First Routine International Flight Since Pandemic Takes Off from Vietnam

Flight VN310, conducted by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, left Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi at 6.30am for a five-hour journey to Narita Airport in Tokyo.

It marked the beginning of the resumption of regular flights to a number of selected countries in Asia since planes were grounded back in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Onboard were Vietnamese trainees, workers, and experts heading back to Tokyo to continue their studies and work after months of disruption.

It also carried a number of Japanese citizens heading home.

All 60 passengers boarding the Vietnam Airlines flight had to present a mandatory proof of a negative coronavirus tests (PCR diagnostics) issued three days before the flight, declare their travel history in the 14 days prior and download contract tracing apps as per health protocols set by the host country.

The flight crew will all undergo health examinations and be quarantined when they returned to Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines is set to organise two more flights from Hanoi to Tokyo on September 25 and 30, and one from HCM City to Tokyo on September 30.

Budget carrier Vietjet has also announced resumption of flights to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (China) starting September 29.

Meanwhile Bamboo Airways said they are preparing to open Hai Phong-Singapore, Hanoi and HCM City-Melbourne flights in the fourth quarter of this year, Hanoi and HCM City-London, and Hanoi and HCM City-Munich, Frankfurt in the first quarter of 2021 after the Government decides on further resumption of international flights.

The resumption of flights from Japan to Vietnam, are still waiting for a final decision from the Vietnamese Government.

International flights to and from Vietnam were grounded late March after the Government imposed border closures against all foreign entries.

Since then, Vietnamese airlines only carried out a number of irregular flights to repatriate Vietnamese citizens overseas or bring in a limited number of foreign investors, highly skilled workers, experts, business managers, diplomats.

During yesterday's meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked for higher frequency of commercial flights, with the detailed plans to be approved by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh as well as Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, chair of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Earlier, Vietnam Government decided to reopen international flights to six Asian destinations – Japan, South Korea, mainland China, Taiwan (China), Cambodia, and Laos – all important partners and deemed to be epidemiologically safe, as the country aims to balance COVID-19 prevention with economic development.

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