The central city of Da Nang, the nation’s latest epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, has proposed using trains to repatriate residents left stranded in the locality back to their hometowns.

About 7,000 migrant workers stranded in Da Nang wish to return to
their homes after social distancing was put in place on July 28.
(Photo: nld.com.vn)

Under its proposal, Da Nang asked Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc for permission to return migrant workers, students, and residents of other localities to their homes in accordance to their wishes.

At present, a social distancing order including travel restrictions has been implemented in Da Nang since July 28 in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 among the wider community. The implementation of travel restrictions therefore means that a significant number of migrant workers, students, and residents from other cities and provinces have been left stranded in the central city.

To facilitate the return of these stranded individuals, travel by train is seen as one of the viable options given the current travel restrictions, the municipal administration stated in the proposal. It puts forward the idea that the PM should instruct the Ministry of Transport to arrange a number of trains aimed at bringing these people home.

An official from Da Nang said that at present the city is currently hosting more than 16,000 migrant workers from various localities nationwide, 7,000 of whom desire to return to their respective homes. In addition, approximately 6,000 students who are studying at colleges and universities throughout the city are also keen to be repatriated to their homes. 

Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air recently conducted seven flights to evacuate more than 1,400 Vietnamese and foreign nationals left stranded in Da Nang.