INTERNATIONAL: National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will temporarily suspend regular flights from Hanoi to Moscow starting from March 25 until further notice, the state run Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has reported on Wednesday ,March 23.

The suspension was to review procedures, requirements and regulations related to flight operations in Russi. The two countries have close ties dating back to the Soviet era and Vietnam has not so far condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Vietnam Airlines was the only Vietnamese carrier operating a regular route to Russia.

A visa exemption policy for citizens from Russia and 23 other countries remains in place, according to local media outlet VnExpress. Vietnam has just reopened the country to foreign visitors on March 15.