Vietnamese Prime Minister (PM) Pham Minh Chinh has given the green light to Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang for comeback of international tourists.

The PM has approved the three-phase approach to welcome back international tourists proposed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The approach was created based on the COVID-19 situation in the five localities.

Temporary guidance on piloting to welcome back international tourists has been issued for these localities.  

International tourists with vaccine passports or those who have made a full recovery from COVID-19 can visit the five localities starting from this month, without a quarantine mandate.

Phase 1 starting from November 2021 will focus on welcoming international tourists on chartered and commercial flights which will arrive in Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh, Quang Nam, and Da Nang package tourism programmes.

Phase 2 will take effect from January 2022 and the scale of the pilot plan will be expanded by connecting destinations through regular charter and international commercial flights.

The tourists can participate in travel programmes that combine multiple destinations after completing their tours at the first destination within seven days. The five localities will be piloted first and some other localities will be added to the programmes later as long as the pandemic conditions permit and the local authorities submit proposals to welcome international tourists.

Viet Nam will fully open to international tourists in phase 3 and the starting time of which will be based on the COVID-19 situation and the assesment of the two previous phases.

The new regulation will apply to foreign tourists and overseas Vietnamese arriving from Viet Nam’s key tourism markets. All adult travellers must have a proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 infection in the past six months, except children under 12 years old accompanied by parents or guardians. In addition, they must present a proof of negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival and have medical or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum liability of US$50,000.

International tourist arrivals in Viet Nam must have their temperature regularly checked and use the IGOVN application during their stay. Mask wearing is mandatory for them during their stay in Viet Nam.

On the first day of entry, tourists will be taken to the accommodation facility and have COVID tests. They could continue their stay if tests on them come back negative for the virus or they will be taken to a medical facility and the cost will be covered by insurance or travel agency.

Within the first seven days of their arrival in Viet Nam, international tourists must adhere to the recommended COVID-19 precautionary measures and undergo COVID-19 self-tests every two to three days. In case of having any symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat, they must go to a healthcare facility for screening tests.

After seven days, those who continue to stay in Viet Nam must test themselves for COVID-19, and could travel to other localities within their tour programme if their test results come back negative for the virus. Those who want to visit their relatives in Viet Nam need to register with their tour operators.

Viet Nam stopped receiving international visitors since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020 and only allowed foreign experts’ entry.

Reporting by NHAT HA – translating by H.L