Nearly two years after the border closed, the Vietnamese tourism industry is poised to welcome foreign tourists again in the coming days.
Under the Ministry of Health’s proposed regulations, with negative COVID-19 tests, fully vaccinated foreign tourists in Vietnam are allowed to travel freely after just one day of isolation after entry.
This is part of the series of pandemic rules that the ministry has sent to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism about the plan to reopen international tourism in the new normal, scheduled to start from March 15, 2022, after more than two weeks. year of closures due to COVID-19, Vietnam News Agency reported.
###: Vietnam is ready to welcome international visitors again starting next month
The reopening of tourist activities under the new standard should be based on the assessment of the level of the COVID-19 outbreak in each place and area that is expected to provide accommodation, sightseeing and entertainment for tourists, while at the same time the place should have a have a backup plan to respond to potential COVID-19 developments during the reopening process to ensure absolute safety for tourists and the local community, the ministry noted.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Photo: Leon Wong/ Unsplash
According to the report, foreign tourists aged 12 and over wishing to enter Vietnam must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with the last dose received at least 14 days but no more than six months before the date of entry – which is verified through vaccine passport forms Vietnam officially recognized, or other documents authenticated by the relevant authorities in case those documents are approved for direct use in Vietnam; or that they have recovered from COVID-19 within six months of the effective date – which is verified by documents providing evidence of a positive RT-PCR test or recovery from COVID-19 or other equivalent documents.
High-risk people such as those 65 years of age or older, pregnant women, those with underlying medical conditions but who do not require constant monitoring and treatment in medical facilities should limit travel to new recommendations and strictly follow COVID-19 vaccination rules before entering Vietnam.
Tourists must have a negative RT-PCR/RT-LAMP test result, approved by the competent authorities of the country where the tests were performed, within 72 hours of entry.
Tourists are required to provide medical certificates and are required to install the Vietnam COVID-19 App (PC-COVID) during their entire stay in the country.
At the border gates, tourists who show symptoms of suspected COVID-19 infections (cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches, loss of taste and smell, etc.) must take health measures.
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The 5K message – Khẩu trang (face mask), Khử khuẩn (disinfection), Khoảng cách (distance), Không tụ tập (don’t congregate), Khai báo y tế (statement of health) – must be strictly followed when moving from the border gate to the place of accommodation, with limited stopping, roadside parking and contact with the local community recommended. In special/emergency situations requiring a rest stop, safety precautions should be taken to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.
In the first 24 hours after entry, tourists must remain at their accommodation and undergo a COVID-19 test.
In the first 72 hours after entry, tourists are advised not to leave their accommodation, but if they want to leave, they must have a negative COVID-19 test result every day before going out (either rapid antigen tests or RT-PCR tests ).
It is incredibly pedestrian-friendly and considered one of the safest cities in Asia.
It is incredibly pedestrian-friendly and considered one of the safest cities in Asia.
Hoi An ancient city. @ Shutterstock/Tang Trung Kien
If tourists do not travel outside their accommodation within the first 72 hours of entry, they only need to undergo two COVID-19 tests – one on the first day of entry and one on the third day of entry. If the results are negative both times, they will be able to travel freely outside their accommodation 72 hours after entry, but will be required to self-monitor their health for the next seven days and follow pandemic prevention measures.
Tourists under the age of 12 are allowed to enter Vietnam with their parents/relatives without requiring a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
If these children have either been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have contracted COVID-19 once, they (except children under the age of two) will follow the COVID-19 protocols and testing regulations, just like for tourists aged 12 and older.
Children who have not or have been partially vaccinated against COVID-19 or who have never been infected with the coronavirus are not allowed to leave their accommodation for the first 24 hours after arrival. For the next seven days, they would have to undergo a negative COVID-19 test every day before leaving their accommodation.
Children under the age of two are not required to undergo COVID-19 testing and can participate in activities outside their accommodation with their parents and relatives (eligible participants), even if they have not been vaccinated or have it virus contracted before, Vietnam News Agency reported.
