Vietnamese expats living in Europe hope authorities from both sides to work together so as to soon resume international flights, allowing them to visit family back home, according to Hoang Dinh Thang, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese People Associations in Europe.

The resumption will also help boost trade, tourism and investment between Vietnam and European countries, revive the economy and bring life back to normal, Thang said in an interview to the Vietnam News Agency following a recent pilot plan to this effect.

It is very important to do so after two years of closure because of COVID-19, he said, adding that overseas Vietnamese communities long to fly home on the occasion of the traditional New Year, the most important festival in Vietnam, for family reunion.

He held that the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which took effect two years ago, has not come into full play due to travel restrictions as a result ò the pandemic, so the move will set the scene for accelerating the bilateral trade, investment and tourism.

Echoing Thang’s view, Le Anh Hung, Managing Director of the Bien Dong Travel Services Trading Investment Co., Ltd., said there is a large number of Vietnamese expats looking to fly home, particularly ahead the holiday; plus, it has been easy for visitors fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with two jabs to travel among European countries.

He expressed his delight at the Government of Vietnam’s policy to soon restore international flights, saying he expects Vietnamese authorities will provide detailed instructions for the effective implementation of the policy./

VNA/VNP