More Details On Vietnam’s Plan To Reopen To Int’l Visitors: Spokeswoman

As vietnamplus reported, spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Le Thi Thu Hang on March 17 provided more details about Vietnam’s plan to reopen its door to foreign visitors, including regulations on arrivals and medical requirements.

Addressing the ministry’s regular press meeting held virtually, she said the Ministry of Health on March 15 issued Document No. 1265/BYT-DP on COVID-19 prevention and control for foreign arrivals to Vietnam.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang. Photo: VOV

Accordingly, those entering the country by air need to show a negative result of RT-PCR tests for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours or of rapid antigen tests within 24 hours prior to their departure.

The arrivals going by road, railway, and sea can do the same if their travel time is short, but need to undergo testing at border gates before entering Vietnam if the travel time is long. In the latter case, if the test result is negative, they can leave their accommodations and have to take the regulated anti-pandemic measures, Hang noted.

People entering Vietnam have to make health declarations prior to their entry, monitor their health, and use health declaration app PC COVID as in line with regulations while staying in Vietnam, she added.

To implement the Vietnamese Government’s policy of reopening tourism in the new normal, ministries and sectors have actively coordinated with one another and devised guidelines on the entry procedures and reception for international visitors to Vietnam.

Hang explained that foreign tourists to Vietnam can contact and ask international travel companies in the country to represent them to handle procedures at the Immigration Department and then receive their visas at Vietnam’s overseas representative agencies or the agencies authorised to grant visas such as the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei.

The MoFA has ordered the overseas representative bodies and the authorised agencies to grant visas to coordinate with domestic relevant agencies to deal with visa demand from people entering Vietnam for tourism, as well as business and investment purposes.

People wait to handle entry procedures at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam has resumed visa exemption for foreigners in accordance with the international treaties to which it is a party, or waived visa on the basis of reciprocity with some countries, including Southeast Asian nations like Singapore and Thailand, according to the spokeswoman.

Many foreign tourists said they are excited and ready to visit Vietnam as soon as possible as the country scrapped entry restrictions after inbound tourism reopening.

Ben Teh from Singapore said he was glad that Vietnam is finally opening with relaxed entry rules and he can plan his trip to meet his friends.

"This is actually good news. It has been two years since I visited Vietnam. Miss my friends in Ho Chi Minh City," Teh told VnExpress International.

"Lifting the quarantine restriction is good news for those looking for a short trip as no one would visit Vietnam with the previous three-day quarantine rule," he added.

On March 15, basing on the MoFA’s proposal, the Government agreed to restore the pre-pandemic entry policy for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese people. The same day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a tourism reopening plan for inbound and outbound tourists, and those making domestic trips by air, road, railway, and sea.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has promulgated guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and control for arrivals, which is in conformity with Article 16.1 in the law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

According to the Saigon Securities Incorporated (SSI) Research, the tourism reopening will promote revenue growth and improve the profits of businesses in many fields, such as tourism, travel and transportation.

Though strict requirements are still set to ensure safety against the pandemic, with the opening and the gradual reopening by other countries, the outlook for tourism recovery has become clearer.

Photo: tienphongnews.com.

In a recent move to support the tourism industry, as tienphongnews reported, the Government of Vietnam issued a resolution on visa waiver for three years, commencing from March 15, applied to citizens of 13 countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the tourism industry plans to receive 65 million travelers in 2022, including 5 million foreign travelers and 60 million Vietnamese. The total revenue of the industry is expected to reach VND400 trillion, or $17.4 billion.

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