Several Ministries agree to fully reopen international tourism from March 15th

A group of foreign tourists drink beer on Bui Vien pedestrian street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Several ministries have voiced support for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's proposal to fully reopen international tourism and lift all travel restrictions from March 15.

According to VN Express, the defense, public security, tourism, health, foreign affairs, and transport ministries agreed at a government meeting Tuesday that as Vietnam fully reopens its air, land, and sea borders from March 15, all travel restrictions imposed since the pandemic broke out in Vietnam in 2020 would be removed.

Foreign tourists arriving in Vietnam do not need book tour packages with designated travel agencies as per the ongoing vaccine passport trial program launched in November last year.

All tourists aged from twelve and above are required to furnish a certificate stating they have been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid and show a negative rapid antigen test result obtained within 24 hours at their accommodation facilities after arrival.

Ministries also proposed the government resumes the unilateral visa exemption policy for thirteen countries and bilateral for eighty-eight countries and territories as prior to the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, Vietnam unilaterally exempted visa for thirteen countries Russia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Belarus for a maximum of 15 days.

International visitors arriving in the country by air would self-isolate in their hotel or accommodation facility for one day until they furnish a negative Covid test result and would continue monitoring their health for 14 days as per health ministry protocol.

Those showing Covid symptoms would have to undergo rapid Covid testing when they land at the airport.

International visitors to Vietnam need to have medical insurance cover for Covid treatment.

The government started allowing foreign tourists under a vaccine passport program last November. So far, 9,000 foreign arrivals have been welcomed under the program with several pre-set conditions and constraints, half of them Vietnamese overseas coming to see their relatives.

Under the program, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh, and Binh Dinh provinces, along with Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang City are the only localities foreign tourists can visit.

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