Vietnam Airlines has become the first Vietnamese carrier to announce a plan for the resumption of its international routes connecting the Southeast Asian country with a handful of Asian destinations next month.

The announcement was sent to Vietnam Airlines’ ticket agents on Thursday morning.

From July 1, the Ho Chi Minh City/ Hanoi – Seoul and Ho Chi Minh City/ Hanoi – Busan routes will be reopened with a frequency of seven and three to four flights a week, respectively, according to the plan.

The Ho Chi Minh City/ Hanoi – Hong Kong/ Taiwan route will be resumed from the same date as regularly as three to four flights weekly.

From July 2, Vietnam Airlines will operate seven flights a week between Ho Chi Minh City/ Hanoi and Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore, Hanoi and Vientiane, Vientian and Phnom Penh, and Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam Airlines’ deputy general director Le Hong Ha told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the resumption plan was mapped out so that its planes are “ready to take off as soon as the government gives the green light.”

Ha affirmed that all of the airline’s human resources, from flight attendants, pilots to its overseas representatives, are poised for the resumption.

At a government meeting on the disease response in Hanoi on Tuesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc tasked the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control with making a list of “safe regions” for the reopening of international commercial flights.

Safe destinations are those where there have been no new cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, for at least 30 days.

The destinations being considered include Seoul in South Korea, Guangzhou in China, Tokyo in Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia, and Laos.

The national steering committee must issue specific guidance on the quarantine of arrivals on these commercial flights.

These flights must also comply with the requirements of COVID-19 prevention and control to prevent spreading the disease to the community.

Vietnam has barred entry to foreign nationals since March 22, with exceptions for those carrying diplomatic or official passports or entering for special economic projects, who must be quarantined after entry.

The country has confirmed 332 COVID-19 cases, including 192 imported cases immediately quarantined upon arrivals.

Over 96 percent of all patients have recovered, while four out of the 12 active patients have tested negative for the virus at least once.

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