Vietnam Bans Flights from Korea Landing in Ho Chi Minh Following Hanoi Ban

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Vietnamese government has decided to ban passenger flights from Korea from landing at Ho Chi Minh City Airport, following the ban at Hanoi Airport.

On the night of the 29th, Vietnamese authorities notified Korean airlines to change the landing location of passenger flights from Korea to Ho Chi Minh City from Ho Chi Minh City Airport to Can Tho Airport in Can Tho City, which is about a four-hour drive away.

However, 'ferry flights' carrying only crew members without passengers from Korea to Ho Chi Minh City Airport will be permitted.

Earlier, the Vietnamese government had informed Korean airlines that from 8:15 a.m. local time on the same day, passenger flights from Korea would not be allowed to land at Hanoi Airport.

However, this notice was only given around 8:30 a.m., causing an Asiana Airlines passenger flight bound for Hanoi, which had taken off from Incheon with about 40 passengers, to make an emergency return.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese national airlines' passenger flights landed normally at Hanoi Airport on the 29th.

The Korean Embassy in Vietnam confirmed that passenger flights operated by Vietnamese national airlines from Korea will be redirected to land at Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh Province instead of Hanoi Airport starting March 1.

This measure by Vietnamese authorities is reportedly in response to instructions from Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the 25th, directing that passenger flights arriving from COVID-19 outbreak areas in Korea be allowed to land only at three airports located in northern, central, and southern Vietnam.

For the north, where Hanoi is located, Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh Province is designated; for the central region, where Da Nang City is located, Phu Cat Airport in Binh Dinh Province; and for the south, where Ho Chi Minh City is located, Can Tho Airport in Can Tho City.

With the ban on landing at Hanoi Airport, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines decided to operate ferry flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and other locations to repatriate Koreans residing in Vietnam on the same day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.