Vietnam will reopen to international travelers on March 15. The new bundle of “inconsistent” restrictions has the sector concerned about its ability to attract overseas visitors.

After landing in Vietnam, foreign tourists must stay in quarantine for 72 hours, with the first 24 hours being obligatory.

During this period, they will be tested for Covid twice on the first and third days after arrival.

Those who need to leave after one day must undergo three tests instead of two, in addition to the negative PCR test that must be submitted 72 hours before prior to arrival in Vietnam.

“The country has lifted all barriers for domestic tourists during the new normal period, so why are we not treating foreign and domestic tourists alike?” said Nguyen Tien Dat, general director of Hanoi-based tour operator AZA Travel

February 19 – Vietnam eyes reopening the country on March 15

The tourism ministry believes the government would be able to fully reopen Vietnam borders to international tourists on March 15, three months ahead of schedule.

Arrivals will have to be fully vaccinated. Visitors must provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure as well as a rapid antigen test within the next 24 hours of arrival.

Foreign nationals will also need to purchase insurance that covers COVID-19 for no less than $10,000. More entry requirements may be announced in the coming weeks as the new guidelines is complete.

February 7 – Vietnam will reopen to all international tourists between March and April

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said last week that Vietnam must be ready to restart tourism in a safe between the end of March and the end of April.

Travelers must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from the infection. A negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival is required, as well as medical insurance that covers Covid-19 treatment with a minimum of $50,000 in coverage.

The entry restrictions for unvaccinated travelers will be announced over the next few days.

The government began admitting international tourists in under a vaccine passport scheme back in November. In total, 8,500 foreign visitors had arrived in Vietnam thus far.

Read our full post: Vietnam Gears Up For Full Tourism Reopening in March

What is open in Vietnam at the moment?

Ho Chi Minh City authorities have allowed bars, movie theaters, and other venues to reopen in low-risk areas from November 16.

Motorbike ride-hailing services are also allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Services in high-risk areas are still prohibited from resuming.

What is the current COVID-19 situation in Vietnam?

As of March 5, the country has reported 4,059,262 positive cases and 40,644 deaths.

Travelers in Vietnam

Vietnam’s borders have been closed to tourists, since March 22, 2020. Only Vietnamese nationals and those conducting either official or essential business were allowed into the country.

All those arriving were required to undergo testing and a 14-day quarantine.

While no new tourist visas are being issued right now to Vietnam, the country has extended temporary residence to those foreigners who entered the country after March 1st, 2020. The government has been extending this permission to stay every few months.

These visitors must fill out an online medical declaration and provide the location where they are residing.

Foreigners are expected to follow the same rules as local residents. They will be fined if they fail to wear a mask in public or follow other rules.

Vietnam attracts tourism from all around the world

Dating back to 2000 BC, Vietnam has one of the most ancient cultures in South East Asia. Since then, it’s been influenced by the Chinese as well as Khmer, Indians and of course the French, who colonized the country.

One area in which the French influence can still be seen is the country’s coffee culture. This makes it unique in a region more known for tea.

The cuisine is also unique and delicious. From refreshing soups to French inspired sandwiches and exquisite tropical fruits.

There are also beautiful beaches, magnificent mountains, and budget accommodations. The people are generally friendly. One way to experience the local culture is to shop in the roadside markets. Here visitors will not only find delicious food, they will also be able to shop for local crafts.

Guided tours can take visitors through a variety of natural wonders. In the north, there are many lakes and limestone caves.

In Central Vietnam, visitors enjoy touring the red and white sand dunes. In the southern part of the country, the Mekong Delta provides a look at an ancient lifestyle with its houseboats and river people. It is also rich in biodiversity – 10,000 new species have been found here.

Vietnam is an interesting and beautiful country in Southeast Asia. While it is currently undergoing another resurgence of the coronavirus, given how quickly the government got things under control, there is hope that the country will be able to open for tourists soon.

When it does, it would be a great place to visit with its stunning natural beauty, ancient culture and delicious food and coffee.

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Vietnam Reopening: Updates Archives

January 28 – Vietnam might fully reopen for tourism on May 1, 2022

Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung has proposed that the “Pilot reopening” be extended through April 30, with most foreign international flights resuming on May 1.

On the same line, the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), the Private Sector Development Committee (Committee IV) and the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) Alliance have also suggested removing all domestic and international travel restrictions and completely reopening the tourism industry on the same date.

On Jan. 24, Vietnam Airlines only restored flights to Russia, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

January 13 – Vietnam is gradually reopening to certain categories of travelers

Vietnam is gradually allowing entry to Vietnamese citizens, foreign family members of Vietnamese citizens and foreign investors through a pilot program that started on Jan. 1.

