HCMC – The current frequency of one or two weekly flights is piling pressure on the quarantine capacity in many localities, so the Ministry of Transport and other ministries and departments will continue to perfect a quarantine plan and reach a consensus on the charges, said Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong.

On September 30, 158 passengers onboard Vietjet Air’s Flight VJ963 departing from South Korea were stuck at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC for 10 hours as they could not reach a consensus over quarantine fees with the designated hotels. After the incident, many people voiced their concern over the potential spread of Covid-19 due to the rising number of arriving passengers following the resumption of international air services. Furthermore, multiple passengers may fail to follow their quarantine agreements. As regulated by the Government, passengers entering Vietnam via commercial flights must undergo a paid hotel quarantine period. As such, before arriving in Vietnam, passengers are required to register for quarantine hotels, which are on an appraised list of hotels requisitioned as paid quarantine facilities. As such, it is necessary to reach a consensus on quarantine fees, paving the way for the reopening of international flights. Resuming international air routes is expected to positively affect the country’s economic development as international flights will bring foreign experts and investors to Vietnam, Dong told VietnamPlus.