Travel from Japan to Vietnam resumed Thursday in a first step after the easing of travel restrictions imposed to fight the novel coronavirus.

The chartered flight carrying 150 passengers, mainly businesspeople, left Narita Airport, east of Tokyo, for Van Don International Airport near Ha Long, northern Vietnam.

"There's a chance that travel conditions will improve, but I wanted to return as soon as possible," said Takako Omi, 50, who works at a Japanese sewing factory in Vietnam. "I'd like our expatriate employees there to take a break."