Authorities in the two central provinces had earlier urged the ministry to suspend flights to contain the spread of the disease.

Flights to Quang Nam, home to UNESCO heritage sites Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary, will be suspended from Sunday until the Covid situation in HCMC comes under control.

Flights to Hue will stop a day later.

Hue was the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal rulers of Vietnam, and is famous for royal tombs, ancient palaces and pagodas that attract millions of visitors every year.

In the ongoing Covid wave that began in late April Thua Thien-Hue has recorded five infections and Quang Nam has had four cases.

But both have managed to contain the pandemic and resumed tourism activities.

Earlier the ministry suspended flights from HCMC to Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh, Quang Binh and Gia Lai provinces.

Vietnam's commercial hub is the new epicenter of the current wave, and top health officials said it is becoming unpredictable and could worsen.

It has so far found nearly 5,000 cases and is the second worst hit of the 52 affected localities behind the northern province of Bac Giang.