Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has given the green-light to the planned resumption of regular international commercial flights to a number of countries and territories in Asia and the United States starting January 1, 2022, the Government’s Office has announced.

Aircraft at Noi Bai International Airport. (Photo: VNA)

In the short term, flights will operate between Viet Nam and Beijing/Guangzhou (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (the Republic of Korea), Taipei (Taiwan, China), Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Vientiane (Laos), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and San Francisco/Los Angeles (the US).

The flights will be operated based on the guidance from the Ministry of Health on medical measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring safety, efficiency and smoothness, Minh said at a meeting on December 9.

He ordered the ministry to urgently issue the medical guidance, which should be discussed with experts and businesses, for passengers entering Viet Nam on regular international commercial flights.

Earlier, during a meeting with Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, representatives from various ministries have raised the possibility of allowing arrivals who are fully vaccinated arrivals or recovered COVID-19 patients with negative tests to self-quarantine for seven days upon entry, without the need to undergo mandatory concentrated quarantine like the current protocol.

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Information and Communications are told to immediately discuss and publish a medical declaration software applicable to air travel to facilitate the declaration of passengers, activities of aviation enterprises as well as medical monitoring, control and tracing of people on entry, he said.

The Ministry of Information and Communications is required to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, and press agencies to disseminate information so that people can clearly understand the purpose and meaning of restoring regular international commercial flights as well as ensuring safety and effectiveness in the pandemic prevention and control, he said.

The Ministry of Transport will direct and guide airlines to restore regular international commercial flights according to the approved plan, and promptly assess and make adjustments in accordance with the real situation, he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is requested to coordinate with the Ministry of Health to reach agreements with other countries and territories on mutual recognition of "vaccine passports", prioritising the areas where international commercial flights will be restored, he said.

Source: VNA