This file photo taken April 2020 shows passenger planes at Haneda airport in Tokyo. — KYODO/VNA Photo

TOKYO — Some 440 Japanese experts and entrepreneurs are likely to travel to Việt Nam by charter flight from June 25 to 27, according to Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

He told the press in Tokyo on June 23 that this is the first step in the process of easing travel restrictions applied by the two countries as COVID-19 was brought largely under control in Việt Nam and Japan.

The Vietnamese side has allowed the experts and businesspeople to enter provided that they agree to enhanced disease prevention measures, he noted.

The national carrier Vietnam Airlines flights arranged by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Việt Nam will take off from Tokyo’s Narita Airport and land at Vân Đồn International Airport in the northern province of Quảng Ninh.

Motegi said on June 19 that Japan and Việt Nam agreed to gradually lift travel bans as a way to reopen economic and bilateral exchanges, and it will not take much time to resume travel between the two countries.

Besides Việt Nam, Japan is also negotiating with Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand to ease travel restrictions, on the condition that travellers test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure and submit itineraries detailing where they will stay and visit. This will allow entrepreneurs to avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. — VNS