[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Vietnam will resume regular international flights next year targeting nine countries including Korea.
According to local media such as VN Express on the 11th, the Vietnamese government approved a plan to normalize international flights with nine countries that have relatively high COVID-19 vaccination rates and have achieved success in quarantine measures starting from the 1st of next month.
The countries include Korea, the United States, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, China, Japan, and Taiwan.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh explained that this measure aims to revive the stagnant economy and tourism industry and to facilitate the return of Vietnamese nationals abroad. Accordingly, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the process of signing agreements with other countries to introduce vaccine passports.
Previously, Vietnam suspended regular international flights in March last year when the spread of COVID-19 began. However, special entry was exceptionally allowed for skilled workers, experts, and investors during this period.
Vietnam is also considering allowing self-quarantine instead of mandatory facility quarantine for arrivals who have completed vaccination. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam instructed the Ministry of Health to implement new quarantine guidelines with such content at a meeting of related ministries on the 8th.
However, some ministers expressed concerns about this, citing the spread of the new COVID-19 variant 'Omicron.' According to current quarantine regulations, vaccinated individuals must complete 7 days of quarantine at government-designated facilities immediately upon arrival in Vietnam, followed by an additional 7 days of self-monitoring at home for symptoms such as fever.
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