Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has approved increasing frequency of domestic flights, including those in the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) air route. 

In a decision signed by Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan, the ministry stated that a plan for safe and flexible operation of passenger transport amid the pandemic will take effect in the period of October 21 - November 30.

The plan was built based on the outcomes of the pilot resumption of domestic flights from October 10-17 and its implementation will be reviewed after the first 15 days.

Noi Bai International Airport operates nearly 200 flights in the first two days of easing social distancing. Photo: Hoa Thang

Accordingly, a maximum of six return flights daily will be allowed on the routes connecting Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi - Danang, and Danang - HCMC from October 21 to November 14, and the number will be raised to seven during November 15-30.

On other routes, the maximum will be four flights each way per day.

The frequency of flights by each airline on each route will be increased by one per day between November 1 and 15 if the average seat occupancy of all airlines on the route during the previous 7 days reached at least 75%.

Passengers from high-risk areas are still required to meet one of the three criteria: a negative coronavirus test at least 72 hours before departure, a certificate to prove they are fully vaccinated with the second shot taken between 14 days and 12 months before departure, or a certificate proving they recovered from Covid-19 not more than six months earlier.
The new requirements allow unvaccinated children to fly if they tested negative.

For railways, from October 21, a maximum of four pairs of trains per day and night will be operated on the Hanoi - HCMC route, one pair of trains per day and night each on the Hanoi - Vinh and HCMC - Danang routes, and a maximum of three pairs of trains per day and night on the Hanoi - Hai Phong route.