The FAA of the US Department of Transportation announced that Vietnam has been granted a Category 1 rating under the agency’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, which means that the Vietnam’s civil aviation authority complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for personnel licensing, operations, and airworthiness.

With the Category 1 rating, Vietnamese air carriers that are able to secure the requisite FAA and DOT authority can establish service to the United States and carry the code of U.S. carriers.

To maintain a Category 1 rating, a country must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.