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These guidelines apply to a pilot tourism programme that will take place until Vietnam resumes full international tourism from 15 March 2022.
In the past week, Vietnam has announced a series of travel-related updates to note, including an update on vaccine passport recognition, the resumption of international tourism, and details on travelling to Vietnam up till 14 March 2022.
The updates are as follows:
Vietnam's vaccine passport is now recognised by a total of 14 countries/territories
As of 16 February, Vietnam's vaccine passport is now recognised by four additional countries — Egypt, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism (MOCST) said on Monday (21 February 2022).
With this, Vietnam's vaccine passport is now accepted by 14 countries/territories in total, with the rest being Australia, Belarus, Cambodia, India, Japan, Maldives, Palestine, the Philippines, the UK, and the US.
Meanwhile, Vietnam currently accepts vaccine passports from 79 countries and territories, following which, since 1 January 2022, fully-vaccinated international arrivals with negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test results are just required to self-quarantine at home or their places of accommodation for three days when they enter Vietnam.
Vietnam to resume international tourism from 15 March 2022
In similar news, the Government of Vietnam has decided to resume international tourism from 15 March, according to MOCST's announcement.
Per the update, the country already lifted curbs on international flights from 15 February, with 19 regular air routes having been restored to Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Australia, Germany, Russia, France, the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Turkey, Qatar, and UAE.
Since international flights were resumed in January 2022, the number of international arrivals to Vietnam reached over 103,000 in January and 153,000 by late-14 February, MOCST shared.
In light of this, the MOCST has issued a set of guidelines on international tourism in Vietnam, up till 14 March under a pilot programme.
These guidelines are as follows:
Who it involves:
Foreigners, overseas Vietnamese, and Vietnamese citizens may participate in the pilot plan to welcome international tourists, upon meeting the following requirements:
- Joining a tour itinerary of an international travel service business.
- Having a certificate of full vaccination against COVID-19, recognised by a competent authority in Vietnam, with the last dose given within at least 14 days and no more than 12 months upon entry; or with a certificate of full recovery from COVID-19 or equivalent documents certifying that they have recovered from the disease, issued by a competent authority in the country/territory where they received the treatment, and recognised by Vietnam. The time between discharge and entry into Vietnam should not be more than six months.
- Tourists under 18 or above 65 years old, pregnant women, or tourists with underlying health conditions (but are not being monitored and treated at medical facilities), who have not been vaccinated or have not received all doses of the vaccine against COVID-19, are allowed to accompany their parents, legal guardians, or caregivers who have received a full dose of COVID-19 vaccine or have recovered from COVID-19; however, they must still strictly comply with the requirements on testing and regulations on preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic as prescribed.
- Tourists must have received a negative test result with SARS-COV-2 (by RT PCR/RT-LAMP method) within 72 hours prior to entering Vietnam, certified by a competent authority of the country where the test was performed (except for children under two years of age).
- Travellers must have medical or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum liability of USD$20,000.
- All foreigners who enter, exit, transit, and/or reside in Vietnam must abide by Vietnamese laws.
Examination and approval of personnel, visa issuance, temporary residence certificates:
International travel service businesses shall carry out procedures for inviting and guaranteeing foreigners to enter Vietnam at the Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security), in accordance with the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.
Before carrying out procedures, the enterprise must have ready the relevant documentation required by MOCST on participating in the pilot programme, together with a contract to foster a tour itinerary in the permitted areas with a service provider eligible to welcome international tourists. This must be done (within three days to the first seven days, as required for each specific type of tourist below).
A valid visa will be suited with the tour itinerary, in case tourists wish to extend their stays in the local areas that are allowed to welcome international tourists. The extension will be under the guarantee of the enterprise.
Those who wish to extend the stay for business investment or visit relatives will be granted a visa conversion in accordance with the provisions of the Law on entry, exit, transit, and/or residence of foreigners in Vietnam.
While participating in the tour itinerary in Vietnam:
- For tourists who have received full dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccine and/or have fully recovered from COVID-19:
- Joining on a tour itinerary, operated by a travel enterprise with the duration of at least three days from upon entry.
- Tourists will be asked to self-monitor their health during the first three days after entry. If they have a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, fatigue, chills, new loss of taste or smell, have tested positive for COVID-19 or have signs and symptoms of COVID-19,they must inform the tour enterprise.
- Tourists must take an RT - PCR test on the third day of stay after entry. If the RT - PCR test result returns positive, follow strictly the regulations of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The cost of treatment will be covered by insurance or tour operators. If the RT - PCR test result returns negative, the entrant shall do a follow-up medical self-observation for 14 days since the date of entry.
- After receiving the negative RT - PCR test result for COVID-19 on the third day, tourists shall continue the following operations:
- Participation in the tour itinerary according to the registered travel programme (in case the itinerary is longer than three days).
- Join tourism packages and use services in the localities allowed to welcome international tourists.
- Enter localities to visit registered relatives. Tourists must have a written registration with the travel enterprise to notify the local authorities of the destination, in order to coordinate health monitoring and observing according to regulations.
- Tourists can leave the country on regular international commercial or licensed charter flights.
- For tourists (accompanying with parents or caregivers) who have not been vaccinated or fully vaccinated:
- Participate in the tour itinerary by travel enterprise within seven days upon entry.
- Tourists will be asked to self-monitor their health during the first three days after entry. If they have a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, fatigue, chills, new loss of taste or smell, have tested positive for COVID-19 or have signs and symptoms of COVID-19,they must inform the tour enterprise.
- Tourists must take an RT - PCR test on the third and seventh days of stay after entry. If the RT - PCR test result returns positive, follow strictly the regulations of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The cost of treatment will be covered by insurance or tour operators. If the RT - PCR test result returns negative, the entrant shall do a follow-up medical self-observation for 14 days since the date of entry.
- Parents or caregivers/guardians who have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19, and who are accompanying entrants who have not been vaccinated or are not yet fully vaccinated, must do a follow-up medical test.
- After receiving the negative RT - PCR test result for COVID-19 on the seventh day, tourists shall continue the following operations:
- Participation in the tour itinerary according to the registered travel programme (in case the itinerary is longer than three days).
- Join tourism packages and use services in the localities allowed to welcome international tourists.
- Enter localities to visit registered relatives. Tourists must have a written registration with the travel enterprise to notify the local authorities of the destination, in order to coordinate health monitoring and observing according to regulations.
- Tourists can leave the country on regular international commercial or licensed charter flights.
- Tourists participating in a tour itinerary within less than seven days can return on regular international commercial or licensed charter flights, following guidelines and procedures published by the respective country.
Image / 123RF
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