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Foreign embassies in Vietnam issue travel advisory on Covid-19 complications

by hanoitimes.vn Leave a Comment

With the expansion of the Covid-19 pandemic, foreign embassies in Hanoi recommended expats avoid leaving Vietnam.

As the Covid-19 pandemic is expanding, foreign diplomatic representations in Vietnam have updated the situation either in their websites or Facebook pages, helped their citizens carry out administrative formalities to return home and warned them not to leave the Vietnam.

The Biristh embassy in Vietnam told Hanoitimes via email that the embassy highly appreciated the Vietnamese government’s response to Covid-19. “The system has been quick to identify and isolate cases. The WHO has commended the response,” the embassy wrote.

The embassy has advised all British citizens in Vietnam to follow and update information about Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice. “We are providing consular assistance to the British people affected. We advise all British nationals in Vietnam to follow our travel advice, which is kept under constant review,” the embassy wrote.

The Embassy of Norway to Vietnam has also advised Norwegian expats to avoid non essential abroad travel from March 14. “Travelers should follow news and travel information from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the advice may be updated rapidly,” the embassy wrote in its website.

The Finnish embassy in Vietnam re-posted information of its Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ Facebook and Twitter.

“Many countries are placing travelers arriving from Finland under quarantine for 14 days,” the Ministry posted. “The coronavirus pandemic is having unprecedented effects on travel and tourism. Several countries are closing their borders and imposing restrictions also on internal movement.”

The ministry required travelers to be resilient and able to deal with uncertainty. It requested  travelers to stay at their travel destinations until airlines resume their regular operations. Travel businesses and airlines are requested to help all Finns return home.

Since the EU Commission decided to lockdown the EU for 30 days from March 17 to limit the spread of the coronavirus, many governments of the Schengen Area have announced their decision to stop issuing visas in all of their embassies and consulates abroad.

As the EU currently has the highest number of coronavirus infections outside China, some countries such as the US have banned flights from all EU countries altogether at least until mid-April. The main measure governments are taking to fight the virus is to restrict travel from the affected countries, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com, collecting coronavirus-related news from EU countries.

The US embassy in Hanoi has also announced that walk-in visa services are temporarily suspended at the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and at the US embassy in Hanoi.

Passport complaints flood in as long delays create travel chaos

by www.abc.net.au Leave a Comment

Overseas travellers are at risk of having their plans thrown into chaos as the Australian Passport Office continues to struggle under record-breaking demand.

Key points:

  • Families are waiting months for passports, and having travel plans put at risk
  • The passport office says to expect to wait six weeks
  • The office says it is receiving up to 15,000 passport applications per business day

That frustration is translating into hundreds of complaints to the Commonwealth Ombudsman over the past 12 months.

Elesha Steadman was one of those who made a complaint after waiting almost three months for her five-year-old daughter Ayla’s passport, which she said was yet to arrive.

Ms Steadman was told to expect the application process to take six weeks, but allowed four months for them to arrive.

She contacted the Australian Passport Office in early August and was told her daughter’s application had not progressed at all, but would be made a priority and would be available after seven days.

Almost two weeks later with no contact, a different call centre operator said there was no telling how long it could take.

“It’s the lack of communication that I have found to be quite appalling, throughout the process,” Ms Steadman said.

“I’m frustrated with the miscommunication, or the lack of honesty and transparency in the actual delayed wait time.”

She said she spoke to the passport office call centre on Tuesday, and was told she may have to line up at its Brisbane office within 24 hours of her flight.

“She said, ‘Well, people just have to cancel their flights’,” Ms Steadman said.

Traveller’s mercy dash for passport

Cooroy resident Scott Lowe said he applied for passports for his five-year-old son and two-year-old daughter in May, allowing three months for them to arrive.

“We launched both of their passports on the 18th of May, which was a Wednesday at 10am,” he said.

He and wife Nat both grew up in New Zealand, and their trip would introduce their young daughter to her extended family.

Mr Lowe began to worry when his son’s passport had not arrived at the eight-week mark.

Then he started making calls.

He was told the passport application would be escalated.

“Two weeks later, heard nothing, so rang again and it was the same PR spiel over the phone, and they put another escalation on it,” he said.

From there, he was told there was nothing more to be done.

So he contacted the offices of his local MP, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Prime Minster Anthony Albanese.

On Monday, five days before the family was due to fly out of Brisbane, they were told their passport had been printed and was ready for collection.

Frustrations drive flood of complaints

The Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman handles complaints about federal government departments and offices.

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From July last year to June 2022, the Ombudsman received 649 complaints about passport delays, the equivalent of almost two every day over 12 months.

It has already received 101 complaints on the same topic in the past six weeks.

In a statement, the Office of the Ombudsman said it was working with the passport office to “assess how it is managing application volumes and communicating processing times”.

“We understand processing times have improved in recent weeks, and this is evidenced by reduced complaints to our office during August 2022,” the statement reads.

