Vietnam, Japan partially resume air travel this week

Japan will partially resume air travel with Vietnam, marking the first step in easing travel restrictions which are currently in place to stem the spread of Covid-19, according to Kyodo News.

Japan will partially resume air travel with Vietnam.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made the announcement on June 23, adding three chartered flights carrying about 440 business people are scheduled from June 25 to 27, with Vietnam agreeing to accept travelers based on the travelers' agreement to enhanced preventive measures, Motegi said at a press conference.

Vietnam Airlines’ flights have been arranged by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam. They will fly from Narita airport east of Tokyo to Van Don International Airport in northern Vietnam.

Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry said on June 19 that an agreement has been reached with Japan for the stepwise relax of travel restrictions between the two countries.

The two countries will discuss specific measures and procedures via diplomatic channels, the foreign ministry added.

Japan is considering easing the entry ban on travelers from Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand currently in place due to the spread of the new coronavirus, Japan News quoted a Japanese government source as saying on June 1.

The Japanese government is planning an approach under which business people and others in possession of documents certifying that they are negative for the coronavirus in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before leaving their countries will be allowed to enter Japan, and those who also test negative after arriving in Japan.

Japan currently has an entry ban in place for 111 countries and territories, which was implemented to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

As of June 24, Japan has reported 17,968 Covid-19 cases and 955 deaths. Vietnam has recorded no deaths out of 349 patients, and no community transmission cases for over two months.