Vietnam ending virus curbs on international flights from tomorrow

HANOI • Vietnam will remove its Covid-19 curbs on international passenger flights with all markets from tomorrow, with no limitation on the number of flights, the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper reported yesterday.

The country imposed tight border controls at the start of the pandemic to keep out Covid-19, with some initial success, but that dealt a blow to its burgeoning tourism sector, which accounted for about 10 per cent of gross domestic product.

"Vietnam will lift restrictions on international flights starting on Feb 15. The frequency of flights will be restored to pre-pandemic level," Tuoi Tre said, citing Mr Dinh Viet Son, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam.

Vietnam has already informed its partners about the new policy and only China has not yet agreed to resume commercial flights with Vietnam, Mr Son was quoted as saying.

Vietnam had already begun gradually resuming international flights with 15 markets from the beginning of this year while easing quarantine requirements, with vaccinated passengers now needing only three days of self-isolation.

The country has recorded nearly 2.5 million Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began, and around 39,000 deaths. Nearly 98 per cent of its 98 million people have received at least two vaccine doses, official data showed.

REUTERS