The Ho Chi Minh City Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs has called on the Vietnamese community abroad to join hands with the city in controlling COVID-19 pandemic.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked airlines and airports to support the transport of people from Ho Chi Minh City and southern cities and provinces, which are being hit by the worst-ever COVID-19 crisis, to their hometown.

Ho Chi Minh City is piloting the use of a mobile app developed by military-run telecom group Viettel to continuously monitor close contacts with COVID-19 patients, or F1 cases, who are under home quarantine.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on July 17 reported that it had received more than VND1 trillion (US$43.47 million) in donations from organisations and individuals for the city's COVID-19 prevention and control fund since March 30 last year.

VOV.VN - In the first week of a 15-day social distancing period in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest economic hub, city residents and citizens across Vietnam have stayed united to help each other through this difficult time.

VOV.VN - The national infection tally rose to more than 51,000 after the Health Ministry confirmed a further 2,472 fresh cases of COVID-19, including 18 imported on July 18 morning, with Ho Chi Minh City continuing to suffer the most infections at 1,756.

VOV.VN - A further 1,612 new COVID-19 cases, including 1,600 local cases and 12 imported infections, were recorded on the evening of July 17, with Ho Chi Minh City registering the highest number of infections with 2,786 for the whole day.

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City has established a 1,000-bed hospital in an effort to treat severe COVID-19 cases, according to information provided by municipal authorities.

VOV.VN - TripAdvisor has named two Vietnamese activities among the world's 25 best travel experiences, including a motorbike tour from Hue to Hoi An and a street food tour of various delicacies found throughout Ho Chi Minh City.

FV Hospital has been selected by the French Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City as the vaccination centre for the French community living in southern Vietnam.