Vietnam relaxes Covid curbs on int’l flights

Dhaka: Vietnam has lifted its Covid-19 curbs on international passenger flights to and from all markets effective February 15, with no limitation on the number of flights.

The Southeast Asian country placed tight border restrictions in the beginning of the pandemic to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Initially, the move showed success but eventually it left a deadly blow to the country’s growing tourism sector which used to account for 10 per cent of their gross domestic product.

“Vietnam will lift restrictions on international flights starting February 15. The frequency of flights will be restored to pre-pandemic level,” said Dinh Viet Son, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, according to reports.

Vietnam has already informed its partners about that new policy and only China has not yet agreed to resume commercial flights with Vietnam, Son added.

Vietnam had already begun gradually resuming international flights with 15 markets from the beginning of 2022 while easing quarantine requirements, with vaccinated passengers now needing only 03 days of self-isolation.

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