National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines conducted a repatriation flight from September 9 to September 10 in order to safely bring home over 340 Vietnamese citizens left stranded in Russia due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnamese citizens lines up for check-in procedure
at an airport in Russia before flying home

The flight took place following collaboration between Vietnamese authorities, the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, Vietnam Airlines, along with relevant agencies based in the host country.

The majority of passengers onboard the flight were made up of students without accommodation due to the closure of their dormitories, along with others facing various challenging circumstances.

Ahead of the flight, the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia co-ordinated efforts with relevant Russian agencies in order to facilitate the punctual movement of citizens to the airport, in addition to dispatching staff to the airport to assist passengers with necessary procedures ahead of departure.

Throughout the journey, Vietnam Airlines strictly implemented a range of security, safety, and epidemiological measures as a means of protecting the health of passengers whilst also preventing the possible spread of the virus.

Immediately after landing at Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa province each passenger and crew member onboard the flight underwent a series of medical check-ups before being transferred to concentrated quarantine facilities in accordance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

Further repatriation flights are due to be conducted in the near future in an effort to bring home Vietnamese citizens who are stranded abroad, with the flight schedule dependent on demand and the nation’s quarantine capacity.