Every day there are 2 North - South passenger trains stopping at Vinh station.

In accordance with Directive 16, all public passenger transport activities in Nghe An are temporarily suspended. Vinh Airport and bus stations are all closed.

According to the reporter, these days, Vinh airport only has a few cleaning workers. All international and domestic flights have stopped operating.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Son - Head of Ground Services, Vinh International Airport said: Previously, Vinh Airport welcomed and delivered about 6,000 to 6,500 passengers per day, but from April 1 until now, it has stopped completely. According to the plan, it will be temporarily suspended until April 15, then wait for further instructions.

The second floor of Vinh International Airport terminal is deserted. Photo by Viet Phuong

It is known that Vietnam Airlines in its latest announcement said that it has reduced domestic flights from 35 to 8 with about 10% of the total number of seats compared to the regular plan from March 28 to April 15, 2020. The remaining flights are maintained at a minimum frequency to serve urgent special needs with the strictest epidemic prevention standards, mainly the Noi Bai - Tan Son Nhat route and vice versa.

Previously, the Civil Aviation Authority requested airlines to limit the provision of air transport services from Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat international airports to other airports nationwide; Gradually reduce flights to the maximum level in the period from April 1-15 or longer depending on the announcement of the competent state agency on the Covid-19 epidemic. On the plane, passengers are arranged in a row of seats at least 1 seat apart; ensure a minimum distance of 2m between passengers when queuing for check-in procedures and boarding the plane...

The airport is temporarily closed, only a few officers and employees are assigned to handle internal work and cleaning. Photo: Viet Phuong

Similarly, during the peak period to prevent the epidemic, bus stations in the province also stopped operating.

For railways, the entire network has only one pair of Thong Nhat trains running the entire Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route. Specifically, the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City railway route only organizes one pair of passenger trains per day, the SE3/4 train.

Train SE3 departs from Hanoi at 7:25 p.m. and arrives in Vinh at 1:15 a.m.; SE4 departs from Saigon station at 11 p.m. and arrives in Vinh around 11 p.m. the next day. The train stops at Vinh station for about 5-10 minutes.

To circulate goods to serve the socio-economy and take advantage of the capacity due to the reduction of passenger trains, Vietnam Railways Corporation has increased the operation of freight trains, especially organizing additional fast freight trains on the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route with travel time almost the same as passenger trains.

Ms. Dung - a ticket seller at Vinh Station said: People who need to travel by train during this time can book tickets online or come directly to Vinh Station. While road and air routes in the area are limited, this only train has brought salvation to many people who really need to travel at this time. However, passengers accepted to board the train must also undergo strict epidemiological checks by railway staff.

Implementing Directive 16 of the Prime Minister on urgent measures to prevent and control the epidemic, there is currently only 1 train on the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route and vice versa. Photo: Viet Phuong

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung - Head of Transport Management Department, Department of Transport said: Implementing Directive 16 of the Prime Minister, the Department of Transport has directed business units and bus stations to stop operating all types of passenger transport on fixed routes between provinces, within provinces, contracted vehicles, tourist vehicles, taxis, buses, 4-wheel electric vehicles operating on a pilot basis in the province (except for cases such as vehicles mobilized to serve the transport of quarantined citizens according to the opinion of the Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention of Nghe An province, official vehicles, cases of providing food, foodstuffs, essential necessities, vehicles transporting workers and experts of enterprises, transporting raw materials and production materials);

Suspend the operation of inland waterway passenger transport vehicles (except for transporting people for medical examination and treatment, transporting people on official duty, transporting workers and experts of enterprises).

The waiting rooms at the train station and bus station are all deserted. Photo by Viet Phuong

The suspension of public passenger transport is effective from April 1 to 15, 2020, pending further notice.