VIET NAM PLANS TO FULLY REOPEN BORDERS TO FOREIGN VISITORS FROM JUNE 2022

Viet Nam plans to fully reopen borders to all foreign visitors from June 2022, according to the Viet Nam Administration of Tourism, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Earlier in September, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s proposal to trial the reopening of Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang to foreign tourists.

From November 2021 to March 2022, Phu Quoc Island will be the first destination to be reopened to foreign arrivals mainly from source markets with good management of the COVID-19 pandemic and high vaccination rate such as the Northeast Asia, Europe, the U.S., the Middle East and Australia.

Foreign tourists who wish to visit the island shall be required to get fully vaccinated, with the second dose taken at least 14 days and not more than 12 months before the date of entry and must be tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before their departure.

From December 2021 to June 2022, other favorite tourist destinations such as Ha Long Bay in northern province of Quang Ninh, Hoi An City in the central province of Quang Nam, Nha Trang City in the central province of Khanh Hoa and Da Lat City in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong may be opened to foreign arrivals.

Meanwhile, from November this year, localities where the pandemic is put under control may consider allowing domestic visitors who are fully vaccinated provided that preventive measures are observed.

Tourism is one of the sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 as evidenced by the fall of 80 percent of foreign arrivals to the Southeast Asian country in 2020.

In a bid to support travel companies, the Government has introduced a series of policies, including reduction of retail electricity prices for tourist accommodations totaling VND 1.47 trillion.

Facilities which were used for isolation, and examinations related to COVID-19, would enjoy 100 percent reduction, while 20 percent reductions would be provided for medical facilities used to test and treat COVID-19 patients.

Source: VGP