Photo: VN Express

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Doan Van Viet signed a decision on temporary guidance for receiving international visitors to Vietnam on Nov. 5.

Accordingly, foreign travelers wishing to visit Vietnam is required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, have a negative Covid-19 test, book package tours, and have travel insurance.

They must present a certificate to prove that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, with the vaccines being recognized by competent Vietnamese authorities. They must show a negative Covid-19 test by the RTP-CR/RT-LAMP method within 72 hours before departure. In addition, this certificate must be issued by competent authorities in the country where the test was performed.

Visitors are required to have medical insurance to cover the cost of any Covid-19 treatment at a minimum spending level of US$50,000 in the event that they are infected with the virus.

Visitors must follow package tours arranged by the travel agency, VOV said.

Upon arriving in Vietnam, travelers will be tested on both the first and seventh days in the event that they book a tour of more than seven days. They are recommended to self-test every two to three days using a rapid test kit in all other cases. During the course of their stay, visitors are required to strictly follow Vietnamese guidelines, including wearing a face mask and avoiding large gatherings in public places.

The guidance specifically emphasized that foreign tourists will not be allowed to leave the group during the trip and take a journey of at least 7 days. After completing a tour package for seven days, visitors who want to extend their stay have to register with travel agents who help them complete necessary requirements for health, testing, and quarantine requirements, according to SGGP.

Photo: VGP

Visitors can return to their homeland on commercial and charter flights and must comply with prevention and control measures of pandemic issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, and local authorities of destinations.

The Vietnamese Government has approved the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s proposal to reopen the country to international visitors through a three-phase scheme, with the first phase starting in November, the second phase from January 2022, and the third phase probably starting in June 2022.

For the time being, the pilot scheme will be implemented this month in Phu Quoc, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang, and Quang Ninh, all of which are home to internationally recognized tourist destinations.

Phu Quoc alone is set to welcome its first foreign visitors on November 20. The island city in the south has set a target of receiving between 3,000 and 5,000 foreign visitors in the first phase. Notably, overseas travelers to Phu Quoc are exempt from entry visas.

Vietnam has closed its borders to foreign travelers since April 2020, when the SARS-CoV-2 virus initially spread rapidly across the country. It has since experienced four waves of the pandemic, dealing a heavy blow to all local tourism services.

According to economic experts, Vietnam cannot keep its borders closed any longer or it will risk losing out to other regional countries in terms of economic and tourism development. The country is currently transitioning into a stage of safe and flexible adaptation and effective control of Covid-19. Due to this shift in policy, the Government has allowed the tourism sector to welcome back foreign visitors from destinations with a high level of safety.

Vietnam Eyes Welcoming International Tourists in November The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has announced plans to resume both domestic and international tourism.

Vietnam to Fully Reopen to Foreign Visitors by June 2022 Vietnam is to receive foreign visitors with a vaccine passport on a trial basis next month, towards a full resumption in June 2022.

Vietnamese Provinces Prepares To Welcome Foreign Visitors From November Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has issued a plan to stimulate travel demand, restore the tourism industry, and resume travel activities in late ...