On Friday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said that it would launch the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) for Vietnam as part of efforts to boost the post-pandemic connectivity of the two nations of strategic partnership Hanoi Times reported.

"Airlines that plan to operate from these points under the VTL may submit their plans for designated flights to CAAS for approval," said the authority.

"With the launch of the VTL from Vietnam, we will restore two-way quarantine-free travel with Vietnam, which was a popular destination for many Singaporeans pre-Covid."

Visitors at Changi Airport, Singapore. Photo: Changi Airport

As Channel News Asia reported, travellers from Vietnam may enter Singapore under the VTL on or after March 16. In an announcement on March 4, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) applications for travellers from Vietnam would open at 10 a.m. (Singapore time) on March 13.

Short-term visitors and work permit holders eligible to travel on the VTL must apply for a VTP to enter Singapore under the VTL. Fully vaccinated Singapore citizens, permanent residents, all other long-term pass holders and In-Principle Approval holders, and children aged 12 years and below in the calendar year do not need to apply for a VTP to enter Singapore under the VTL.

According to VTL requirements, short-term visitors must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with any vaccine in the World Health Organization Emergency Use List, at least 14 days before arrival in Singapore; provide a digitally verifiable vaccination certificate in English issued by Singapore or the VTL country; give a negative result from a professionally administered COVID-19 PCR or ART test was taken within two days before departure to Singapore, and purchase COVID-19 medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 SGD (22,000 USD).

Passengers from Amsterdam arrive at Changi Airport under Singapore's expanded Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) quarantine-free travel scheme. (Photo: Reuters)

Meanwhile, recovered travellers do not need to show a test result within 90 days since their recovery is certified by recognized medical facilities.

Earlier on Thursday, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said Singapore was among the 15 countries with which Việt Nam had had a mutual agreement on the acceptance of vaccine passports.

According to Vietnam Plus, this is among the outcomes of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's State visit to Singapore from Feb. 24 to 26, expected to help further boost the post-pandemic recovery of the two countries.

In the joint statement issued during the visit, both sides welcomed the progress made by the bilateral working group on Covid-19 public health and border measures, which was formed last year. This includes agreement on the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates, facilitating the safe and early resumption of regular commercial travel between the two countries.

Aside from Vietnam, Singapore will also launch the VTL with Greece. The country has extended the quarantine-free arrangement to more cities in Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

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