Proposal to open international flights at the end of July

According to a report sent to the Ministry of Transport last weekend, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has proposed studying the gradual restoration of regular international commercial flights bringing passengers to Vietnam from the end of July.

These international flights are opened according to the "Intra-bloc travel" or "Travel bubble" model as applied by some countries in the world, and can be opened to countries with no new infections in the community for 30 consecutive days.

Planes parked at Tan Son Nhat airport. Photo: Quynh Tran.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the "intra-bloc travel" model means that countries allow entry for their own citizens or foreigners with residence cards and businessmen, technical experts, students... Upon entry, people must quarantine for 14 days at home or at a government-designated accommodation facility (for a fee). Self-quarantine at home is strictly controlled by the government using technology.

However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam recommends not to limit the number of visitors but to expand the number of tourists, on condition that visitors meet epidemic prevention regulations before entering the country.

Accordingly, passengers coming to Vietnam must have been in the partner country/territory for at least 30 consecutive days before taking the flight, and transit passengers are not accepted. In addition, passengers must have a negative nCoV certificate issued within 3 days before the expected flight date.

Upon arrival at Vietnam airports, passengers are tested quickly; the testing costs are covered by the airline. Inbound passengers must stay at locations determined by the provincial/municipal People's Committee and pay a fee.

To implement the above plan, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam proposed that the Ministry of Transport report to the Prime Minister and assign the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss with diplomatic agencies to unify and coordinate the connection of regular aviation activities.

Dinh Viet Thang, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said that some Taiwanese airlines have proposed to open routes to Vietnam. Domestic airlines also have plans to reopen international routes.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, some countries such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have opened their borders with each other within the Baltic bloc, creating opportunities for businesses to reopen. Travelers from outside the bloc still have to self-isolate for 14 days.

Australia and New Zealand have also proposed a Trans-Tasman sharing arrangement, where citizens of one country would be able to travel and work in the other without a visa.

China is considering expanding its "intra-regional mobility" beyond mainland China to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau...

At the Government meeting on June 24, the Prime Minister proposed increasing the frequency of flights to bring investors, experts, and skilled workers to Vietnam as well as sending Vietnamese people abroad to work and study if that country agrees.

All experts, high-level workers, and investors are allowed to enter Vietnam with appropriate quarantine measures. However, Vietnam has not yet opened its doors to tourists. The Government will consider opening international commercial flights based on the international and regional situation, and the specific timing will be calculated by the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.