Indonesian Embassy facilitated the repatriation of 18 Indonesian crews quarantined in Vietnam

Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ibnu Hadi, saw all the crews off at Noi Bai International Airport on Wednesday evening (April 22nd). The Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi also provided each crew with masks, multivitamin, and hand sanitizer.

All crews returned home by Asiana Airlines and Garuda Indonesia flights transiting Seoul and Denpasar scheduled to arrive in Jakarta Thursday evening (April 23rd). All Indonesian crews of the cargo ships owned by a South Korean company have undergone quarantined and COVID-19 test and were all declared negative COVID-19.

During the repatriation process, the Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi continued to coordinate closely with the company agent and the relevant authorities in Vietnam. On April 19th, Ambassador Ibnu Hadi with the Embassy’s officials also visited the crews in Bach Dang Hotel, where they stayed while waiting for their scheduled departure to Indonesia, to have a dialogue and ensure their condition as well as provide moral support.

On that occasion, the Indonesian crews expressed their appreciation for the support and assistance given by the Embassy during their time in Vietnam.There was a total of 31 Indonesian crews of MV Gloria Galaxy and MV Pacific Legend that were quarantined aboard the ships at Quang Ninh Port since mid-March due to the Vietnamese Government’s quarantine policy in managing the spread of COVID-19. Thirteen crews were already successfully repatriated to Indonesia on April 16th.

On Wednesday midnight (April 22nd) a strict social distancing policy in high-risk areas including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was over. Although restaurants, cafe, shopping centers and other non-essentials shops are allowed to open, the government has requested that safe distance and other health protocols should continue to adhere./.