Day: August 2, 2021

Vietnam’s major telecom companies including Viettel, VNPT, Mobifone, CMC, FPT, Vietnamobile, and SCTV have announced a joint support package worth 10 trillion (435 million USD) for consumers across the country.

The package, which will roll out on August 5 and end in November, will double the speed of internet cable services for all internet users. Telecom companies will also provide users with a bump of 50 percent of their cellular data at no additional cost while slashing by half the cost of the most popular data packages.

All traffic to websites with COVID-19 information such as the Ministry of Health and the virus tracking and reporting site Bluezone will be free of charge. Telephone users in areas in which social distancing is in effect under Government Directive 16/CT-TTg will automatically receive 50 minutes of same-network calls, free of charge.

The telecom companies said they want to make it as easy as possible for people to work and study from home, in light of stricter social distancing measures that are now in place in many parts of the country.

Furthermore, Viettel, VNPT and Mobifone will contribute 5,000 VND from each data package purchased or extended by users to the National Fund for COVID-19 Fighting and Prevention.

Viettel, VNPT, FPT and CMC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communications, will also introduce 17 online platforms designed to help citizens follow, report and track the development of COVID-19 within the country.

“The telecommunication sector has been doing its best to ensure the unimpeded flow of accurate and positive information. It is also building digital platforms and applications, to help citizens learn about preventing the spread of the virus,” said the Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung.

“This package is another step taken by the sector to support the people of Vietnam in the fight against the virus. The country will surely overcome the virus to emerge in the new normal, as a stronger digitalised society,” he said.

The ministry lauded telecom companies for their contributions to the national effort to fight off the pandemic. Since the beginning of 2020, telecom companies in Việt Nam have rolled out numerous discounts, support packages and COVID-19 awareness campaigns worth over a billion US dollars. Of that, the big three Viettel, VNPT and Mobifone, have contributed over 900 million USD.

Speaking to companies in the sector, Minister Hung stressed the importance of supporting businesses and citizens in difficult times.

“In good times, people use services provided by telecom companies and help the sector grow. In difficult times such as this, it’s their turn to return the favour,” said the minister.

“Good businesses must look to nurture their market,” he said.

“During the pandemic, the Internet has become, at times, the only means of communication available to connect citizens and the government,” he said. “The stricter social distancing measures are the more demand there is for online communication.”

“Communication has played a vital role in sending help to where help is needed the most.”

The minister said COVID-19 is a good opportunity for the sector to ramp up the speed of the country’s digitalisation. For example, increasing cellular data limits without slowing down traffic speed presents the sector with a challenge that requires companies to make additional investments in technology and infrastructure networks. This will pay off in the long term when the country makes a strong economic comeback post-pandemic.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam Electricity (EVN) is working to implement electricity price reduction for consumers to help ease the impact of COVID-19.

The total reduction this time is estimated at 2.5 trillion VND (nearly 109 million USD).

This period included, EVN has carried out four price reduction phases during 2020 and 2021 with the total amount adding to 16.3 trillion VND (710 million USD)

The EVN’s move is made under the Government’s Resolution No. 83/NQ-CP issued on July 31 on a plan to reduce electricity prices (phase 4) for customers affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.

In addition, the Government also agreed to reduce 100 percent of electricity bills for designated concentrated quarantine facilities including military barracks, military schools, and other facilities designated by authorised state agencies.

On August 1, the Government Office issued a document on Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai’s instruction regarding the reduction of clean water and telecommunications fees for consumers affected by the pandemic.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The capital city of Hanoi’s competent forces have worked with the health centre of Hai Ba Trung district to tackle a cluster of 20 new COVID-19 infections detected at a food company in the locality immediately after receiving a report on the cases.

On August 1 afternoon, the forces came to the district regarding the outbreak at Thanh Nga food company at No 82, Alley 651 (82/651), Minh Khai street, Thanh Luong ward.

It identified that there are five other firms located at the same alley with the company, which has two premises.

With 43 employees, Thanh Nga’s main office is at 15/651, Minh Khai street, and its cold storage at 82/651, Minh Khai street.

All positive cases have been under treatment, with the number of F1 cases amounting to 17 and 750 other people with links to the epidemic spot had samples taken for COVID-19 testing.

On August 1 evening, local authorities of Thanh Luong ward decided to temporarily block the alley and a number of surrounding locations to set up a medical quarantine area.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A number of movies will be screened nationwide from August 19 to September 5 to mark the 76th year of the August Revolution (August 19) and the National Day (September 2), according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The films include “Hanh phuc cua me” (Happiness of a Mother), documentaries “Chung mot coi nguon” (Sharing the same root) and “Sac xuan tren tho cam” (Colours of Spring on brocade) and animation “Nguoi thay muon doi” (Teacher of a Lifetime).

The screening will only be organised in localities where COVID-19 has been brought under control and theater-goers must comply with guidelines by the Ministry of Health.

In case the event cannot be held, the movies will be screened in the upcoming occasions.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Enterprise Development Agency has teamed up with the Amazon Global Selling Vietnam to launch a programme for firms interested in export via e-commerce.

The 90-Day Amazon Launchpad programme is part of the ministry’s Go Digital Go Global aid package for enterprises’ digital transformation during 2021-2025, aiming to help small- and medium-sized ones bring their products to global markets using digital tools and platforms. Amazon Global Selling is among partners of the package.

Deputy head of the Enterprise Development Agency Bui Thu Thuy said she hopes the initiative can support the group in boosting their exports and building their trademarks in international markets.

During 90 days participating in the programme, enterprises will be equipped with knowledge and guidance in switching to trans-border ecommerce platforms, and expanding their export channels via such platforms including Amazon.

They will be assisted in building business plans, receive 1-on-1 instruction from the Amazon Global Selling Vietnam team, and access other support activities.

Eligible participants must operate in the consumer goods sector, target export to the US and the EU, and commit to building a workforce on ecommerce.

Amazon estimated that more than 1.9 million small- and medium-sized firm are doing business on Amazon’s e-commerce sites, with the profit of third-party sellers on Amazon reaching 25 billion USD.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Quach Thi Lan, the last Vietnamese athlete still in the Olympics, ended her journey in Tokyo after finishing 6th out of eight runners in the 400m hurdles first semi-final on August 2.

Under heavy rain, Lan finished with a time of 56.78 seconds. This is 1.07 seconds and 1.48 seconds less than her previous performance in Heat 3 of the qualifiers and her personal best, respectively.

First place belonged to the defending Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad (the US) with a time of 53.33 seconds while Jamaican Janieve Russell finished second to go through to compete in the final.

Despite being defeated, Quach Thi Lan’s journey will be one to remember. She had the best performance in the history of Vietnamese athletics.

Of 40 athletes, Lan was the only athlete to compete in the Tokyo Olympics through a wildcard entry and the only unranked athlete in the top 24 best runners in the semi-finals.

Vietnam’s 43-member Tokyo Olympics 2020 delegation including athletes, coaches and staff will return home on August 4.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 23,180 VND per USD on August 2, unchanged from the last working day of the previous week (July 30).

With the current trading band of +/- 3 percent, the ceiling rate applied to commercial banks during the day is 23,876 VND/USD and the floor rate 22,484 VND/USD.

The rates listed at major commercial banks saw slight fluctuations.

At 8:30 am, Vietcombank listed the buying rate at 22,825 VND/USD and the selling rate at 23,055 VND/USD, both up 5 VND from July 30.

Meanwhile, BIDV cut both rates by 5 VND, listing the buying rate at 22,825 VND/USD and the selling rate at 23,055 VND/USD.

Source: Vietnam News Agency