More than 130,175 tonnes of rice sourced from the national food reserve will be provided for 24 cities and provinces to aid people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a decision issued on August 20.

The Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control of Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Duc city presented gifts to foreigners living in the city who are hit by the pandemic.

VOV.VN - Joining frontline forces in the COVID-19 fight has so far left soldiers unperturbed as they strive to reach various virus hotspots in order to contribute to the country’s ongoing fight against an invisible enemy.

VOV.VN - The Ho Chi Minh City administration has moved to intensify social distancing measures against COVID-19, with local residents not permitted to leave their homes starting from midnight on August 23.

Korean firm HLB has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, producer of Vietnam's Nano Covax COVID-19 vaccine candidate, to acquire the rights to distribute the vaccine worldwide, except in Vietnam and India, when the vaccine is approved for use.

Nineteen southern provinces and cities have provided relief aid for more than 635,000 freelancers with a total amount of nearly VND911 billion (US$40 million).

Vietnam calls on the international community to strengthen cooperation to jointly respond to climate change, Deputy Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at a regular press briefing held via videoconference in Hanoi on August 19.

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam at present, had vaccinated nearly 5.1 million people as of August 18, according to the municipal Department of Health.

VOV.VN - AstraZeneca has transferred an additional 1.2 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam as part of the 30 million dose contract it has signed with a Vietnamese partner.

VOV.VN - The Ministry of Health recorded an additional 10,654 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours to 6 p.m. on August 19, including 10,639 domestic infections and 15 imported cases.

VOV.VN - Between seven and nine storms and tropical pressures are forecast to activate in the East Sea from now until the end of the year, with up to four storms directly impacting the Vietnamese mainland, according to National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting on August 19.

VOV.VN - Field hospital No. 14 being ran by Hue Central Hospital has been put into operation in Ho Chi Minh City, providing treatment for 600 COVID-19 patients who are in a critical condition.

VOV.VN - Hanoi should not rush any decision regarding when to end social distancing measures as scheduled due to a number of F0 cases still being among the community, according to several medical experts.

VOV.VN - The authorities of the capital have continued to implement the second phase of mass COVID-19 testing with the aim of assessing 13 different high-risk groups through the RT-PCR method between August 18 and August 20.

A Vietjet Air flight carrying 10 tonnes of relief goods worth EUR616,100 (US$720,000), donated by German friends and Vietnamese people living in the country, is scheduled to depart from Hamburg for Ho Chi Minh City on August 19.

VOV.VN - The central province of Da Nang launched its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on August 19 for 41,000 local residents.

VOV.VN - Many residents of Da Nang city have been given a range of essential items from local businesses and benefactors in order to deal with the week-long lockdown imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

VOV.VN - Five members of a family residing in Di An city in the southern province of Binh Duong died on August 18 after their house caught fire.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam met Watanabe Kazuyo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Children's Care League (ACCL) on August 18.

VOV.VN - Vietnam has confirmed an additional 8,800 new coronavirus cases during the past 24 hours, raising its cumulative caseload to more than 300,000, while 298 more fatalities have been recorded nationwide, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported on August 18 evening.

The Vietnam Environment Administration has compiled 15 draft regulations on environment-related standards which will be promulgated this year as a foundation for the implementation of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection that takes effect from the beginning of 2022.

VOV.VN - As many as 13,145 healthcare workers from northern and central provinces have volunteered to join frontline forces in the south to combat COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City is currently treating 2,090 children under the age of 16 who have been infected with COVID-19, according to the southern city’s Center for Disease Control (HCDC) on August 18.

VOV.VN - Ten crewmen on aboard D.P ship anchored at Lan Ha bay of Hai Phong city have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to the Hai Phong Department of Health.

The first batch of aid from the Honorary Consul of South Africa in Ho Chi Minh City has been delivered to two military-run temporary COVID-19 hospitals based in nearby Binh Duong province.

Vietnam will come out victorious in the battle against COVID-19 with compassion and unity, Aaron Johnson, an American freelance filmmaker and Youtuber who has resided in Vietnam since 2013, told the Vietnam News Agency.

VOV.VN - Hanoi on August 18 began the second phase of mass COVID-19 testing targeting 13 high-risk groups of people through the RT-PCR method.

VOV.VN - A foreign man has been taken to a police station in Ho Chi Minh City after he was caught violating social distancing rules and challenging on-duty officials.

VOV.VN - The European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) launched a new and ambitious fundraising campaign on August 17 in an effort to support Vietnam’s ongoing battle against COVID-19.

Trade union organisations under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) have so far spent more than VND1.22 trillion (US$53.38 million) from the VGCL's budget and raised donations to help over 1 million members, particularly workers, to overcome COVID-19-related difficulties.