After a two-year closure, Vietnam tourism reopening to all foreign visitors on March 15, 2022. Visitors must still have a negative COVID-19 PCR test before arriving. Furthermore, Vietnam no longer distinguishes between non vaccinated and vaccinated visitors, and all visitors must follow the same entry requirements.
During the early stages of the pandemic, Vietnam took decisive action, closing its international boundaries as sooner as March 25, 2020. Vietnam planned a particular work visa to enable researchers and professionals to come into the country in order to assure the movement of foreign visitors.
Travelers must follow local COVID-19 guidelines, such as wearing a facemask in public and decontaminating their hands.
What Are the Entry Requirements for Vietnam Tourism Reopening?
COVID-19 Examination
Travelers entering Vietnam must show proof of either a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at least 72 hours before departure or a negative rapid flow antigen (lateral flow) test taken within 24 hours of arrival. Children under the age of two are exempt from testing. An accredited provider must certify the results of either type of test.
Passengers who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, sore throats, difficulty breathing, loss of taste and smell, body aches, and so on must notify border officials. Travelers are expected to self-monitor their health for 10 days after crossing the border and must notify the nearest medical facility if they exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms.
Additionally, travelers will have to use the PC-COVID app and complete a health declaration form prior to boarding. The app is available on the Google Play Store as well as the Apple App Store.
Getting an E-Visa
Vietnam has re – opened its e-visa portal, allowing citizens of more than 80 countries to apply for a tourist visa. A single-entry e-visa is acceptable for up to 30 days and costs US$25.
For e-visa applications, the following documents are required:
- 46 passport photos in.jpg format, white background, no glasses
- One.jpg photo of the passport data page;
- The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry; and the temporary address in Vietnam, as well as the dates of entry and exit.
Within three working days, the E-Visa will be delivered to the recipient’s email address.
Exemptions From Visas
Visa exemptions have been granted to citizens of the following countries:
Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Citizens of such countries are permitted to stay in Vietnam for up to 15 days. Furthermore, business visas shall no longer be subject to local committee approval; instead, all visas will be filtered through the ministry of state safety and immigration.
Medical Coverage
Before entering Vietnam, visitors must purchase medical/travel insurance. The insurance must cover up to $10,000 in COVID-19 medical treatment.
All health declaration and Covid-19-related services are available through Vietnam’s PC-Covid app, and medical declarations must be completed on tokhaiyte prior to scheduled departure (vietnamairlines, 2022).
Rejuvenating the Tourism Industry
Vietnam’s border closures aided in the containment of the COVID-19 outbreak, but the direct impact on the country’s tourism industry was severe, with international visitors dropping to 3.7 million in 2020 from 18 million in 2019. As a result, the sector’s contribution to GDP will fall from 9.2 percent in 2019 to 3.58 percent in 2020.
By 2021, Vietnam’s tourism industry was showing signs of improvement, with the number of international tourists increasing by 14.2 percent compared to November.
In November 2021, Vietnam began testing tourist programs by launching direct international flights from foreign countries to specific locations in the country, including Phu Quoc, Quang Nam, and Khanh Hoa. Tourists could only travel within these designated areas and could not go any further.
Though much of Vietnam’s tourism infrastructure is still being rebuilt, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has set several goals for 2022, such as reaching 5 million foreign visitors and getting paid nearly Us$17.57 billion from tourism industry even by end of 2022.
