 continued extending administrative measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from October 15 to 28.
Addressing the ceremony, Indonesian Ambassador Simon D.I. Soekamo, the rotating Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Cuba, highlighted the bloc's spirit of friendship and solidarity, and reaffirmed ASEAN's core values of peace, stability, and prosperity through cooperation and dialogue.
Vietnam’s pavilion notably displayed traditional crafts from the centuries-old lacquerware village of Ha Thai and Chu Dau ceramics. The atmosphere was further enriched by delegations wearing their countries’ traditional costumes, including the elegant ao dai and the graceful ao tu than of Vietnamese women.
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
A resident in Bangkok gets vaccinated against COVID-19 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
