The decision was taken since the number of infections and deaths has decreased significantly since May 15th, associated with a greater vaccination rate. From the 27th of April 2022, Vietnam has already suspended required health declaration laws for international arrivals.

The government did, however, request that the Ministry of Health constantly monitor the pandemic situation and offer guidelines on suitable preventative and control measures.

The notice was sent by the Ministry of Health’s General Department of Preventive Medicine, requesting the VSA to report to the SEA Games 31’s organizing committee and inform other regional delegations about the new policy.

All arrivals in Vietnam no longer have to submit health declarations, starting from April 27, the Ministry of Health has announced.

Previously, the ministry has issued a guideline for COVID-19 control measures during the region’s biggest sports event, saying that any guest who holds a position of the deputy ministerial level or above, as well as heads and deputy heads of sports delegations, will neither need to show negative COVID-19 testing results when entering Vietnam nor take tests after arrival. Also, they do not need to go into mandatory quarantine.

Sports officials, referees, and athletes are required to have certified negative RT-PCR/RT-LAMP testing results taken within 72 hours or rapid antigen testing within 24 hours before entering Vietnam, but not to quarantine.

The 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), featuring 40 sports, is scheduled to take place in Hanoi and 11 nearby localities from May 12 to 23.

Accordingly, the Vietnamese Government has decided to add Van Don International Airport to the list of international border gates allowing foreigners to enter and exit by e-Visa, which are mentioned in Section I, Article 2 of Resolution No. 79/NQ-CP dated 25th May 2020 of the Government on the list of countries whose citizens are granted electronic visas; list of international border gates that allow foreigners to enter and exit by electronic visa.

According to Resolution 79/NQ-CP, air border gates allowing foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas, including: (1) Noi Bai International Airport Border Gate; (2) Tan Son Nhat International Airport Border Gate; (3) Cam Ranh International Airport Border Gate; (4) Da Nang International Airport Border Gate; (5) Cat Bi International Airport Border Gate; (6) Can Tho International Airport Border Gate; (7) Phu Quoc International Airport Border Gate; (8) Phu Bai International Airport Border Gate.

Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic has been recorded in most countries around the world, there is a specific and effective vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus straining currently circulating; In recent times, the pandemic has tended to reduce both the number of cases and deaths on a global scale. In Vietnam, the COVID-19 pandemic has been well controlled on a national scale with a high rate of total coverage of COVID-19 preventive applications.

Thereby, pursuing the COVID-19 pandemic situation and the Government’s Decree No. 89/2018/ND-CP dated 25th June 2018 detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases on border medical quarantine, the Ministry of Health proposes the People’s Committee of the provinces/cities to direct relevant agencies to implement the following contents:

(1) Temporarily suspend Covid-19 medical declarations at all Vietnamese border gates for people entering the country from 0:00 on 27th April 2022.

(2) Maintain supervision of passengers on entry at border gates in accordance with the Government’s Decree No. 89/2018/ND-CP dated 25th June 2018 detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases on border medical quarantine.

(3) Proactively update communication materials, recommend COVID-19 prevention and control in accordance with the current situation and proactively report in a timely manner.

The Ministry of Health continues to update and provide information on the pandemic situation in the world and in the country to take appropriate pandemic preventive measures.

Accordingly, international visitors entering into Vietnam are not required for mandatory quarantine.

Requirements for international visitors to Vietnam

– Have a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result using RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method within 72 hours before entry into Vietnam or have a negative rapid test result within 24 hours before departure certified by the competent authority of the country where the test is performed.

– For international visitors entering via land, rail and sea border gates, undergo test for SARS-CoV-2 at border before entry in case of no proof of negative test result.

– Children under 2 years old are not required to be test for SARS-CoV-2.

– Have medical or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum liability of USD10,000.

– Complete a health declaration before entry. (at https://tokhaiyte.vn)

– Install and use PC-COVID application.

– Self-monitor health for 10 days after entry.

– Notify health authority if having signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

– Ensure conditions on exit and entry according to Vietnam’s immigration laws and other relevant regulations when travelling in Vietnam.

Visa policy

Vietnam restored the policies on entry visas for foreigners as before the pandemic outbreak.

From 15th March 2022 to 14th March 2025, Vietnam applies visa exemption for citizens of 13 countries (Germany, French, Italy, Spain, UK and Northern Ireland, Russian, Japan, Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus) with maximum length of stay to 15 days.

According to the Plan, from 15th March 2022, resuming fully international and domestic tourism activities under the new normal via air, land, rail, and sea routes ensures safety, in accordance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, which is applied for international visitors to Vietnam (inbound), outbound visitors and domestic visitors. In order to reopen the tourism safety and efficiency, the following contents should be taken seriously:

For International tourism activities:

Visa policy: Implementing Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated on 15^th March 2022 on visa exemption for citizens of the following countries: Federal Republic of Germany, French Republic, Republic of Italy, Kingdom of Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Russian Federation, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kingdom of Denmark, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Norway, Republic of Finland and Republic of Belarus; Implementing Official Dispatch No. 1606/VPCP-QHQT of the Office of the Government dated 15^th March 2022 on the restoration of Vietnam’s immigration policy and related regulations.

