Vietnamese people wait for boarding at Suvarnabhumi airport, Thailand. (photo: baoquocte.vn)

As the Covid-19 pandemic grows, a number of overseas Vietnamese want to return to Vietnam. Vietnamese diplomatic agencies abroad have closely followed the situation, shared information, and worked with local authorities to bring these Vietnamese people home.

When the epidemic broke out, Vietnamese students studying abroad found their schools suddenly closed and themselves with no place to live. The high cost of living and healthcare in their host country persuaded many Vietnamese to return home. But returning to Vietnam has become increasingly difficult as airlines cancel flights, often stranding travelers at transit airports.

Between March 21 and March 25, Vietnamese representative offices abroad have helped some 800 Vietnamese citizens return home. They worked with embassies and airlines to get stranded travelers medical care, food, and other things they needed, and arranged alternate transportation for them.

Spokeswoman for the Vietnam Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang said: “Since we first learned of the epidemic, the Foreign Ministry has directed its staff to implement all Party guidelines and State regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control. Overseas representative offices have been asked to do all they can to protect and help Vietnamese citizens.”

Overseas Vietnamese representative offices have worked with Associations of Overseas Vietnamese, Vietnamese Youth, and Vietnamese Experts to encourage Vietnamese people abroad to follow local health directives and epidemic countermeasures.

Promptly and aggressively protecting Vietnamese citizens from the Covid-19 epidemic is Vietnam's top priority right now. The Vietnamese Party and State have insisted on the principle that “No one is left behind”, viewing Vietnamese communities abroad as an inseparable part of the nation.