344 Vietnamese stranded in Australia, New Zealand repatriated safely
VOV.VN - A Vietnam Airlines plane carrying 344 Vietnamese citizens stranded in Australia and New Zealand due to the novel coronavirus landed safely at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on June 2.
Vietnamese ambassador to New Zealand Ta Van Thong (fourth from left) posed for a photo with the citizens at Aucland Airport
The citizens included those who have desires to return to the homeland and those living in specially difficult circumstances. They were adolescents, elderly people, sick people with underlying illnesses, pregnant women, guestworkers whose labour contracts had expired, students without accommodations, and those who were on a business or holiday with expired visas.
Due to travel restrictions and border closures in Australia and New Zealand as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plane was arranged to land in Sydney (Australia) and Auckland (New Zealand) to pick up the Vietnamese citizens.
Vietnamese representative missions collaborated closely with relevant agencies of both countries in organizing the flight, especially when Vietnam Airlines has yet to conduct a flight to New Zealand, creating favorable conditions for the citizens to move to airports, meeting the entry and exit requirements of the two countries.
Vietnamese officials also came to the airports to assist the citizens with necessary procedures before they boarded the plane.
Vietnamese ambassador to New Zealand Ta Van Thong (fourth from left) posed for a photo with the citizens at Aucland Airport
To protect the citizens’ health and prevent the possible spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease, Vietnam Airlines strictly followed security measures and epidemiological principles throughout the flight.
Upon arrival, all crew members and passengers underwent medical check-ups and were transferred to quarantine camps according to regulations.
In line with the Prime Minister’s instructions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked closely with the Ministry of Transport, relevant Vietnamese agencies, and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to arrange flights to bring home Vietnamese nationals stranded in foreign countries due to COVID-19.
More such flights will be conducted in the time to come, based on developments of the coronavirus pandemic in Vietnam and the world, the desires of Vietnamese citizens living abroad, and the quarantine capacity in localities in Vietnam.