Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh chairs a meeting discussing a proposal of the Ministry of Transport (Photo: VGP)

At a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh on Thursday, a representative of the ministry said the first stage, lasting for two weeks from December 15, will see the operation of flights between Vietnam and the destinations of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Chinese  Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, and San Francisco or Los Angeles. All international flights will land in the Noi Bai airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, with the frequency of four flights per week.

The second stage starting from January next year will last for one month and covers more destinations. More airports are suggested to join the scheme, including Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, and Van Don. Flight frequency will be increased to seven per week.

Deputy  Prime Minister Minh said that the resumption of international flights is a practical requirement in the new normal situation given the year-end travel demand. He stressed the importance of selecting countries with a high safety factor. Passengers entering Vietnam must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from COVID-19, and must have a negative PCR test within 72 hours before boarding.