Compared to other ASEAN nations, Vietnam has a relatively low rate of Covid-19 transmissions. While the healthcare systems of other wealthier countries have been collapsing, Vietnam has remained in full control.
Several countries around the world are now slowly reopening their borders after closing in March when the Covid-19 pandemic started. Vietnam is also planning to open its borders to more foreign visitors soon. In fact, the country has already started welcoming foreigners from selected countries. However, the number of flights is still very limited.
But it won’t be long before Vietnam will fully open its borders to more foreigners. In fact, the Ministry of Health has recently introduced the entry procedures that foreign visitors must follow once Vietnam starts to resume regular international commercial flights.
Last October 29, during a training session regarding the new software for immigration management, which was aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19, the Ministry of Health has revealed their plans for the entry and supervision of foreign visitors who will be arriving in Vietnam once the regular commercial flights will resume. They also talk about the isolation procedures for these visitors. According to them, they have already consulted with the ministries regarding their plans, which will be issued in the coming days.
These regulations will apply to visitors who will be entering Vietnam via international commercial flights that will regularly arrive in Vietnam coming from countries and regions with low cases of Covid-19 infections. These include flights coming from Tokyo in Japan, Seoul in South Korea, Taipei in Taiwan, Guangzhou in China, Vientiane in Laos, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, and Thailand.
Vietnam will come up with a list of countries and regions with lower cases of infections and have fully controlled the pandemic. This list will b updated regularly and will be approved by the National Steering Committee for the Prevention of the Covid-19 Epidemic. It will also be approved by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister himself.
The quarantine procedures and requirements that the foreign visitor will follow will depend on which group he or she belongs to. Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has categorized foreign visitors into three different groups. Each group has different quarantine requirements and entry procedures.
Group 1 refers to Vietnamese citizens as well as foreign relatives of Vietnamese citizens. This applies to the father, spouse, mother, and children of the Vietnamese national. Those who belong in Group 2 are investors, experts, high-tech workers, business managers, as well as their family members, such as parents, kids, and spouses. This Group also includes those foreigners who enter Vietnam to live and those who will be staying in the country for at least 14 days. This group also applies to foreign students who will come to Vietnam to study.
Group 3 includes foreigners who entered Vietnam for official or diplomatic purposes. Furthermore, foreign experts who will work and stay in Vietnam for less than 14 days belong to the third group.
Aside from the groups mentioned above, there are other visitors that the Prime Minister of Vietnam may grant entry into the country for some valid reasons. If you plan on entering Vietnam and you don’t belong to any of the groups mentioned, you must first seek approval from the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and the National Steering Committee for the prevention of epidemic Covid-19.
According to the regulation, the visitor who will enter must shoulder the full cost of isolation at hotels approved by the government. The visitor must also cover the cost of the Covid-19 test and all other costs that will be incurred for the quarantine.
For those who are visiting for official or diplomatic purposes and will be staying in Vietnam for more than 14 days, they are exempted from paying the testing fees, except for the costs involved in quarantine.
The Ministry of Health of Vietnam has also proposed some procedures that must be followed for those who are exiting the country. According to the official letter No. 5834, anyone exiting the country must shoulder the cost of the Covid-19 test. The following cost will apply – Real-Time PCR method will cost a maximum of VND 734,000 per sample. For a quick test, the maximum amount that will be charged is around VND 238,000 for every sample used. As for the PCR Testing, the cost is up to VND 734,000 per sample.
Vietnam is still not accepting foreign tourists at the moment. The only visitors that will be allowed entry into the country are those people belonging to the groups mentioned above. It’s not yet clear when Vietnam will open its borders for tourism. But once the country starts accepting tourists, there’s a good chance that these visitors will also have to follow certain quarantine and testing procedures before they will be allowed to get in.
Compared to other ASEAN nations, Vietnam has a relatively low rate of Covid-19 transmissions. While the healthcare systems of other wealthier countries have been collapsing, Vietnam has remained in full control.
Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic started, Vietnam has been closely monitoring the situation. The government’s proactive approach has truly paid off because Vietnam has one of the lowest numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Asia, even though it’s located beside China, where the virus started.
Vietnam will be reopening its commercial routes on Sept. 15.
After several months of closing its borders to curb the spread of Covid-19 disease, Vietnam is finally opening to International travels on Sept. 15.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has sent a proposal to the country’s Prime Minister about reopening international routes to foreign visitors. The initial plan is to resume flights to six international destinations.
Vietnam has so far been doing well in its fight against COVID-19. Compared to other Asian countries, Vietnam has a low number of confirmed cases and fatality rates.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has recently proposed to operate International flights on September 15 to six different countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Laos, and Cambodia. Other relevant agencies will also submit their plans to the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control regarding the said proposal.
Even though Vietnam has been successful in containing the Coronavirus outbreak, it still has not opened up to international tourists. The Vietnamese government is careful enough not to allow another wave of infections, such as the case in Da Nang recently.