Vinh Airport reopens, many passengers can return home after being 'stuck'

On the first day of the quarantine lifting, Vinh International Airport welcomed passengers back. At noon on April 23, although there were still 3 hours left for the Vinh - Ho Chi Minh City flight to take off, many passengers had already arrived to check in. Mr. Nguyen Van Son - Head of Ground Management Department, Vinh International Airport said: Passengers are checking in for the Vietnam Airlines flight at 12:30 and the flight at 14:30. According to the Prime Minister's regulations, passengers traveling by plane during this time must still strictly comply with regulations on health declaration, body temperature check and instructions for passengers to keep a distance of 2 meters.

A month ago, passengers arriving at Vinh airport wore full sets of antibacterial clothing and masks. Photo: Khanh An

We observed that although the procedures were difficult, everyone's faces were nervous and excited. Mr. Phan Quynh, a passenger from Ha Tinh who arrived in Ho Chi Minh City at 2:30 p.m., said: He had wanted to visit his child for a long time, but only after the child's quarantine order was lifted did he book a ticket for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. "I am very happy that the staff strictly followed the safety and epidemic prevention regulations," Mr. Quynh shared.

Passengers check in at the airport according to regulations. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, Mr. Sinh from Nghi Xuan district (Ha Tinh) was picking up his wife who flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh airport at 12:10 pm and said: For more than a month now, she has been staying with her children in Vung Tau, there are no vehicles to travel, so she waited until this morning for a flight back home. Hopefully after April 30, the epidemic will be more stable so that people can travel more conveniently.

Similarly, Mr. Nhan, a passenger from Quynh Van commune, Quynh Luu district, shared: He often travels from Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh, this afternoon's flight had about 100 passengers. Due to the epidemic, he was stuck in Ho Chi Minh City for half a month, but that was already very good. After getting off the plane, he will take a shuttle bus back to his hometown because his family has something to do.

Passengers checking in to the waiting room must maintain a minimum distance of 2 meters between each person. Photo: Nguyen Hai

According to the information we know, although the Vinh - Ho Chi Minh City flight has been reopened, in compliance with the Government's social distancing order, each flight is only allowed to operate at half capacity. Specifically, the VietnamAirline flight from Vinh - Ho Chi Minh City is only allowed to carry 145 passengers/180 passengers in total; the Bomboo Airway flight from Vinh - Ho Chi Minh City is only allowed to carry 100/170 passengers.

The first passengers landed at Vinh airport after the quarantine order was lifted. Photo: Nguyen Hai

According to Mr. Phan Dang Bao Quang - Chief of Office of Vinh International Airport, today Vinh Airport started operating flights again, although it has not returned to normal, the flight frequency has increased. Specifically, the frequency of operating flights is 3 flights/day on the Vinh - Ho Chi Minh City route. Of which, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways each has 1 flight.

Regarding the railway, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh - Deputy Head of Vinh Station said: From today, the Railway sector will operate 3 pairs of Thong Nhat passenger trains per day (3 trips from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and 3 trips back). The local route Vinh - Hanoi will maintain 1 pair of trains per day. Previously, the Railway sector only operated 2 pairs of Thong Nhat trains per day. The train stops at Vinh Station for about 5-10 minutes.

For local trains, the Vinh - Hanoi route departs at 10:05 p.m. and arrives in Hanoi at 4:30 a.m.; the Hanoi - Vinh route departs at 10:45 p.m. and arrives in Vinh at 5:15 a.m.

Operates 3 pairs of Thong Nhat passenger trains every day (3 trips from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and 3 trips back). Photo: Viet Phuong

Mr. Hoang Phu Hien - Director of the Department of Transport said: For fixed passenger transport within the province: Only operate up to 50% of the trips according to the approved schedule, vehicles when operating are only allowed to carry no more than 50% of the number of seats on the vehicle and no more than 20 people (including the driver and assistant driver).

For passenger transport by bus and taxi: Only operate a maximum of 50% of the trips or vehicles; vehicles are only allowed to carry no more than 50% of the number of seats on the vehicle and no more than 20 people (including drivers and staff on the vehicle). Taxis are not allowed to go to localities in the high-risk group according to the classification of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

For passenger transport by contract vehicles and tourist vehicles: Only operate up to 50% of the total number of vehicles of the transport business unit; not allowed to go to localities in the high-risk group according to the classification of the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

For inland waterway passenger transport activities: Continue to operate to serve people's travel needs.