With more than 219,000 cases of coronavirus around the world, with almost 9,000 deaths, the pandemic has left no corner untouched. Borders are closing, and airlines are slashing routes by as much as 90%. With worrying visa uncertainty in Vietnam, I made the last minute decision to fly to Thailand. Which meant I had no choice but to fly during the coronavirus outbreak…
I booked my flight to Bangkok out of Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh – the busiest airport in Vietnam.
Flying in Asia During The Coronavirus Outbreak
The Airport Was Eerily Quiet
I’ve flown in and out of Ho Chi Minh’s airport several times before, and it’s usually a pretty hectic and busy terminal. The queues for check-in and bag drop are winding, immigration and security can often be slow, and there’s a heaving mix of backpackers, businesspeople and locals all rushing through.
This time around? It was… empty.
In stark contract to US airports with 7-hour waits, Asian airports are eerily empty. (Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam) pic.twitter.com/YhuCInYTRp
— Big7Travel (@BigSevenTravel) March 16, 2020
I Flew at 4.45pm on Monday 16th March
Usually, this would be a peak time. But flying during the coronavirus outbreak isn’t exactly a popular thing to do. The few passengers I did see in the airport were fellow Westerners, most likely returning home or wherever else after a trip around Vietnam.
At the ticketing desk for Vietnam Airways was a frazzled Englishman trying to change his flight from HCMC to London. He’d heard on good authority, he said, that from the end of March all flights to London would be cancelled. His ticket was for April. I don’t know if he was successful, but I do know that this pandemic is pretty scary when you’re just trying to get home, or anywhere that feels like it.
Extra Hygiene Measures Were in Place Across the Airport
Hand sanitiser at the check-in desks, everyone wearing masks (a rule would be enforced in Vietnam the next day, making it mandatory for everyone to wear masks in public places), and even immigration had upped their safety measures. Everyone was made to stand in front of a glass screen rather than approach the immigration officer directly.
The Plane Journey Itself Was Near-Empty
Like most others on the plane, I ignored my designated seat on my ticket and grabbed an entire row to myself – easy to do, as the plane was more than half empty. Bangkok is a key route for business travel, but this time around there weren’t many passengers.
All air stewards wore masks, and handed out extra hand wipes to passengers. I’d read how planes are being disinfected during the coronavirus outbreak, so I wasn’t too concerned about the air filtration.
In Contrast to Vietnam, There Didn’t Seem to Be Any Screenings in Thailand…
Although I never flew into Vietnam throughout the virus situation, daily updates from the Vietnamese government and stories of expats explained the measures to expect. A full travel & transit history check, temperature screening and health questions. Now, all travellers into Vietnam must undertake a coronavirus test and go into 14-day quarantine.
In Thailand? Nothing of the sort. I landed in Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and transited through immigration and onto my next flight to Koh Samui. No temperature screening, no questions. A quick stamp and I was good to go.
While Bangkok Airport was also eerily quiet, here, there was hardly anyone wearing masks. I noticed people not caring about social distancing when sitting down for coffee or food. At the time of flying, Thailand was still allowing visa-on-arrival for most countries, and was reporting relatively low case levels. There was no public signs for hand hygiene or coronavirus info warnings.
Since flying, Vietnam has stopped all foreign visas and all arrivals must quarantine in a government location. Thailand is disinfecting the streets of Bangkok nightly and has shut entertainment venues. Thailand however, is suggesting a reprieve for tourists who have overstayed their visas.
It’s been four days since I flew, and I’m back in self-isolation now just incase. No symptoms, and I’m hoping it stays that way. It’s an unsteady time right now, so I’m just relieved that I’m somewhere secure for the time being.
