The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has requested local airlines to suspend selling tickets for domestic flights until further notice to comply with social distancing rules given the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic across the country.

Local passengers at Noi Bai Airport. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

“The air carriers are being asked to refund money to customers who have purchased domestic tickets from July 21,” the CAAV noted.

The number of flights connecting to cities and localities under Covid-19 social distancing orders according to Directive No. 16 will be curbed, according to the Vietnamese authority.

On July 21, the CAAV requested local airlines including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines to reduce flights from localities under social distancing rules to the capital of Hanoi. 

The number of flights between Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) operated by the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has been reduced to two flights a day. Flights between Cantho/HCMC and Hanoi have been suspended.

The CAAV noted there is no restriction on cargo flights. Airlines will submit their plans on flights serving disease prevention purposes and other public services to the CAAV for consideration and settlement on a case-by-case basis.

The local authority also requested local air carriers to strengthen the prevention and control of Covid-19, requiring all passengers on flights between provinces and cities, which are implementing social distancing, to present a certificate of SARS-CoV-2 negative test result by RT-PCR method or rapid test kit according to the Ministry of Health’s regulations.

Vietnam has closed its borders and suspended all international flights since March 2020, and only allowing special cases of visitors who would enter the country after undergoing a strict Covid-19 quarantine regime.