A Ha Noi-Tokyo flight carrying nearly 60 passengers took off at Noi Bai International Airport at 6:30 am on Saturday, making it the first international commercial flight after six months of suspension due to COVID-19. 

Passengers queue up to perform boarding procedures at the Noi Bai International Airport

Passengers onboard the flight mainly included Vietnamese students, guest workers, as well as Japanese nationals who wish to return home.

The passengers are required to strictly follow Japan’s regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, including having a certificate confirming they tested negative for the virus within 72 hours before departure.

The national flag carrier planned to organize two more flights to Japan in late September, one from Ha Noi to Tokyo on September 25 and the other from Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo on September 30.

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh approved the Ministry of Transport’s proposal on resuming international commercial flights to four destinations, including Japan's Tokyo, from September 15 and two others from September 22.

Other destinations are Guangzhou (China), Taiwan (China), Seoul (the Republic of Korea), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Vientiane (Laos).

Concluding a meeting on COVID-19 on Friday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc tasked the Ministry of Transport to continue proposing to increase frequency of international commercial flights to bring back foreign experts, investors and Vietnamese.

The proposal must be reported to Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, for consideration and decision.

The Government chief asked for measures to quickly clear passengers at airports in order to prevent transmission of COVID-19 while relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Security, to further simplify entry procedures for foreign experts and investors.

The entry procedures must be specific and clear, emphasized PM Phuc, adding that the Ministry of Health must issue concrete instructions for COVID-19 testing and quarantine.

He also demanded regular inspection and supervision of centralized quarantine facilities and designated quarantine accommodations.

Phuc ordered strict border control to prevent and strictly punish illegal entrants and those who bring foreigners in to Viet Nam illegally.

As of 6:02 pm on Saturday, Viet Nam reported 1,068 COVID-19 cases, including 942 recoveries and 35 fatalities, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control./.