The Ministry of Transport is seeking prime ministerial approval for the proposal to reopen international flights to a number of Asian destinations with two flights on each route per week.

Ministry of Transport to reopen some int’l air routes from August. Photo: Vietnam Plus

The proposed priority destinations include Guangzhou (China), Seoul (South Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Taiwan (China), Vientiane (Laos), and Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

The ministry expects 2,500-3,000 passengers would arrive by air in Vietnam per week, besides special flights for repatriation and business purpose approved by the transport authorities with a total of 1,000-1,500 passengers.

In addition, the ministry will seek agreements with partners from China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Laos and Cambodia for the resumption of air shipping between Vietnam and those countries and territories. The first regular flights are expected to start from early August.

Passengers to be qualified for boarding must have a valid visa and comply with quarantine measures issued by Vietnam's Ministry of Health.

Based on some considerations on geographical conditions and Vietnam's quarantine capacity, the ministry proposed the Guangzhou (China)-Danang; Tokyo (Japan) -Hanoi; Seoul (South Korea) -Hanoi; Taipei-Taiwan (China) -Ho Chi Minh City; Vientiane (Laos) -Quang Ninh; Phnom Penh (Cambodia) -Can Tho to be the first routes eligible for reopening in the first phase.

On the grounds of the assessment on the operation of the first re-instated flights, the government will promptly adjust the frequency; continue researching and proposing the resumption of air services to other places in Asia depending on the situation of the disease and bilateral agreements with those countries and territories.