Requirements for international visitors to Vietnam (inbound):

• Travelers entering via air:

Have a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result (except children under 2 years old) using RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method within 72 hours before entry into Vietnam or have a negative rapid test result within 24 hours before departure certified by the competent authority of the country where the test is performed.

• Travelers entering via land, rail and sea routes:

Have negative test result as mentioned in section above

In case no presenting proof of negative test result for SARS-CoV-2 as specified at section above, entrants are required to undergo a SARS-CoV-2 test at the border gate before entry (using RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method or rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2). If receiving a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result, are allowed to entry and join tour activities, if the RT – PCR test result returns positive, must follow strictly to the regulations of the health authority.

• Children under 2 years old are not required to be tested for SARS-CoV-2; having not been vaccinated against COVID-19 or having never been infected with SARS-CoV-2 before, are allowed to entry and participate in activities outside the accommodation with their parents and relatives.
• Must make a health declaration before entry and install/use the Vietnam health declaration application (PC-COVID), implement measures to prevent and control the pandemic as prescribed during the stay in Vietnam.
• At the border gate, if having signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficult breathing, muscle or body aches – fatigue – chills, new loss of taste or smell, etc.), be sure to immediately notify the health authority at the border gate to take medical measures as prescribed.
• Having medical or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum liability of USD10, 000.
• During 10 days from the date of entry, tourists are requested to continue to self-monitor health, if having signs and symptoms of SARS-COV-2 (a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficult breathing, muscle or body aches – fatigue – chills, new loss of taste or smell, etc.), must immediately notify the nearest medical facility for timely guidance and management; take prevention measures, wear medical face masks regularly, disinfect hands with hand sanitizer.
• Ensure conditions on exit and entry according to Vietnam’s immigration laws and other relevant regulations when travelling in Vietnam.

Outbound visitors: Comply with regulations on immigration, health and related regulations of Vietnam and other countries and territories to visit.

For domestic tourism activities:

Implementing Resolution 128/NQ-CP dated 11th October 2021 of the Government promulgating the Provisional Regulations “Adapting safely, flexibly and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic effectively” and related guiding documents to ensure safety disease prevention and control. At the same time, implementing the Program to stimulate demands and resume domestic tourism activities nationwide; Organizing promotion, promoting destinations, creating diversified and attractive tourism products and experiences.

This conference on tourism was firstly organized with the participation online of 94 Ambassadors, Heads of Vietnamese representative offices abroad, many leaders of provinces and cities and leaders of associations and travel, hotel, airline businesses.

Speaking at the opening, Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that this conference is an important, necessary and timely event, held on 15th March, the official day that Vietnam fully reopens international tourism. It shows the great attention, expectations and determination of agencies, localities and businesses in implementing and concretizing the Government policy on full open of tourism.

Promotion Vietnam tourism

Informing about promotion on opening international tourism to Vietnam, Mr. Ha Van Sieu – Vice Chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said that Vietnam tourism will implement the communication program “Live fully in Vietnam” to lure international tourists coming to Vietnam. VNAT also cooperates with international media like CNN, CNBC and joins with Vietnamese representative offices abroad to inform information and support international tourists and tourism business.

Vietnam tourism will take part in international travel fairs, organize roadshows and familiarized delegations, and enhance promotion of tourism in events like Visit Vietnam Year – Quang Nam 2022, 31st SEA Game, etc.

At the conference, Ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative offices abroad shared information related to market needs and expressed their agreement and willingness to coordinate in providing Vietnam tourism information to people, tourists and businesses in the host country.

They suggested that there should soon be a process and guidelines for opening tourism that are applied consistently and uniformly from the central to local levels to create favorable conditions for tourism businesses and as well as for tourists.

Ready to open for tourism

Affirming ready open tourism, leaders of localities and businesses expressed the Government would continue support to overcome difficulties.

Mr. Nguyen Tuong Van, Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, proposed to support the implementation of international tourism promotion programs and open new flight routes to Van Don International Airport.

Ms. Truong Thi Hong Hanh, Director of Da Nang Department of Tourism, proposed to simplify immigration procedures, expand visa exemption, and extend duration of stay in Vietnam for international tourists.

Vietnam Airlines has restored 60% of its international flight network, and will open flight routes connecting Singapore with destinations such as Da Nang and Nha Trang, and Vietnam – India route. At the same time, issue a flexible ticket exchange policy; strengthen links to create a complete tourism ecosystem.

Saigontourist suggested to concern about MICE tourism and market research and update statistic data, customer database.

Fully opening tourism from 15th March

Addressing the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam emphasized that the reopening of tourism from 15th March is part of Vietnam’s major policy of reopening international exchange and trade activities. Overcoming the most difficult period, Vietnam is currently implementing the policy of “safe adaptation, flexibility, effective disease control”.

Government leaders affirmed that after entering Vietnam, the regulations for international visitors are the same as domestic ones.

For passengers traveling by air, there is a testing and quarantine process before boarding. For passengers traveling by land, sea or rail, it takes longer to travel, so additional safety measures such as testing at the border gate.

Immediately after receiving recommends of the Ministry of Health on the health regulations for international tourists, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will officially announce the plan to fully open tourism under new normal conditions.