Passport office says it’s doing its best

The Australia Passport Office defended its processing efforts in a statement through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

A spokesperson said most people had their passports back after six weeks, but applications for children could take longer.

“This is shorter than the average processing times seen in other countries following the reopening of international borders,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the passport office doubled its staff since late May — from 730 to 1,500 — and they were working overtime “to ensure travelling Australians can receive their passports as quickly as possible”.

The office also warned those hoping to travel abroad on the upcoming school holidays to have their applications in early.

“As school holidays draw closer, the APO’s advice to Australians is to plan well ahead of their intended travel dates, including renewing or applying for their passport.”

Posted , updated

Flight attendant shares big mistake most passengers make when on plane

by www.dailystar.co.uk Leave a Comment

Thousands of Brits are heading on holidays for the summer, hopping on planes to arrive at their sunny destinations.

But, there are some mistakes many members of the public make while flying – from resting your face on the window to going barefoot to the loo.

Plenty of flight attendants have spoken up about these practices before and warned they are unhygienic.

READ MORE: How to get a flight upgrade – travel experts share 6 easy hacks

But, a cabin crew member recently revealed yet another mistake passengers are making while flying.

One that many of us will never have even thought about.

Arina Bloom commented that people need to wear sunscreen while flying.

She claimed that passengers are at a higher risk of sunburn while on a flight.

In an article for Insider , she said: “You may feel protected from the outside elements when you’re on a plane. But after take off, as the aircraft passes through clouds, the sun only gets stronger.

“Up in the sky, the sun that comes through the window is very powerful, which can lead to you getting exposed to more UV light than normal.

“It’s important to wear and reapply sunscreen before and during the flight.”

We all know that sunburn damages the skin and can lead to wrinkles, discolouration and an increased risk of cancer, so make sure you follow her advice and slap some factor 50 on your skin before you hop on the plane.

After all, nobody wants to start their holiday with a scorched face.

Arina’s not the only flight attendant to have commented on the matter.

Cierra Mist, who has 3.1million followers on TikTok, often posts about her life as an air hostess.

She also noted that flight attendants wear suncream at all times while flying, explaining: “We do this because we fly around in a metal tube at around 35,000 feet every single day and that’s really close to the ozone layer.

“In fact, we’re so exposed to radiation that health insurance will label us the same as an astronaut or a radiologist.”

What are your must-have essentials for a flight? Let us know in the comments below.

READ NEXT:

TUI passenger denied boarding plane to Spain due to little known passport rule

by www.express.co.uk Leave a Comment

Shirelle Quinn and Freddy

Shirelle Quinn and Freddy were unable to fly due to a travel rule brought in after Brexit (Image: Shirelle Quinn)

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Shirelle Quinn and her son Freddy were due to fly to Alicante in Spain from Newcastle Airport on Saturday morning, August 13. However, when they arrived at the airport, TUI check-in staff told them they could not board the plane.

As Spain is one of the 26 countries which make up the Schengen Area of free movement, passports must have been issued within the previous 10 years upon the arrival date into the EU and must be valid for at least three months from the return date of travel. This rule came into effect when the UK left the EU.

Shirelle’s passport was issued on August 9 2012, so she was turned away as TUI staff could not guarantee she would be permitted entry into Spain when she arrived, reports Chronicle Live.

She had used a third-party online passport checker which said that her passport was valid for travel, but it turned out this was not the case.

This rule meant that the holiday she had forked out £2k for had been lost – or so she thought when leaving the airport.

Shirelle, from West Boldon, South Tyneside, said: “I was just gutted for my little boy. He was in tears, but I was quite calm.

She continued: “It wasn’t the staff’s fault, it was my own. They couldn’t let me fly because I might have been refused entry when I arrived in Spain.”

However, the quick thinking mum, who works as a buyer for Purely Drink in Sunderland, jumped straight in her car and headed for the passport office in Durham, more in hope than expectation.

Within hours, she was issued a passport and had rebooked flights for Sunday morning with Ryanair – though it has meant she’s had to pay another £457 for flights and £177 for a new passport.

Her Majesty's Passport Office in Durham

Her Majesty’s Passport Office in Durham (Image: NCJ Media)

Shirelle continued: “The passport office couldn’t have been more helpful, they did it there and then.

“I’m delighted, while I was waiting I went up to the centre of Durham and bought the lady in the passport office a big bouquet of flowers, she was absolutely lovely.

“I did a little skip out of the passport office and they were all looking at me!”

Shirelle’s error means that she has not been entitled to any money back from TUI, who she originally booked the package through.

She added: “I’ve paid everything out of my own pocket and TUI rang me to say I need to find my own way to the hotel.

“So TUI hasn’t been very helpful at all, but the passport office has been spot on.”

Shirelle and Freddy have since touched down in Spain and are enjoying their well-deserved break.

Trending

A statement from TUI read: “We understand Ms Quinn’s disappointment in being unable to travel on her holiday as planned.

