Vietnam welcomes first foreign tourists in nearly 20 months

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Vietnam's borders have been shut to international visitors since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic Nhac NGUYEN AFP/File

 

Hanoi (AFP) – The first international tourists touched down in Vietnam almost 20 months after the Southeast Asian nation closed its borders to contain the coronavirus.

 

Two charter flights brought more than 400 South Korean and Japanese fully vaccinated passengers from Seoul and Tokyo on Thursday to the southern resort city of Nha Trang, state media reported.

 

The area is popular with golfers, beach lovers and scuba divers, and boasts luxury hotels.

 

The flights came ahead of Vietnam's plans to reopen the resort island of Phu Quoc to vaccinated foreign visitors on November 20 -- with hopes to welcome at least 5,000 travellers in coming months.

 

Foreign tourists seeking to enter Vietnam must show Covid-19 vaccination certificates and negative pre-departure coronavirus test results.

 

Full story: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211113-vietnam-welcomes-first-foreign-tourists-in-nearly-20-months

 

-- France 24