Authorities in Hanoi have decided not to organize fireworks shows and outdoor countdown events on New Year's Eve as in previous years in order to prevent the gathering of large crowds amid the surge in daily infections over the past weeks.

People attend a countdown event near Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake in downtown Hanoi, December 31, 2020.

The capital city of more than 8 million people has recorded over 42,000 infections during the fourth coronavirus wave that hit the country late April. It has seen a surge in daily infections over the past two weeks, becoming the country's Covid epicenter, prompting local authorities to suspend on-site dining in many downtown districts and tighten pandemic prevention measures.

Hoi An will also cancel an art program planned December 31 to welcome the New Year as the town has recorded a series of community transmissions over the past days with unclear transmission source.

The ancient town plans to welcome over 400 domestic tourists on tour packages containing visits to the town and local traditional craft villages with strict pandemic prevention measures on the first day of 2022.

Authorities in Thua Thien-Hue Province have also decided to suspend a countdown event scheduled to be held in the downtown area of Hue on New Year’s Eve and to postpone the January 1 launch of a night street zone around Hue's Imperial Citadel.

Over the past week, Thua Thien Hue has recorded nearly 400 new infections every day, more than half of which are community transmissions.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had last week ordered a ban on large gatherings during the New Year and Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays over the worsening pandemic situation and rising concerns about the Omicron variant.

HCMC is among several localities to have announced to cancel New Year's Eve firework shows.

Hanoi allows foreign arrivals to self-isolate

Those that have been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 will only need to self-isolate for three days when arriving in Hanoi from abroad.

President congratulates Hanoi Archdiocese ahead of Christmas

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited and presented gifts to the Hanoi Archdiocese and the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics (CSVC) in the capital city on December 23, on the occasion of the upcoming Christmas season.

Exhibition displays Hanoi’s bamboo and rattan handicraft products

An exhibition opened in Hanoi on December 21, introducing visitors to bamboo and rattan handicraft products as well as products which have qualified for the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme in the capital city.

ASEAN Women Community in Hanoi visits Bac Giang

(BGO) - A delegation including diplomats, ambassadors and spouses, representatives of some embassies in Vietnam visited Bac Giang province on December 12. This delegation was led by madam Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, spouse of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Honorary President of ASEAN Women Community in Hanoi (AWCH).

Hanoi to set off fireworks at one site only on New Year’s Eve

Hanoi has planned to set off high-altitude fireworks at Thong Nhat Park only, which will be broadcast live on television on the upcoming Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Source: VnExpress