"The flight is an exceptional repatriation effort to bring back Vietnamese stranded abroad after the suspension of international flight to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic," the budget carrier said in a statement. 

HCM City is asking approval to grant new work permits to foreign experts or highly skilled workers arriving from COVID-19-affected countries and territories, especially those in charge of the two metro lines in the city.

The 43-year-old British pilot would continue to receive further treatment for infections and underlying health conditions here in preparation for a lung transplant when the conditions are met.

Many provinces in Việt Nam have taken preventive measures against diseases afflicting cattle, including vaccination.

More rice farmers in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tiền Giang have switched to other crops as part of efforts to adapt to climate change.

One more COVID-19 patient was declared recovered on Friday afternoon, thus 267 out of 324 patients in Việt Nam have been given the all-clear so far.