From November, tourists on closed-door tours to Vietnam will no longer be required to quarantine for 7 days.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just submitted a proposal outlining temporary guidelines for piloting the reception of international tourists to Vietnam. Accordingly, international tourists visiting Vietnam will participate in tourism programs designed within the region and at service facilities authorized by local authorities, with a maximum duration of 90 days.

No quarantine required if you test negative for Covid-19.

For tourists who have booked tours lasting less than 7 days, after entering the country and testing negative for Covid-19, they are allowed to participate in tour activities according to the schedule organized by the travel company. Tourists are strictly prohibited from separating from the group or leaving the designated reception area. Close contact with other members of the tour group should be minimized.

Therefore, tourists will be able to participate in tour activities immediately without having to quarantine as before; instead, they will be encouraged to self-monitor their health.

For tourists who have booked tours lasting more than 7 days, after testing negative on the 7th day, they can extend their trip to another permitted tourist destination, provided the tour is part of a comprehensive, all-inclusive package.

This also creates a favorable environment for tourism businesses when organizing tours, as there is a high demand for inter-provincial travel and sightseeing from international tourists. Visitors to Vietnam often want to explore many destinations across the country.

Visitors wishing to visit relatives in locations not permitted to receive international tourists must register in writing with the organizing unit, which will then notify the local authorities at the destination to coordinate health monitoring.

Tourists must have Covid-19 insurance with a minimum coverage of $50,000.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's provisional guidelines also outline conditions for international tourists. In addition to foreign nationals, these include Vietnamese citizens residing abroad from key and potential tourism markets of Vietnam.

Tourists must have a certificate of full COVID-19 vaccination recognized by a competent authority in Vietnam, with the second dose administered at least 14 days prior to entry and no more than 12 months prior to entry, or a certificate of recovery with the time since discharge from the hospital no more than 12 months prior to entry. Tourists also need a certificate of negative COVID-19 test result using RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method within 72 hours before departure. They must have travel insurance covering COVID-19 with a minimum liability of USD 50,000 and must have purchased a package tour from a travel agency.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently temporarily recognizing "vaccine passports" from 72 countries and territories, and is in discussions with nearly 80 other partners regarding mutual recognition of "vaccine passports". These are very favorable conditions for Vietnam to reopen international tourism, contributing to the development of related economic sectors and fields.

Huyen Chau - Photo: Internet