The first countries and territories allowed to enter are Beijing/Guangzhou (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (the Republic of Korea), Taiwan, Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Vientiane (Laos), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), San Francisco/Los Angeles (the United States).

The country plans to reopen to more travelers from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hong Kong, Paris (France), Frankfurt (Germany), Sidney (Australia), and Moscow (Russia) from on Jan. 15

December 23 – Vietnam plans to change the quarantine restrictions as it reopens on Jan. 1

The Vietnamese government is proposing that fully vaccinated arrivals only have to serve a 3-day mandatory quarantine starting Jan. 1.

Visitors would also be required to provide a negative PCR-RT test upon arrival and take another one on day three of their stay. However, they must monitor for symptoms for 14 days total.

The current regulations require a 7-day quarantine followed by another 7 days of medical surveillance at their accommodation.

Despite the additional threat posed by the Omicron variant, Vietnam still intends to start regular international flights “on a pilot basis” from January 1.

December 13 – Vietnam to resume most international flights from January 1

The government will permit the reestablishment of regular commercial flights between Vietnam and “very safe” international destinations starting January 1, 2022.

Among the confirmed destinations are San Francisco or Los Angeles (the U.S.), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Vientiane (Laos), Beijing/Guangzhou (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), and Taipei (Taiwan).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work with other nations to reach agreements on mutual recognition of “vaccine passports,” with a focus on places where flights will restart first.

December 1 – Vietnam works with (WHO) to tackle the new variant but has not imposed travel ban yet

The Vietnamese government is reportedly working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US CDC on the best ways to tackle the new Omicron variant, said the Minister of Health on Tuesday.

The minister also announced he requested the government suspend travel from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Mozambique.

Despite the petition, authorities have not made an official announcement about a travel ban yet.

November 17 – Vietnam reopens for tourism under strict controls

More than 430 American tourists will arrive in Hoi An, Quang Nam Province between today and tomorrow, while 250 foreign tourists will arrive on Phu Quoc Island on Nov. 20, as per local news outlets.

Foreign tourists must be fully vaccinated and have tested negative for the coronavirus within 72 hours before departure. Only tourists on planned excursions are allowed in, and they are only allowed to explore designated areas and service facilities.

In the first quarter next year, Vietnam will allow flights from France, Germany, Russia, the U.K., Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia, said the Minister of Transport.

November 1 – Vietnam to start testing its reopening plan on Nov. 20

Vietnam expects to begin welcoming charter flights in the Mekong province on Nov. 20 as part of a pilot program that will allow them to bring back visitors to its resort island Phu Quoc in December.

Visitors, who must come from very-low-risk countries, will trial Vietnam’s “Vaccine passports”, so authorities can ensure all technology and protocols are working to start receiving a bigger number of tourists on Dec. 20.

The country plans to reopen its borders to international travelers in two stages. The first one starts on December 20 and will extend through March 20, and the second one goes from March 20 to June 20, 2022, when the country is expected to be fully reopened.

October 14 – Vietnam plans to extend reopening to 4 more cities in December

Vietnam will reopen other 4 key tourist destinations to vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries in December, confirmed the government last week.

The country has announced plans to reopen its resort island Phu Quoc in November and right after, it will reopen to major tourist hotspots including Hoi An, Halong Bay, Nha Trang, and Dalat.

“We are moving step by step, cautiously but flexibly to adapt to real situations of the pandemic,” the government said in a statement.

Reuters

September 30 – Vietnam to put off Phu Quoc Island reopening to December

The reopening of the resort island of Phu Quoc to international tourists has been postponed until late November or early December, announced Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The island was supposed to reopen in October, but the government had to rethink its plans due to the insufficient vaccination rate and a recent coronavirus outbreak.

“We have to inoculate residents here for herd immunity but vaccine supplies are falling short,” said the chairman of Phu Quoc City’s People’s Committee.

Source: Reuters

September 2 – Vietnam tightens quarantine and puts the world’s coffee supply at risk.

Back in July Vietnam enforced a strict lockdown in Ho Chi Minh to reduce the coronavirus activity. Since infections continued to surge, last week the government decided to deploy soldiers to guarantee everyone followed the rules.

Citizens are not even allowed to go out to shop for food. Soldiers have been seen helping people with groceries.

Additionally, international markets have expressed concerns about the world’s coffee supply. Being Vietnam the world’s second-biggest exporter of coffee the lockdowns in coffee-growing plantations are starting to affect the international demand.

Source: BBC News

August 22 – Vietnam to mobilize military forces to ensure full lockdown compliance

Vietnam will deploy troops in Ho Chi Minh City to ensure residents not to leave home, authorities said on Friday.

