Vietnam sent a charter jet to Taiwan on Friday to take home 344 Vietnamese citizens left stranded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center says that many direct flights between Vietnam and Taiwan have been affected by the pandemic. Larger cities in Vietnam like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are only allowing travelers out and not in. This has left many Vietnamese nationals unable to return home.
In order to expedite the boarding process, Vietnam Airlines and China Airlines summoned their ground staff four hours prior to the flight. All passengers had their temperatures checked and were required to wear protective gear on the flight. The plane took off at 2:30 PM without incident.