The children, all aged under one, were among 405 people repatriated by a special flight that landed at Tan Son Nhat Airport on Sunday. Their parents are working in South Korea and, due to financial difficulties, had to send them to Vietnam with acquaintances.

Upon landing the infants were sent to a central quarantine facility in Bau Bang District, 90 minutes by road from HCMC.

The other passengers on the flight were quarantined in HCMC.

Dr Huynh Minh Chin, head of the quarantine facility in Bau Bang, said this was the first time such young babies had been brought in without accompanying parents.

To ensure they get the best care, provincial authorities have allowed 41 relatives to enter the quarantine.

All the children are in good health, Chin said.

In the last few months Vietnam has repatriated thousands of its citizens from South Korea, mainly stranded workers and others in difficult circumstances. South Korea is one of the largest destinations for Vietnamese guest workers.

Binh Duong currently has a 20-year-old man with Covid-19 who came recently from Germany.

The country’s tally now stands at 1,049 with 196 active cases and 35 deaths.