Vietnam to resume regular international flights from January

Flights will be connected first to nine destinations: San Francisco or Los Angeles (the U.S.), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Vientiane (Laos), Beijing/Guangzhou (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), and Taipei (Taiwan).

The resumption aims to restore international passenger transport activities, speed up economic and tourism recovery as well as faciliate overseas Vietnamese’s visits for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said in a government directive.

He also stressed that the international flight resumption was necessary but must ensure effective pandemic control.

The Ministry of Health is tasked to consult experts, businesses and the public to issue new entry guidelines for people entering the country on regular international flights.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to coordinate with the health ministry in speeding up early negotiations to reach an agreement with other countries and territories on mutual recognition of “vaccine passports,” prioritizing key areas where flights would be resumed from January.

The ministries of Health, Public Security, Information-Communications should soon come to an agreement and publish the medical declaration software generally applicable to air travel in order to facilitate the health declaration process for passengers, the operation of businesses as well as monitoring and tracing of entries.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam on Wednesday instructed the health ministry to issue new guidelines allowing fully vaccinated passengers to self-isolate upon arrivals.

Currently the ministry requires foreign arrivals to quarantine for seven days at designated facilities and their own expense.

Vietnam grounded international flights in March last year, allowing in only its nationals, foreign experts, investors, and highly-skilled workers.