Vietnam's first Formula One grand prix has been officially cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers said on Friday, without mentioning whether the race would take place next year.

Hanoi city authorities had hoped to hold the race in November, but Vietnam Grand Prix Corp Chief Executive Le Ngoc Chi said on Friday that cancellation emerged as the only option after a review of safety criteria. 

"This has been an extremely difficult but necessary decision to reach in view of the continued uncertainty caused by the global coronavirus pandemic," Vietnam Grand Prix Corporation said in a statement, adding that it would refund all tickets sold. 

The Vietnamese Grand Prix was originally scheduled to take place in April on the streets of Hanoi as the third race of the season. 

But the start of the Formula One season was pushed back to July from March due to the pandemic, with extensive changes made to the 2020 calendar. 

The total number of races was cut to 17 from the record 22 originally envisaged, with Vietnam becoming the 13th race from the original calendar to be axed this year. 

Last year Vietnam signed a 10-year deal with Formula One to host an event state media said would cost the country $60 million per year.

In August, Formula One cancelled the Chinese Grand Prix, while adding four more races - one in Turkey, two in Bahrain and one in Abu Dhabi - in the last two months of the year. 

(With input from agencies)