Vietnam mulls July start for international flights
HANOI: Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAV) is considering resuming normal international flights, starting with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in July, Vn Express reports.
If approved, about 6,000 to 7,000 travellers are expected to enter the country each week from the three countries.
However, all passengers will be quarantined upon arrival, as per the Health Ministry protocol.
CAAV has proposed that from September, vaccinated foreigners be allowed into the country without going through centralised quarantine.
Budget airline Vietjet will resume limited flights to Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan this month, serving Vietnamese citizens wishing to study and work abroad, as well as stranded foreigners wanting to return home.
On return trips, the carrier will only carry Vietnamese citizens being repatriated or foreign experts with permission to enter the country as per government regulations.
Meanwhile, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines said it will resume international commercial flights connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with several Asian destinations, including South Korea, Japan and Australia this month.
Vietnam closed its national borders and cancelled all international flights in March 2020.
Since then, only Vietnamese wishing to return home, foreign experts and highly-skilled workers are allowed to enter the country under strict conditions.
The number of foreign visitors to Vietnam in the first quarter of this year fell 98.7 per cent to 48,000 compared to last year, as travel restrictions are in place to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Tourism companies are not optimistic about a quick recovery but see the plan as a first step.
Many are not pinning their hopes on foreign travellers and are focusing on local tourists.