They were required to follow guidance and update regulations in the host countries and airlines, ensure enough documentation to take flights, especially medical certificates if needed.
The ministry directed Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to closely work with the host authorities, international airports and airlines to provide detailed information about Vietnam’s immigration policy, affirming that Vietnamese citizens could return home without certification documents from representative agencies abroad.
They were also required to check the number of Vietnamese citizens stuck at airports and offer support measures if necessary.
For further assistance, citizens could visit official websites of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, or citizen protection hotline of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department +84.981.84.84.84.
* The Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco and other representative agencies in the US have discussed with the host authorities and airlines on arranging flights to bring Vietnamese students home at an appropriate time, amid the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, a group of nearly 40 Vietnamese, including students, were stuck at Dallas airport because their flight to Vietnam via Japan’s Narita was cancelled.
As of March 22 evening (local time), nearly 30 in the group had their route changed with transits in San Francisco and Hong Kong (China).
Twelve students are waiting at Dallas airport and will fly on March 24.
* The Vietnamese Embassy in Australia also urged Vietnamese citizens to stay calm, not to panic but protect themselves from the epidemic.
Further information could be found on the website www.vietnamembassy.org.au, www.lanhsuvietnam.gov.vn, www.facebook.com/thongtinchinhphu, or phone numbers 0466 401 665, 02 616 94916, 02 616 94915, and 02 616 94917.
* The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand has also issued the second announcement urging Vietnamese citizens to seriously follow epidemic prevention measures in the host country.
In cases of necessity, those who want to return home should register on the official website of the embassy. It will later consider the possibility of arranging a commercial flight.
* Thirty-five Vietnamese citizens, mainly students, have been stranded while transiting at Changi Airport due to unannounced flight cancellations by Singapore Airlines. They are scheduled to leave Singapore for Ho Chi Minh City on flight SQ178 on March 23 morning. However, Singapore Airlines cancelled the flight, leaving the passengers to manage by themselves.
Right after receiving this information, the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore sent a diplomatic note asking Singapore Airlines to take appropriate measures to ensure the rights of the Vietnamese citizens, said Ambassador Tao Thi Thanh Huong.
Huong added that the embassy made contact with the management board of the Changi Airport, proposing it to assist the Vietnamese citizens while waiting for a new flight, as well as relevant agencies in Vietnam to arrange the reception of the citizens.
According to the ambassador, Singapore Airlines on late March 23 pledged to take the Vietnamese citizens to Hanoi on March 24 morning on its flight, and pay for part of their meals while waiting at the airport. The embassy will continue implementing citizen protection measures so that they can come back home at the earliest time, Huong said.
To date, no Vietnamese in Singapore have been infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
