Vietnam News Highlights for May 21, 2023

Vietnam to announce the end of Covid-19 disease

A Covid-19 vaccination day in Hanoi. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

The Vietnamese Government is considering the declaration of an end to Covid-19 in the country, despite the discovery of new clusters in recent weeks, thanks to the successful containment of previous outbreaks and vaccination efforts.

Vietnam has recorded over 6,700 Covid-19 cases and 47 deaths since the start of the pandemic, with the majority of cases being reported in the latest wave that began in late April. The World Health Organization no longer sees Covid-19 as a global health emergency but still a threat.

Black Pink may perform in Vietnam next year

The Vietnam Record Association (VietKings) has announced they may invite South Korean girlband Black Pink to perform in Hanoi next year. The show is scheduled for March 16, 2024. VietKings has yet revealed further information about the show.

Blackpink is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment in 2016. The group comprises four members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. They are known for their music which blends elements of pop, hip-hop, and electronic dance music, as well as their powerful vocals, synchronized dancing, and fashion-forward image.

IMF predicts Vietnam’s growth to double global average

Vietnam’s economic growth can be twice as high as the global rate, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, has told Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sideline of the expanded G7 Summit in Japan’s Hiroshima.

The IMF official stated that Vietnam has been experiencing steady economic growth in recent years, with a strong focus on manufacturing and exports, and this projection by the IMF reinforces the country's potential as a major player in the global economy in the coming years.

Vietnam, Britain set up first freight route

The first cargo flight route between Vietnam and Britain has been launched to better raise bilateral trade. The flight departs from London Stansted Airport on Wednesday night to arrive at Noi Bai International Airport on Thursday afternoon (Hanoi time) with an estimated layover time of four hours in Turkmenistan.

The return flight leaves on Thursday night and arrives in London on the morning of Wednesday of the following week. The route is expected to boost bilateral trade between the two nations, which reached some 6.9 billion pounds (US$8.6 billion) in 2022. International trade firm TT Meridian will manage the route.

Vietnam calls for higher effort to keep peace in Myanmar

Minister Counselor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, has urged related parties in Myanmar to stop violence, facilitate peace talks, and guarantee human and medical accessibility for all people. She stressed that the people and authorities of Myanmar should take the lead to resolve their problems with further support from international communities.

Earlier in May, an aid convoy came under fire in Myanmar, but no officials were harmed. The ASEAN later criticized the attack, claiming the Five-Point Consensus on peace restoration for Myanmar has made little progress.