A long way back

Greetings from the Ambassador of Finland to Vietnam and Laos

Ambassador Kari Kahiluoto in Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. Photo: Matti Tervo
Ambassador Kari Kahiluoto in Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. Photo: Matti Tervo

As many diplomats, I regularly read The Economist on a weekly basis. It’s edition in the end of April, early May, covered the issue of economic recovery from the corona-pandemic. The punchline was the idea of 90 %, most would be recoverable – but not all. The world will change – yet we do not know how, but it will not be the same.

Vietnam and Laos share much similarities, but in much they differ. Laos is a LDC-status developing country, while Vietnam is strongly integrated in the world economy and a lower middle income nation.  Laos has all abilities for an early recovery, but the country will need concerted support from the international community. Vietnam is highly dependent on global recovery and renewal of integration.

Vietnam is a champion of globalization, but at the same time the country is highly dependent on international trade, investment, exchange, contacts – all of which were highly interrupted by the pandemic.

Vietnam has succeeded with a resolute and well-managed policy of very strong measures to isolate, track and care for corona-cases and as such to prevent a major domestic cross contamination in the country. Numbers on the pandemic in Vietnam, a country of nearly 100 million citizens, are astonishingly low and admirable as such. Vietnam is now taking first steps towards normalization.

In both Laos and Vietnam it is reasonable to assess that the opening of society and the economy is taking place inwards, but outwards the policy of isolation is strict – even stricter than before. The economic and social costs of the pandemic will be high and they will have an impact on the recovery of interaction between Vietnam, Laos and the outside world.

Our goal and aim must be clear. People must be able to move and interact again. This is not only for business and trade, for people-to-people contacts and for tourism. The daily regular interactions of life need to be returned.

But it will still be some way to go. 

 

Travelers intending to return to Finland are recommended to take advantage the existing commercial flight connections. Travelers intending to stay in the area are responsible of their own travel arrangements including matters relating to visas to Vietnam. The Embassy continues to serve Finnish citizens and permanent residents of Finland according to the Consular Services Act.

Travel restrictions in Laos are still implemented and international flights are suspended. The Embassy publishes information and updates on its website and Facebook-page(Link to another website.). Travelers intending to stay in the area and those who reside in the area permanently are still recommended to submit a travel notification in www.matkustusilmoitus.fi(Link to another website.).