Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang

She revealed the information while answering reporters’ queries about help for Vietnamese abroad, including students and workers, to return home, at a regular press conference in Hanoi on April 9.

The spokesperson noted that several Vietnamese citizens are still stranded at international airports due to changes in entry-exit and transit policies of countries and territories; as well as due to cancellation and adjustment of flight schedules of airlines to respond to the COVID-19. In addition, a number of Vietnamese citizens are meeting visa difficulties because they are unable to find flights back to Vietnam.

According to her, Vietnamese representative agencies have been working closely with international carriers and authorities of the host countries to tackle difficulties about visas, ensure medical care and supply of necessities for Vietnamese citizens, as well as help with the search and arrangement of suitable flights to Vietnam for them.

However, she noted that it is impossible for the agencies to remove all difficulties in all cases to help citizens return home.  

In the time ahead, under the direction of the Prime Minister, Vietnamese representative agencies abroad will suggest plans to bring a number of citizens home, with priority given to the elderly, the sick and children below 18, while taking into account the capacity of domestic quarantine facilities, she said. 

For a small number of Vietnamese lacking personal papers and legal labour contracts, the representative agencies will conduct legal procedures with relevant agencies of both Vietnam and the host countries to verify their identity, and work out suitable solutions, Hang said.

About support for foreign representative agencies in Vietnam to send their citizens home, Hang said Vietnam always creates favourable conditions for foreign representative agencies to conduct citizen protection, and for foreigners meeting with difficulties during travelling to return to their homeland. Vietnam has coordinated with foreign representative agencies in Vietnam to organize some flights to send citizens of some European countries home. In the time ahead, Vietnam will continue to create favourable conditions for foreign citizens to go back to their home countries in accordance with Vietnam’s regulations and epidemic prevention requirements.

Asked when foreign representative agencies and businesses could resume normal operation, Hang said amid the complicated developments of COVID-19, the Vietnamese Government has adopted temporary measures, including physical distancing, to prevent its spread in the community.

Vietnam will continue monitoring the situation and make adjustments that suit realities, she said./.VNA

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