Several ministries have voiced support for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's proposal to fully reopen international tourism and lift all travel restrictions from March 15.
The defense, public security, tourism, health, foreign affairs and transport ministries agreed at a government meeting Tuesday that as Vietnam fully reopens its air, land and sea borders from March 15, all travel restrictions imposed since the pandemic broke out in Vietnam in 2020 would be removed.

Foreign tourists arriving in Vietnam do not need book tour packages with designated travel agencies as per the ongoing vaccine passport trial program launched in November last year.

All tourists aged from 12 and above are required to furnish a certificate stating they have been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid and show a negative rapid antigen test result obtained within 24 hours at their accommodation facilities after arrival.

All tourists aged from 12 and above are required to furnish a certificate stating they have been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid and show a negative rapid antigen test result obtained within 24 hours at their accommodation facilities after arrival.

Ministries also proposed the government resumes the unilateral visa exemption policy for 13 countries and bilateral for 88 countries and territories as prior to the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, Vietnam unilaterally exempted visa for 13 countries Russia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Belarus for a maxium of 15 days.

International visitors arriving in the country by air would spend one-day quarantine in their hotel or accommodation facility until they furnish a negative Covid test result and would continue monitoring their health for 14 days as per health ministry protocol.

Those showing Covid symptoms would have to undergo rapid Covid testing when they land at the airport.

International visitors to Vietnam need to have medical insurance cover for Covid treatment.

With the new tourism reopening plan in place, all visa policies before the pandemic would be resumed, including those on electronic visa issuance.

Incoming tourists would only be required to have proof of full vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 and a negative test result certificate issued within 24 hours for rapid tests and 72 hours for the real-time RT-PCR method before departure, while a one-day quarantine requirement would remain effective.

International visitors entering via land border would be tested at border gates before their entry.

Insurance fees would also be mandatory for all international arrivals.

Foreigners entering Việt Nam are expected to pay US$30 per person on average to enjoy the insurance benefits worth $10,000 for COVID-19 treatment in Việt Nam. In case a foreign tourist tests positive for the virus, the accommodation establishment will be responsible for working with health facilities and local authorities on quarantine and treatment for him/her.

VOV.VN - The Vietnamese Government has approved the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s proposal to reopen borders to international travel on March 15.

A document to this effect was released by the Government Office on February 16, making clear Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam’s conclusions at a recent working session with relevant ministries and agencies regarding the reopening of the country’s borders to international tourism.

The designated ministries proposed that Vietnam resume issuing entry visas, including electronic visas, as well as unilateral and bilateral visa exemption, for international visitors as seen in the pre-pandemic period.

Vietnam had exempted visas unilaterally for citizens from 13 countries and bilaterally for citizens from 88 countries and territories. However, the government issued a resolution to stop this visa exemption mechanism following the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 2020 that subsequently spread across the globe.

In addition, foreign citizens wishing to visit Vietnam only need to fully meet COVID-19 regulations outlined by the Ministry of Health. Accordingly, they are required to get full vaccine doses and have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding the plane. They must install at least one health quarantine application as prescribed by authorized Vietnamese agencies and turn it on constantly during their stay in the country.

Visitors entering by air and showing suspect symptoms must undergo testing at the airport. Others will travel directly to their pre-booked accommodation where they self-isolate within 24 hours and perform a rapid test or RT-PCR test. They will continue medical surveillance within 14 days under the guidance of the Ministry of Health, and strictly implement the 5K message.

Visitors entering via land routes will undergo testing right at the border gate.

Foreign visitors must pay insurance premium to enjoy the insurance rate of up to US$10,000 in case they test positive and receive COVID-19 treatment in Vietnam.

Foreign tourists should remain in their place of accommodation 72 hours after arriving in Vietnam with the first 24 hours compulsory, the Health Ministry said.

In case they need to travel to other places, they are required to be tested for Covid thrice within three days, the ministry said in response to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's draft plan on international tourism reopening from March 15.

If foreign tourists remain at their accommodation facility for 72 hours, they would only be tested for Covid twice on the first and third day after arrival.

Earlier, the tourism ministry proposed international visitors arriving in the country by air would self-isolate in their hotel or accommodation facility for one day until they furnish a negative Covid test result and can travel freely to other places.

In addition, the health ministry required all tourists aged 12 and above to produce a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours before departure besides vaccination or recovery certificates.

Previously, the tourism ministry suggested allowing them to submit negative rapid testing results obtained 24 hours before departure.

HÀ NỘI — With negative COVID-19 tests, fully vaccinated foreign tourists may freely travel in Việt Nam after only one day of isolation following entry, according to the Ministry of Health’s proposed regulations.

This is part of the set of pandemic rules that the ministry sent to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on the plan to reopen international tourism in the new normal, scheduled to start from March 15, 2022, after over two years of closures due to COVID-19.

The reopening of tourism activities under new normal should be based on the assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak level in each locality and area that is expected to provide accommodation, sightseeing and entertainment services for tourists, while at the same time, the locality needs to have a backup plan to respond to possible COVID-19 developments during the reopening process to guarantee absolute safety for tourists and the local community, the ministry noted.

Tourists from 12 years and older who want to enter Việt Nam 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 via vaccine passport forms that Việt Nam has officially recognised, or other documents that were authenticated by relevant authorities in case those documents have been approved for direct use in Việt Nam; or that they have recovered from COVID-19 within six months of the entry date – which is verified by documents showing proof of a positive RT-PCR test or recovery from COVID-19 or other equivalent documents.

hanno wrote: ↑Thu Mar 03, 2022 10:38 am And there goes the tourist season....