The Vietnamese Government late Saturday announced that it would temporarily halt entry to all foreigners, starting 00:00 March 22, citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Foreign tourists seen walking around Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Ha Noi on March 17

This latest move was a drastic step up from a decision effective starting March 18 requiring that all foreign and Vietnamese entrants into Việt Nam would have to be quarantined for 14 days, given that the rising number of coronavirus positive cases in the country in recent days have mostly originated from returning Vietnamese and foreign tourists from European countries – especially the UK – which WHO has declared to be the new epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

In its notice, the foreign ministry said that for those entering Viet Nam for diplomatic and official purposes, for participation in major diplomatic events, or experts, business managers or highly skilled workers, the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Defence will coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, and other relevant agencies to issue visas if necessary.

 

However, all entrants in these categories into Viet Nam will be subject to medical checks and mandatory 14-day quarantine.

 

The temporary suspension will also be applied to all overseas Vietnamese and their relatives granted with certificates of visa exemption.

 

The Vietnamese foreign ministry said it has notified this decision to diplomatic missions, consulates and representative offices of international organisations in Viet Nam and Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad in order to ensure that the citizens would strictly abide by Viet Nam regulations on epidemic prevention and control.