Addressing the nation Vietnam's worst coronavirus wave yet, he said the pandemic was developing rapidly and in a complicated manner, causing great harm to people's health and all other aspects of life.

Protecting the health and lives of the people remains the foremost priority, and everyone, including people in Vietnam and outside the country, needs to push further and not let the coronavirus get any chance to take hold and proliferate in the community, he said.

The Party, the government and other authorities must remain resolute and expend all resources to fight the pandemic and stand ready to tackle all situations that arise, he added

"We will absolutely defeat the pandemic. We must," Trong stressed.

Vietnam has recorded 124,565 local Covid-19 cases after the fourth coronavirus wave hit the nation late April. HCMC alone accounts for 81,781 cases.

The death toll under the new wave stands at 828, taking the overall pandemic tally to 863.