Prone areas of flood

Tourists wear face masks at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok in August 2020 (Photo: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai government on March 4 unveiled its “ area quarantine ” plan to open Thailand to foreign tourists from next month. Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed details of the plan after meeting with the Ministry of Public Health and 216 tourism operators. Area quarantine will be piloted in five provinces popular with foreign tourists – Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani (Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan) and Chon Buri (Pattaya). The plan will be operated via 29 travel agencies supervised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Under the plan’s timeline, tourists will quarantine in their rooms for the first three days and then be swab-tested for COVID-19 at their hotels. If they test negative, they will be granted access to the whole hotel or resort until their 14-day quarantine ends. After 14 days they will be tested again. If … [Read more...] about Thailand to run quarantine areas for foreign tourists next month

In Bac Lieu (Photo: VNA) Bac Lieu (VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu is attracting foreign investment and experience to support the socio-economic development of ethnic minorities . By 2025, the province will draw official development assistance (ODA) and preferential loans, especially non-refundable aid, for socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas based on demand and potential and on the principle of preserving and upholding traditional cultural identities and protecting the environment. It will give priority to dealing with shortages of land, housing, and water for daily use among ethnic minority households; and developing agro-forestry and investing in key infrastructure, education, scientific research and technological transfer in production connectivity models via value chains. Further attention will also be paid to healthcare, child malnutrition prevention, gender equality, and addressing urgent problems faced by women and children. … [Read more...] about Bac Lieu attracting foreign investment for ethnic minority areas

The houses are for poor and near-poor households and those from ethnic minority groups in Dak Rong, Huong Hoa, Cam Lo, Gio Linh, and Vinh Linh districts, which were all hit by flooding and landslides last year. They are scheduled for completion by May 24. Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri People’s Committee Ha Sy Dong asked local authorities and beneficiaries to coordinate closely to ensure that the houses are completed on time with high quality. The province will continue to mobilize resources for the construction of public works serving local people, he went on, especially those in mountainous and ethnic minority areas and those prone to natural disasters. The historic flooding last October in Quang Tri killed 53 people and left two missing, while destroying more than 2,000 houses and inundating 110,000 others. Total losses were estimated at over 4.25 trillion VND (183 million USD). Source: VNA … [Read more...] about ADB helps build resilient houses for disaster-hit families in Quang Tri

The command’s representative answered a number of questions of the delegation on the training, combat readiness as well as role of the region’s armed forces in supporting localities to respond to climate change, natural disaster prevention and assistance in easing difficulties for local people, poverty reduction and the building of new-style rural areas. On behalf of the delegation, Colonel Mpiwa Kgotso Abiel thanked the command for the warm welcome and highly valued its achievements in the cause of construction and protection of Vietnam. He also said that the visit was a good opportunity for military attachés to Vietnam to exchange and learn more about the Vietnam People's Army in general and the region’s armed forces in particular. Translated by Thuy Duong … [Read more...] about Foreign military attaché corps visits Military Region 9

During his virtual talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on March 5, Arreaza congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 13th National Party Congress, while praising the Southeast Asian country’s efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic as well as in maintaining economic growth momentum. Minh briefed on Vietnam’s situation and the outstanding outcome of the 13th National Party Congress as well as the country’s COVID-19 response measures and solutions to promote socio-economic development and ensure social security. He affirmed that Vietnam supports efforts by the constitutional government of Venezuela to promote political dialogue on the basis of respecting Venezuela’s Constitution and aspirations of Venezuelan people, thus gradually solving difficulties and boosting socio-economic development in the current context. The two officials focused their discussion on measures to further enhance the friendship and cooperation … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Venezuela seek to beef up friendship, cooperation