A lab technician works on developing COVID-19 vaccine in Vietnam. (Photo: Ministry of Health)
Vietnam's skillful handling of the first wave of COVID-19 has received wide acclaim. Vietnam confirmed its first two cases on January 23 and had about 350 cases nationwide by the end of June. By taking timely measures, it was able to stop the spread of the pandemic and importantly, there were no deaths. This is indeed a remarkable achievement considering that Vietnam has a common land and sea border with China.
Vietnam was recognized to be a model country in the response to COVID-19 by taking a number of initiatives early and correctly understanding the nature of the challenge. Vietnam sees COVID-19 as a human enemy, declares war against the pandemic and takes all precautions to stop its spread. Vietnam has closed its borders, imposed blockades, established quarantine facilities, and carried out rigorous checks and tracing through applications. Vietnam also monitors second, third and fourth levels of exposure to infected people, and introduces strict quarantine policies.
When China announced the first death from COVID-19, Vietnam immediately began conducting health checks at the airports. Authorities suspended all flights between Vietnam and China during the first phase and subsequently all international flights. Identification and implementation of the necessary steps to isolate hot spots began early in Vietnam.
Like other countries, Vietnam also saw the second wave of COVID-19. After 99 days of non-transmission, the disease broke out on July 25 in Da Nang, spreading rapidly to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. By mid-September, 1,059 people in total have been affected and this time the number of deaths is about 35. These figures are not significant compared to figures from other countries.
Timely measures taken this time also help prevent the further spread of the disease. Vietnam resolutely suspended all flights from China, followed by all international flights shortly thereafter.
The Vietnamese Government decided to evacuate 80,000 tourists from Da Nang before the city implemented large-scale disinfection procedures to control the spread of COVID-19 and tighten travel control. The city was completely closed. A 500-bed field hospital to receive patients was established.
As in the first wave, an important aspect of Vietnam's effort is to seek cooperation from the people through an effective public awareness program. People strictly abide by the social distancing guidelines. The Government's instructions to Hanoi residents for home isolation were taken seriously. Citizens and authorities have also taken steps to reduce the negative social and psychological impact of the pandemic.
Factors behind Vietnam's success in disease control include active testing, contact tracking through applications, effective public communications, public participation and the Government’s concern to all aspects of the pandemic's adverse effects on society.
The Indian Times emphasized that, from the Vietnamese example, many things can be learned, including the fact that the pandemic can only be defeated by active testing at three levels, strict isolation of patients and preventive measures of people.
Countries exempt VN travelers from COVID-19 self-isolation
Travelers arriving from Vietnam will no longer be forced to self-isolate for a two-week period upon arrival in several countries, including Singapore, South Africa, and the UK, the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) has reported.
Vietnamese citizens are exempted from COVID-19 self-isolation when travelling to several countries.
Singapore has unilaterally removed border restrictions for visitors from Vietnam starting October 8 due to the nation’s effective control of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Individuals traveling from Vietnam can register themselves to the Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) for free between seven and 10 days before entering the island state.
South Africa has also opened up to welcome tourists from several countries, including Vietnam. The African nation requires visitors to present a negative COVID-19 test that is less than 72 hours old. In addition, South Africa will try to limit the arrival of tourists from countries that are considered high risk, including the United States, the UK, Russia, and Brazil.
Meanwhile, the UK Government has permitted quarantine-free international travel to approximately 60 “lower risk countries”, including Vietnam, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan (China), and Macau (China). Elsewhere, India and the US are also among the countries excluded from the list of nearly 60 low-risk nations.
The new measures, which had originally came into force on July 10, mean that people arriving from several green or amber destinations will be able to enter the UK without the need to self-isolate, unless they have been in or have transited through non-exempt countries 14 days prior.
Moreover, the Maldives has been open to all global tourists since July 15 without the need to go through a mandatory quarantine upon arrival at Velana International Airport. However, due to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, since September 10 tourists visiting the island nation have needed a negative COVID-19 certification 72 hours ahead of their arrival.
Dubai has also reopened to foreign tourists since July 7, with all arrivals required to produce a medical certificate showing a negative COVID-19 test result within four days prior to arrival, or alternatively undergo a mandatory PCR test at the airport in the Emirate.
In Africa, Tanzania first began to welcome tourists back in June. Since September 15, the country does not require any foreign travelers to show negative COVID-19 test results.
At present, Brazil is welcoming tourists from around the world with no restrictions, aside from being required to have health insurance for the duration of their trip.
Vietnam boosts exports to South American market
Mercosur, the South American trade bloc, is considered a potential market for Vietnamese products such as garments, footwear, handicrafts, and processed foods, despite the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic causing disruption to traditional supply chains.
Vietnam sees a positive outlook for garment and footwear exports to the South American market
The statement was shared by experts during an online trade exchange held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 1 between Vietnam and Mercosur, according to the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai noted that two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and the trade bloc has witnessed a 2.5 fold-increase for nearly a decade, from USD2.45 billion in 2011 to USD8.68 billion in 2019.
According to Hai, Vietnam has established a dialogue mechanism with almost every member of the Mercosur, while both sides are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement aimed at creating a level playing field for their businesses.
These talks are being held in the context of a resurgence of the COVID-19 epidemic, a factor which has had an adverse impact on bilateral trade exchanges. Eight-month trade between Vietnam and the Mecosur dropped by 1.66% to only USD5.53 billion against the same period last year.
Success in containing the COVID-19 epidemic is expected to create greater opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to strengthen the exchange of goods with Mercosur countries, while gradually improving the trade balance, Deputy Minister Hai emphasised.
With regard to the Argentinian market, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Duong Quoc Thanh, stated that trade turnover between the two countries has reached approximately USD3 billion over the past five years and is anticipated to reach USD4 billion this year, making Vietnam Argentina’s largest trading partner from ASEAN. Indeed, Vietnam is currently Argentina's eighth largest trading partner.
Despite this, the country’s export turnover to Argentina reached only USD500 million, accounting for roughly 1.4% of the South American nation’s total annual import demand, which has opened up bright prospects for the export of Vietnamese goods, especially textiles, footwear, furniture, handicraft products, coffee, and pepper to the South American market.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Pham Thi Kim Hoa, revealed that Brazil is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in South America, while the latter is the former’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia.
Brazilian consumers are particularly keen on Vietnamese seafood products, footwear, processed foods, beverages, and toys, although Vietnamese goods in this market remain modest, making up only 1.5% of the country’s total import turnover of goods per year.
Moving into the post-COVID-19 era, countries in South America are attempting to reshape the supply chain and diversify the supply of imported goods, therefore presenting a wealth of opportunities for local businesses to increase their exports. In addition, it offers a good chance for Vietnamese firms to expand their market share in the near future, according to the Vietnamese Ambassadors and representatives from Trade Offices based in Mercosur countries.
VOV reports that established in 1991, Mercosur includes five official member countries including, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela, which makes Mercosur the world's fifth largest economy at present./.