http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/VNs-touris ... /40584.vgp

This may happen sooner than expected, and with Thailand starting to say the same, it just leaves Cambodia. I reckon by September all SEA will be open to Covid controlled countries, which will include NZ / Aust / most of Asia, but probably not a lot of Europe and definitely not the USA (what do you guys prefer - freedom to not wear masks etc or freedom to travel? Guess you cant have both....)

Economically they have to as does every country that’s been in lockdown, apart from Sweden who’ve been laughing at the rest of the world.

There has been some talk about opening in July but this article came out last week:

Vietnam not ready to reopen doors to foreign tourists: PM
https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/pla ... 08soZS-pMY

I was in Sai Gon for the first time since early January and while Bui Vien Street in the Pham Ngu Lao area is fairly quiet, of course, plenty of locals are still showing up there to drink at night. Also, many trendy pricey restaurants in District 1 and beyond are still quite busy. So, it seems that the local economy and domestic tourism/consumption may be strong enough for the authorities to not feel the pressure to open up just yet.

VN is not as reliant on mass tourism as some countries, and less than 20% of international tourists are non-Asians. Also, they may have done an assessment of demand and found that their biggest markets, China, Korea, Japan and Thailand, are not ready to travel yet for economic reasons/health concerns.

lagrange wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:14 am http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/VNs-touris ... /40584.vgp

This may happen sooner than expected, and with Thailand starting to say the same, it just leaves Cambodia. I reckon by September all SEA will be open to Covid controlled countries, which will include NZ / Aust / most of Asia, but probably not a lot of Europe and definitely not the USA (what do you guys prefer - freedom to not wear masks etc or freedom to travel? Guess you cant have both....)

By all reports, don't expect thailand to be open to Tourists before Sept
Than Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Burma, Cambodia will follow

lagrange wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:14 am http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/VNs-touris ... /40584.vgp

This may happen sooner than expected, and with Thailand starting to say the same, it just leaves Cambodia. I reckon by September all SEA will be open to Covid controlled countries, which will include NZ / Aust / most of Asia, but probably not a lot of Europe and definitely not the USA (what do you guys prefer - freedom to not wear masks etc or freedom to travel? Guess you cant have both....)

I don't think this government notice is indicating much of a step forward. VN announced a couple of weeks ago the first step in allowing foreigner tourists to return is to open up the island of Phu Quoc, only via direct connector flights from Saigon and Ha Noi arrival points. As much as I want to go to VN, I'm not so optimistic it will be soon.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 10:48 am

lagrange wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:14 am http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/VNs-touris ... /40584.vgp

This may happen sooner than expected, and with Thailand starting to say the same, it just leaves Cambodia. I reckon by September all SEA will be open to Covid controlled countries, which will include NZ / Aust / most of Asia, but probably not a lot of Europe and definitely not the USA (what do you guys prefer - freedom to not wear masks etc or freedom to travel? Guess you cant have both....)

By all reports, don't expect thailand to be open to Tourists before Sept
Than Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Burma, Cambodia will follow

Well I guess there's a bit of 'wishin an a hopin' in there, but who knows, the picture may change anytime. One place is a bit of a worry...the Maldives is open to all, no health checks, no insurance, no quarantine just go right in and take your chances.

whatwat wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:32 am Economically they have to as does every country that’s been in lockdown, apart from Sweden who’ve been laughing at the rest of the world.

Ah yes Sweden, now technically a pariah state to its neighbors, with about the highest death rate per capita from Covid in the world. Although its borders are open, no-one wants to go there and Swedes aren't allowed to enter anywhere. Hollow laughter indeed.

lagrange wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 12:45 pm

whatwat wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:32 am Economically they have to as does every country that’s been in lockdown, apart from Sweden who’ve been laughing at the rest of the world.

Ah yes Sweden, now technically a pariah state to its neighbors, with about the highest death rate per capita from Covid in the world. Although its borders are open, no-one wants to go there and Swedes aren't allowed to enter anywhere. Hollow laughter indeed.

“about the highest”
Per capita, total deaths?

Negatory to both. High but not the highest by a long shot. 18th per capita and 17th total deaths behind all of Europe.
Don’t let facts get in the way.

lagrange wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 12:45 pmAh yes Sweden, now technically a pariah state to its neighbors, with about the highest death rate per capita from Covid in the world.

Stop spreading disinformation.

Italy and Spain, to name a couple, have higher death rates per capita from covid than Sweden, and they had the strictest lockdowns in the world.
Japan didn’t have the lockdown and has one of the lowest death rates.

Other factors can explain high or low death rates among countries, but i won’t go there as this information is all over internet.

But all these counts are premature, nothing is over yet as until majority of the population have faced the virus and there is sort of herd immunity formed, this will go on. Sweden likely has a larger share of population who have already confronted the virus because they let it run loose and are now closer to herd immunity than others.