Here are today’s leading news stories:

Politics

-- Vietnam’s 15th National Assembly opened its first extraordinary session in Hanoi on Tuesday to make several urgent decisions related to socio-economic recovery and pandemic prevention and control.

COVID-19 Updates

-- The Ministry of Health on Monday documented four more imported Omicron cases in Hai Duong, Hai Phong, and Thanh Hoa, raising the number of Omicron infections in the country to 24.

-- Authorities in Hanoi have ordered the suspension of in-person learning along with multiple other restrictions in ten districts that are currently at high risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Society

-- A downpour accompanied by peaking tidal water submerged multiple streets in Ho Chi Minh City at dusk on Monday. The weather pattern is forecast to repeat on Tuesday.

-- Many streets at Hanoi’s entrances were congested on Monday evening as people flooded back to the capital following their three-day holiday to celebrate the 2022 New Year.

-- A total of 64 traffic accidents occurred across Vietnam, killing 38 people and injuring 35 others, during the 2022 New Year holiday lasting from January 1 to 3, according to the national traffic safety committee.

-- Many people were upset after having to pay for rapid COVID-19 testing before entering Co Chin Temple in the northern city of Hai Phong on Monday.

-- Police in the southern province of Binh Duong confirmed on Monday they were investigating a case where a man was found dead inside a truck after it caught fire early on the morning of the same day.

Business

-- Vietnam’s rice output topped 43.86 million metric tons in 2021, up 1.1 million metric tons year-on-year, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as saying.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!