“We must always follow the FCDO’s passport validity guidance which clearly state passengers’ passports must not be more than 10 years old on the date they enter their destination.

“Unfortunately Ms Quinn’s passport did not meet this requirement and we therefore could not allow her to board the flight.

“We always do our best to support customers and this passport guidance is available on the TUI website during the booking process.

“It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that their travel documents are valid for the destinations they are travelling to, as clearly stated in the booking process.

“As Ms Quinn has booked a new flight with another airline, we advise her to reach out to her travel insurance provider to see if they are able to support with compensation or refunds for any services lost.”

Marbella 2022: what to do in 48 hours: clubs, restaurants, activities and MORE

by www.hellomagazine.com Leave a Comment

Marbella travel guide: From the newly opened Ocean Club to dinner with a show, check out our top recommendations for eating, drinking and partying at La Sala, Mamzel and more

A trip to Marbella can mean something different to everyone. For some people, it is a place to bring your youngsters for a holiday of sandcastles, suncream and sea. For others, it is for wellness, with the island teeming with spas and fitness retreats. But for most – and certainly for us during our visit – it is for the party scene. So how do you make the most of a weekend in the glittering Spanish city? Find out here…

MORE: The show-stopping hotel resort in Greece that you will want to visit asap – Kivotos, Mykonos

Day one: party at Ocean Club

A must-visit destination – and the purpose behind our trip – is the newly refurbished Ocean Club, located in Puerto Banús just a stone’s throw from golden sandy beaches.

The club’s reputation proceeds it, as one of Europe’s most loved beach clubs, the guests expect a luxurious, relaxing visit with upbeat and fun vibes, particularly when the party really gets going, and they are not disappointed. Stepping into the cool club, dotted with cabanas, each with their own champagne bucket while a huge, bright blue lagoon dominates the space, it feels like you have stepped onto a playground for the famous – or at the very least an influencer or two.

This is a day-long activity, trust me. With the venue opening its doors at 11 am and not closing until 9 pm, the club is ready for lunch, dinner, and party – while the rest of the time you are being entertained by dancers and drummers who party around the pool while you can sit there, legs dangling into the water, with a cocktail of your choice. Bliss.

Everything about the club appears to be beautifully thought out, with even the cocktails having a very special story behind them. Two-time Cocktail World Champion Mario Hofferer created a line of bottled cocktails exclusively for the club, which we enjoyed in an ice-filled glass.

As for the food, thank God the saying is no carbs before Marbs. We couldn’t resist trying out some of the divine options, including the cheese-drenched Nachos with beef, fillet steak with a mouth-watering peppercorn sauce, and perhaps the most amazing lobster linguine I have ever tried. Our wonderful host, Javier, was audibly thrilled when I ordered it, his favourite thing on the menu. You were right, Javier!

For more information and to book, visit oceanclub.es

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WATCH: Check out Ocean Club

For evening: La Sala

If 9pm is much too early for you to hit the hay after a day of sunbathing and cocktails, then it’s time to have a costume change and find somewhere to eat. We adored La Sala Puerto Banus, a brilliant, uptempo eatery teeming with live music and fun – and some great food. We would absolutely recommend the Chateaubriand if you want a special something to share with a friend, beautiful!

To book, visit l asalabanus.com

Day two: Kayaking adventure

What is a weekend trip with at least one activity? Feeling full and well rested after our party day, we headed to the beach for a spot of kayaking in the Mediterranean Sea. Whether kayaking, paddle-boarding or just buying an inflatable and floating is more your thing – it is always worth a dip in that famously beautiful ocean. Just watch out for the super yachts!

For evening: Mamzel

As we discussed whether we had overdressed for a restaurant we had been invited to try out, our taxi driver smirked at us and said, correctly, that we’d clearly never been to Mamzel before. Pulling into the car park – complete with Lamborghinis parked up – I saw what he meant. Mamzel is the ultimate place to visit for dinner in Marbella.

Not only is the cuisine absolutely perfect, among our favourites being the black cod in ramen, beef skirt, tuna tartar and the king crab salad, but the night also turns into magnificent chaos as you are treated to a show before the night becomes an all-singing, all-dancing party until 3 am.

To book, visit mamzelmarbella.com

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MORE: Rochelle Humes reveals her Mykonos hotspots

Where to stay in Marbella

A hotel that will put you right in the middle of the action, Gran Hotel Guadalpin Banus 5* is located just minutes away from the best and brightest clubs and restaurants, meaning that your entire trip can be more or less walking distance. The hotel itself is impressive, with roomy balconies for one to sit in their dressing gown and play a little music before getting ready for a big night out, and a gorgeous pool with a great swim-to bar.

Their breakfast buffet – any night owls who went a little too hard the night before will like to hear – is one of the best I’ve ever been to. Fresh omelettes are being made to request, pancakes, waffles, fruit, fresh pastries and a juice bar are all at your disposal, enjoy.

To book, visit www.granhotelguadalpin.com

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