National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on December 9 safely repatriated more than 340 Vietnamese citizens left stranded in Australia and New Zealand due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The flight had been arranged by competent agencies of Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand in coordination with Vietnam Airlines.

The majority of passengers onboard the flight were made up of minors under the age of 18, the elderly, labourers with expired work contracts, those in extremely difficult circumstances.

In order to assist citizens, the Vietnamese embassies in the host nations dispatched staff to the airport to assist with all necessary boarding procedures ahead of their departure.

Safety and preventive measures against COVID-19 were rigorously enforced during the flight to protect the passengers’ health and prevent the spread of the disease.

All passengers and crew members received medical checkups and were sent to quarantine in line with regulations upon their arrival at Tan Son Nhat international airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

The repatriation of Vietnamese citizens in disadvantaged circumstances abroad will be continued in line with citizens’ wishes, the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, and quarantine capacity in the homeland.