Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the above request when concluding a regular Government meeting on Covid-19 prevention on the afternoon of December 1. Passengers on all flights returning to the country must be quarantined for 14 days.
Mr. Mai Tien Dung, Minister and Head of the Government Office, explained that international commercial flights reopening from mid-September will stop picking up passengers to Vietnam, only maintaining flights taking passengers from Vietnam to other countries. This is to control the epidemic and strictly control the quarantine of people entering the country. Flights to rescue Vietnamese citizens abroad will still be maintained for those in difficult circumstances, the elderly, weak, low income... The Government will consider reopening commercial flights from abroad at an appropriate time.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized the spirit of "being calmer and more determined", the entire political system must take stronger action, raise responsibility and vigilance in all localities. Localities must implement the 5K message (masks, disinfection, distance, no gatherings, medical declaration), first of all wearing masks and disinfection.
Crew and passengers on flights from Europe to Hanoi landing at Van Don airport (Quang Ninh) in March 2020
Previously, on November 30, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam announced that it would arrange 33 flights per week to bring citizens from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan back to Vietnam, with full payment, from December 1 to January 15, 2021. However, after the Prime Minister's directive to temporarily suspend international commercial flights, the above proposal will be suspended. Vietnamese people who want to return home will contact the Embassies and be returned home on rescue flights; quarantined at facilities managed by the military. There are still 10 flights per month to South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan under the rescue program.
Since early April, Vietnam has stopped all commercial flights with other countries. After that, some airlines have resumed international flights, but only carry goods into and carry passengers from Vietnam. Passenger flights into Vietnam are carried out with permission from the authorities, passengers are citizens in difficult circumstances, experts, businessmen, high-tech workers... and are all quarantined to prevent the epidemic.
Localities are required to implement the 5K message (masks, disinfection, distance, no gatherings, medical declaration)
In September, the Government allowed the aviation industry to resume commercial flights to six countries and territories. However, airlines are only allowed to pick up passengers one way from Vietnam, not the other way due to the lack of epidemic control procedures for people entering the country. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has piloted two commercial flights from South Korea to develop epidemic control procedures.
After two pilot flights, the reception of commercial passengers from abroad was temporarily suspended pending the Ministry of Health's issuance of the "Entry procedures and medical monitoring and quarantine to prevent Covid-19 for commercial entrants".
