Can I Travel to Vietnam in this Covid 19 Season?

• Will I Be Quarantined if I Travel to Vietnam in this Covid 19 Season?

It’s almost a year since Vietnam closed its borders to international visitors in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This is truly upsetting for travellers who wanted to visit Vietnam and discover its many historical sights and natural wonders.

Just like with some other countries around the world, Vietnam has been slowly opening up its borders since November of last year. But since the world is still struggling to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam is only allowing a limited number of travellers to enter. Most of these are travellers who are going to the country for essential reasons. So when it comes to the question of whether you can travel to Vietnam this Covid-19 season, the answer is yes, but only if your purpose is essential. Read on to find out more about this.

Who Can Enter Vietnam During the Covid-19 Season?

The Vietnam Immigration Department announced in November that they will open up the borders to allow the entry of foreigners who needed to come to Vietnam for important reasons. Most of these are visitors who can help build the economy of the country, which has been badly hit by the pandemic. Below is a list of foreign visitors who are allowed to enter Vietnam during this time:

• Foreign entrepreneurs, business managers, investors, high-tech workers, experts, along with their families, such as spouses, mothers, fathers, and kids.
• International students who are currently enrolled in a Vietnam-based school.
• Foreign diplomats who have a residency in Vietnam.

Requirements To Enter Vietnam During this Covid 19 Season

If you belong to any of the categories of travellers mentioned above, then you are eligible to enter Vietnam during this time. But before you do so, it’s important to know that there are several requirements that you need to accomplish. Remember, we are still in the middle of a pandemic, so Vietnam authorities would like to make sure that the virus will not spread by requiring visitors to submit certain requirements. Below are the requirements that you need to fulfil:

• Sponsor company who will be responsible to apply for an entry permit from Vietnam’s Immigration Department
• Proof of accommodation from the designated quarantine facilities in the country. The booking should be good for 14 days. It should also include a booking for the vehicle that will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel.
• A negative result of Covid-19 PCR test, taken 3 to 5 days before the date of entry into the country. The test should be carried out in a laboratory that’s approved by the World Health Organization.
• Health insurance. If not, the sponsor company must commit to paying for the treatment of the traveller in case they get positive for Covid-19.

How to Request for the Entry Permit

One of the most important requirements to enter Vietnam during this Covid 19 season is the entry permit. In most cases, it is the sponsor company that will be responsible for applying for the entry permit on behalf of the foreign visitor. If you are a foreigner working in Vietnam, then you should ask the company that you work for to be your sponsor. Here’s how to request for the entry permit:

1. The sponsor company should submit some documents to the Vietnam Immigration Department in order to obtain an entry permit. These include the NA2 form, which must be filled out by the applicant. This form can also be accessed online. Print the form and fill out in advance.
2. In order to be granted the entry permit, the sponsor company must also provide a Vietnam visa or TRC.
3. The Immigration Department will also require written approval from the Provincial People’s Committee that allows the foreign visitor to enter Vietnam in order to provide employment, study, or other essential reasons. Another important document that will be required for the entry permit is a written approval for quarantine that will also come from the Provincial People’s Committee. The document must state the quarantine location of the foreign visitor.
4. Next, the sponsor company must also submit to the Vietnam Immigration Department the flight details of the applicant. These include the flight number and the name of the Vietnam airport where the applicant will land. In case the flight has not been booked yet during the application, the Immigration Department must be notified of these once the flight details are already available.

The processing time will take around 3 to 5 business days. Once it is approved, the travel permit will be issued and the foreign visitor can now fly to Vietnam. Make sure that you have all the requirements mentioned above, especially the negative result of Covid-19 test. Without this, you will not be allowed to board your flight to Vietnam.