Viet Nam Airlines has announced it will temporarily reduce fligh frequency between Viet Nam and European countries since March 25 in a latest efforts to contain spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Viet Nam Airlines plans to temporarily reduce flights from Viet Nam to the European
countries since March 25 amid complex developments of COVID-19. 

Accordingly, the national flag carrier planned to cut as many as 14 flights per week, with a focus on direct air routes from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to London (UK), Paris (France) and Frankfurt (Germany). 

Viet Nam Airlines is currently the unique Vietnamese airline launching direct air routes from Viet Nam to European countries. These flights will be resumed as soon as the pandemic is successfully controlled in Europe.  

Currently, Viet Nam Airlines has checked body temperature for all European passengers before departure. 

All of its international flights to Viet Nam and flights carrying passengers with abnormal health have been disinfected.

For domestic flights, the airlines has also cleaned and disinfected aircraft areas where the passengers are exposed by hand as well as disinfects headphones and ground service equipment.

In a related move, Bamboo Airways has delayed its first direct flight from Ha Noi to Prague (the Czech Republic) till April 26.  

Earlier, the Government decided to temporarily suspend visa waiver program for citizens from 8 European countries, taking effect since 00:00 on March 12 due to complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These beneficiary nations are Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Spain.

The Government had also decided to temporarily halt unilateral visa exemption for citizens from Italy (on March 2) and South Korea (on February 28) in a bid to contain spread of the virus to Viet Nam.