Doan Phuoc Truong (HCMC) landed in HCMC just one day before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. He said that while flying and transiting in Dubai, many Vietnamese passengers were already updating news about the possible outbreak of fighting. 

As the aircraft passed through Middle Eastern airspace, everyone was anxious and praying. Only after landing did Truong feel relieved.

On travel forums, many Vietnamese travelers said they were worried about flights passing through the Middle East. Many passengers scheduled to fly from March 1–3 received cancellation or delay notices from airlines.

Travel blogger Ly Thanh Co flew to Egypt on February 20 and is currently exploring Jordan with friends. As soon as news of the conflict broke, he received a flight rescheduling notice from the airline.

“I am in the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan. Since yesterday, I have seen many fighter jets flying continuously across the sky. We are quite worried. However, this area remains safe for now. Itineraries within the region have been disrupted, and many flights have been postponed. Some routes heading to Dubai and Qatar have been canceled en masse,” Co shared.

Concerned relatives and friends have repeatedly called to check on him. “We regularly monitor the government’s official travel advisory website and stay in contact with the airline to update flight changes. The situation reminds me of when I was stranded at the airport during the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope everything will stabilize soon,” he said.

Several domestic travel agencies have temporarily suspended tours to destinations affected by the conflict.

Vietworld Travel announced the suspension of tours to Jordan and Egypt departing in early March. Fit Tour also announced the postponement of its Pakistan cherry blossom tour scheduled to depart on March 27 due to escalating tensions.

From February 28, multiple airspaces in the Middle East were closed due to the attacks, including Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Iran, Israel, and Iraq, which is expected to cause widespread disruption to flight schedules in the region.

On the evening of February 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Iran and Israel at this time, as well as to avoid nearby areas affected by the conflict unless absolutely necessary.

The Embassy of Vietnam in Israel urged Vietnamese nationals in Israel to strictly comply with local authorities’ security and safety regulations and guidance; regularly update information through Vietnamese community groups in Israel to stay informed and exchange information when necessary.

Citizens should maintain regular contact with the Embassy. In case of emergency, they may contact the citizen protection hotline.

Linh Trang