The passengers are children under 18, the elderly, patients with chronic diseases and students without residence due to closure of dormitories.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Ottawa sent officials to visit children with serious diseases before boarding the flights and directly support Vietnamese citizens at the airport.

Earlier, the Embassy worked with the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies to ensure safe and favorable operation of these flights.

To protect health of citizens and prevent the transmission of COVID-19, all the passengers and crew members received health check-ups and were quarantined upon arrival in line with the country's regulations.

According to the official data of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Viet Nam has conducted nearly 25 special flights to bring home about 6,610 citizens from foreign countries and territories since April 24 and more repatriation flights are expected in the coming time.

As of early June 17, Viet Nam had 335 COVID-19 infection cases, including 195 imported cases, said the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Of the patient tally, 325 patients have been freed of the virus, accounting for 97%, the committee added./.