Vietnamese citizens returning from the US leave the plane after landing at Vân Đồn International Airport in Quảng Ninh Province on Sunday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Two international flights with fully vaccinated passengers eligible for the health ministry's pilot programme of reduced quarantine landed at Vân Đồn International Airport, Quảng Ninh Province, on Sunday.

A total of 345 Vietnamese citizens repatriated from the US departed from Los Angeles and San Francisco, transiting via Seoul in South Korea, and finally boarded two flights (VN5413 and VN5414) run by Vietnam Airlines.

Other than health checks and health declarations before the flight and compliance with COVID-19 measures during the flight, all passengers aged 18 and older must have proof of negative SARS-CoV-2 tests (using RT-PCR or RT-LAMP method) within 72 hours before departure and be certified by the relevant authorities of the countries where the tests are conducted.

They must also have received the full two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with the second dose having been administered at least 14 days and no more than 12 months prior to entry. The vaccine certificates must be in line with the forms in the list of the foreign ministry’s recognised certificates.

Passengers under 18 years of age who have a negative PCR test within 72 hours before departure and are accompanied by relatives who meet the above conditions, are quarantined with their relatives for seven days in Quảng Ninh Province (down from 14 days and 21 days before), then continue to self-isolate at home for 7 days and monitor their health for another 14 days from date of entry.

Previously, on September 4, Vietnam Airlines conducted the first pilot ‘vaccine passport’ flight for 300 repatriated Vietnamese citizens from Japan.

The third ‘vaccine passport’ pilot flight, which will depart from Paris (France) bringing back 300 Vietnamese citizens from various European countries, is slated to arrive later this month.— VNS

The flights are conducted by Vietnam Airlines. — VNA/VNS Photo