Flights take off after lockdown.

Tran Huong Giang (27 years old, Hanoi) took a trip to Nha Trang with her family in early November, right after flights resumed. Giang fully complied with the airline's regulations by receiving both doses of the vaccine at least 14 days prior to her return to normal health and completing the health declaration. At the airport, Giang brought hand sanitizer, a face mask, protective glasses, and maintained social distancing in crowded areas.

Giang shared: “Compared to before, there are clearly fewer flight and accommodation options, as many cities have not yet agreed to reopen for tourism, and I will have to plan carefully before deciding where to go. I feel very happy that tourism is back, but I am also quite worried that people's awareness is not good enough, which could lead to an outbreak.”

According to data from the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority, after the reopening of air routes last October, a total of 109,246 domestic and international flights were operated nationwide. This is 38.3% less than the same period last year. Flights are expected to increase towards the end of the year, but many people are not yet enthusiastic about traveling, as there are still things to consider and careful preparation needed before each trip.

Currently, for domestic flights, passengers need to meet one of three conditions: proof of having received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, a certificate of recovery from Covid-19, or a negative test result at least 72 hours before the flight. If passengers reside or stay in an area with a Level 4 outbreak or under medical quarantine or lockdown before the flight, a test result is mandatory.

Thao Vi (24 years old), currently working as a ground support flight attendant for Bamboo Airways, shared: “Before, when I heard news about F0 and F1 cases, I was very worried, but after witnessing colleagues and friends around me receiving positive test results every day, and myself constantly being identified as an F1 case, I'm no longer as anxious as I was at first. Even if I were to unfortunately become an F0, I think what's important is to remain calm and optimistic; there's no room for worry anymore.”

In addition to the domestic flights currently in operation,international flightsConnections are also starting to resume. According to information on the Vietnam Airlines website, the airline has resumed international flights, but the number is still limited.

In November, the highest number of flights was 12 from Vietnam to Australia. Besides that, there were flights to Japan, Thailand, and South Korea (4 to 8 flights per country), and the US, Germany, Taiwan, France, and Russia (1 flight each).

Nguyen Quoc Huy (30 years old), currently working as a flight attendant for Vietnam Airlines, shared his thoughts on international flights: “Currently, international routes have not fully reopened, but customers can choose between two options: buying tickets from domestic or foreign airlines. Each country has different standards that need careful consideration. For example, when traveling to Europe, people who have only received one dose of vaccine can fly, but upon arrival, they will need to be tested and receive a second dose.”

“Airports in Europe and Japan are only 40-60% of their previous passenger volume, but they've become bustling again,” Huy added, describing the atmosphere at some international airports. “Some places in Europe have allowed people to remove their masks in well-ventilated areas and only require them to wear masks in enclosed spaces. Life outside is no longer as gloomy as it appears online, as people have become accustomed to the new normal. Many places already have a festive atmosphere for the upcoming Christmas.”

Currently, although people have more options to travel to several destinations around the world, return flights are still unavailable, so most tourists remain hesitant to plan their trips. Furthermore, not many people are ready for travel due to the backlog of work after the long period of lockdown. Therefore, while the tourism situation at the end of the year will improve, it won't be a dramatic breakthrough to offset the losses suffered by the service industry last year.

Huong Giang shared: “Because of the backlog of work, I’m quite busy. I’ll be opening a bar at the end of the year, so I’ll probably only be in Hanoi.” Similarly, Quang Thang, a young student, said: “After I finish my exams, it will be January, close to Tet (Lunar New Year). I’ll choose to go home to prepare instead of traveling at this time.”

Nguyen Thanh Tung (25 years old) is a flight attendant for Vietjet Airlines. Tung's flight attendant certificate expired in May 2021, but due to social distancing, he hasn't been able to retake the exam. This December, Tung will fly to Ho Chi Minh City to take the exam. "I'm very excited to be back in the skies, looking forward to flying again to earn more income for the end of the year. This year, I won't be going anywhere and will dedicate all my time to work, because I've been almost unable to work all year. I'm also not too worried about the pandemic anymore since passengers all have to comply with regulations before boarding the plane," Tung said.

"You have the right to be afraid. However, be afraid for a reason, not without cause," added Nguyen Quoc Huy, a flight attendant for Vietnam Airlines. "Before each trip, be proactive and thorough in your preparation. Traveling during this period gives us the opportunity to equip ourselves with timely and useful knowledge about the disease. Then, if you are afraid, it will be a reasonable fear, instead of meaningless panic."

April