International Passengers not to be Required to Take Covid-19 Rapid Test

Passengers on international flights only need to present their negative PCR test results. Photo: tintucvietnam.vn

Passengers on international flights only need to present their negative PCR test results, according to document regarding international flights to Vietnam issued by the Government Office on January 28.

The move comes after Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh agreed to increase the frequency of regular commercial flights between Vietnam and Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan (China), VOV reported.

It also aims to expand regular international flights to Europe and Australia on a pilot basis in order to meet the growing demand among overseas Vietnamese for the upcoming Lunar New Year festival, known locally as Tet.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has therefore directed Vietnamese representative missions abroad to urge partners to swiftly respond to requests to resume regular international commercial flights.

According to the plan, Vietnamese people are not required to be subject to a quarantine period when visiting countries such as Singapore, Japan, or the Republic of Korea.

Vietnam has resumed regular flights to certain countries from January 1. Photo: laodong.vn

Vietnamese aviation officially reopened regular flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, Phnom Penh, San Francisco, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo on January 1 this year.

Besides PCR test results, people coming from countries with Omicron had also been required to undergo rapid test before boarding a flight and after landing.

On January 4, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has proposed that the quick test requirement be removed.

The first two commercial flights from Europe operated by Vietnam Airlines landed at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport on January 26 after nearly two years of Covid suspension.

The first flight departing Frankfurt with 190 passengers arrived at 9:30 a.m. (local time) and another from London carrying 300 landed at 9:55 a.m.

Most of the passengers were overseas Vietnamese returning home for family reunions during Lunar New Year, Vietnam’s biggest and most important holiday.

From February 8, the carrier will operate flights once a week each Tuesday on the Hanoi-London route and Hanoi-Paris-Frankfurt routes every Thursday.

EuroCham: Vietnam should go faster in reopening travel activities

Vietnamese officials are considering the resumption of international tourism after two years of restrictions due to the pandemic. Photo: doanhnhansaigon.vn

Vietnam should go faster in reopening travel activities to initiate tourism and increase public direct investment as the country begins to recovery from Covid-19 impacts, EuroCham stated, as cited by VnExpress.

Although Vietnam has been able to control the pandemic and life is returning to normal, some sectors remain at risk of falling behind in the race to recover post-pandemic, said EuroCham Chairman Alain Cany.

"Tourism - one of Vietnam’s spearhead economic sectors and one which is responsible for millions of jobs - remains restricted to guided tours, and this is keeping the brakes on economic growth," he said in a statement.

He encouraged the government to go further and faster in re-opening, at least in areas with high vaccination rates, so Vietnam could achieve its full potential as a leader in this and other industries and attract more foreign investment in 2022.

Vietnamese officials are considering the resumption of international tourism after two years of restrictions due to the pandemic.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung told a recent forum that the country now ranks sixth globally in vaccination speed and this could be an advantage for tourism recovery.

But some factors are acting as barriers in the resumption process, such as inconsistencies in Covid-19 measures between localities, and that businesses have been weakened by long social distancing periods.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, under the tourism ministry, has proposed that the country fully welcome back international tourists starting May 1.

Vietnam Airlines has proposed that all restrictions be lifted as soon as February 1./.

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