Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has submitted a proposal for the resumption of international flights on nine routes across Asia and the United States from 15 December as part of a two-phased reopening plan.
According to local media reports, the initial phase would, if approved, launch next week with four flights weekly to and from either Los Angeles or San Francisco in the US, plus Singapore, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Laos, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei.
The Ministry anticipates around 28,000 visitors to Vietnam in the two weeks through the end of 2021 under the plan.
Phase two of the proposal calls for additional routes to be added from 1 January 2022, adding Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow and Sydney.
The opening phase would see flights running to and from just two of Vietnam’s airports in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, expanded to include Da Nang City, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc and Van Don under phase two.
The proposal does face some challenges, with the latest advisory from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest travel advisory listing Vietnam among 56 countries and territories deemed high COVID-19 risks.
Both mainland China and Hong Kong also continue to enforce mandatory quarantine measures on all international arrivals.
However, Vietnam has already taken its first tentative steps towards reopening, welcoming two planeloads of guests from the US to Quang Nam province, home to integrated resort Hoiana, and a group from South Korea to Phu Quoc, home to Corona Resort & Casino, last month.