“We are asking people to stay where they are, not to go outside. Each home, company, factory should be an antivirus fort,” said Pham Duc Hai, deputy head of the city’s coronavirus authority.

Also, authorities will require people who have contacted known COVID-19 cases to quarantine in centralized facilities for 21 days.

Source: Reuters

August 8 – Vietnam has cut quarantine period for fully vaccinated travelers to only 7 days

All fully vaccinated travelers arriving in Vietnam will benefit from the new reduced quarantine period.

These visitors still need to test negative for the COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to arrival. Once freed from quarantine, they will be required to self-monitor for another 7 days after.

The government is yet to provide further details and the date for the implementation of this initiative.

Source: Bloomberg

July 23 – Vietnam to resume multiple international flights while extends restrictions through August 1

Vietnam Airlines is currently resuming more international flights with Australia, Europe, and Asia to bring back fully vaccinated essential workers, international students and diplomats.

Most of these passengers will need to quarantine at centralized facilities for 14 days upon arrival. International arrivals entering Quang Ninh Province only need to quarantine for 7 days.

Authorities plan to tighten COVID-19 restrictions in some areas of the country through at least Augusto 1. Gatherings of more than 2 people are not allowed and people should only leave home for essential reasons.

Source: Simple Flying

July 8 – Vietnam to reopen its resort island Phu Quoc for international tourism in September, said government

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reportedly asked its officials to rush up vaccination campaigns on the island in order to reopen for tourism as early as September.

Once 90 percent of its 178,000 residents have been fully vaccinated, Vietnam plans to start a pilot program in Phu Quoc to test the reopening waters before reopening other places in the territory.

According to local news, fully-vaccinated Russian tourists would be the first people to be welcomed back to the country.

Source: The Star

June 21 – Ho Chi Minh City authorities to tighten COVID-19 domestic restrictions from June 20 due to high coronavirus activity

For more than a year Vietnam had prided itself on effectively containing the coronavirus. But after an outbreak in Ho Chi Minh the country is currently facing its first deadly wave of COVID-19 cases linked to the Delta variant.

Effective June 20, Ho Chi Minh government imposed 10 new stricter measures to flatten the curve of infections.

As of yesterday, all interprovincial means of transportation such as taxis and buses were banned as well as gatherings of more than 2 people.

The date where these restrictions will be lifted is yet to be confirmed.

(Source: VietnamPlus)

June 4 – Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh resumed international flights on June 2

Vietnam banned all foreign arrivals into Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh from Tuesday following the Vietnamese Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long announcement the country had found an apparent new hybrid variant tied to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

However, on June 2 – only two days later – Vietnam Aviation authority decided to resume international flights to those cities with no explanations given.

Local media reports that the reason behind this decision could be that most of the COVID-19 cases in the current outbreak are locally transmitted and not from foreign visitors.

So as of today, all pre-approved foreigners and their families in exempted categories, including diplomats, officials, experts, business managers, foreign investors, high-tech workers, and other business travelers can continue coming to Vietnam.

Source: Nikkei Asia

May 19 – Vietnam continues to enforce restrictions to prevent the further spread of the virus

More domestic restrictions have been imposed in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 nationwide.

Starting yesterday, May 18, residents and locals who have had any type of contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 must quarantine at a centralized facility (not home) for 21 days. These extreme precautions have helped the country to only have 39 deaths over the course of the pandemic.

Also, long-distance domestic travelers must complete a health declaration form before departure. In locations like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City if a person is caught not wearing a mask in public they will be subject to fines.

All inbound commercial flights remain suspended until further notice.

May 4 – Vietnam to postpone reopening following regional outbreaks of COVID-19

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had announced Vietnam plans to restart international tourism around August. But now, following the multiple regional outbreaks in countries such as India, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines, the Vietnam government doesn’t want to risk it.

The country was ready to reopen beaches and golf resorts around Danang for South Koreans and travelers from other low-risk countries through travel bubble agreements. However, these plans have just suffered a setback as officials admitted second and third Covid-19 waves across Asia that would definitely affect their plans.

April 4

A few days ago, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc asked his ministers to start working on a plan to reopen international fights and also to prepare the necessary protocols to start using “vaccine passports.”

Vietnam has been one of the most successful countries worldwide at containing the spread of the virus. Early on, the government implemented centralized quarantines, effective contact tracing and quick lockdowns.

“The war against the virus is not over and there is still a lot to do.” said the Prime Minister. Thus, it is expected that this potential reopening would be slow and with multiple restrictions. The government has not released more information about it as of yet.

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