National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines brought home approximately 280 Vietnamese citizens between September 8 and September 9 who had been left stranded in France, Morocco, and Chile as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. 

Repatriation flight from France, Morocco, and Chile brings
home nearly 280 Vietnamese citizens (Photo: VNA)

The repatriation flight was put on following collaboration between Vietnamese authorities, the Vietnamese Embassies based in France, Morocco, and Chile, Vietnam Airlines, along with relevant agencies located in the host countries.

Passengers onboard the flight were minors under the age of 18, the elderly, students without accommodation due to the closure of their dormitories, stranded tourists, guest workers with expired labour contracts, and others facing a number of challenging circumstances.

Ahead of the flight, the various Vietnamese representative offices co-ordinated efforts with relevant agencies in the host countries in order to facilitate the movement of citizens to the airport, while the Vietnamese Embassy in France dispatched staff to the airport in an effort to assist citizens with necessary procedures ahead of their departure.

As a means of halting the potential spread of COVID-19, a range of disease prevention measures were taken during the journey. In addition, upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport all members of the flight crew and passengers underwent heath checkups and were immediately placed into quarantine in line with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

Moving forward Vietnamese authorities and overseas missions are striving to arrange additional repatriation flights aimed at bringing home more Vietnamese citizens in the near future. Indeed, the schedule of future flights is likely to depend on both demand and the local quarantine capacity.