Vietnam on the first day of opening to international tourism
From March 15, Vietnam resumed welcoming international visitors as before the Covid-19 pandemic. During the day, the first flights welcoming tourists and overseas Vietnamese successfully landed at international airports, marking a new milestone in Vietnam's tourism industry after two years of being closed to the world.
11:30 on March 15,Noi Bai AirportWelcome Singapore Airlines flight SQ192 from Singapore to Hanoi, opening up recovery signals for the tourism and aviation industries.
Tourists complete entry procedures into Vietnam at Noi Bai airport on March 15 - Photo: VNA
Despite opening tourism and resuming connecting flightsDa NangWith international destinations, on March 15, no international tourist groups arrived in this city. According to the plan, on March 27, Da Nang airport will welcome a group of Singaporean tourists - the first international tourist group after the policy of full reopening, operated by Singapore Airlines.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism of Da Nang City, said: "Travel agencies and airlines are very interested in the policy of opening tourism after the epidemic to inform international customers, only then will they be ready to travel. Currently, in terms of destinations, Da Nang still meets the basic conditions when opening to welcome international visitors."
On the contrary, the number of domestic tourists has begun to show signs of recovery as many domestic tourist groups come to Da Nang city.
The international arrivals area at Da Nang airport is deserted - Photo: Thanh Chung
Domestic tourist groups to Da Nang - Photo: Internet
On the morning of March 15, passengers landed at the arrival hall of the international terminal.Tan Son Nhat AirportMostly overseas Vietnamese return home to reunite with relatives and friends. Among them, many are stuck abroad due to the pandemic, many return after working abroad, some come back to pick up their families,...
Image at Tan Son Nhat International Terminal on the morning of March 15 - Photo: Tien Phong Newspaper
Entry health declaration form
PCR test certificate issued by Fullerton Health Medical Services Company (Singapore)
International flights are ready, but have not yet welcomed passengers.
Although there is a policy for the tourism industry to fully reopen as before the Covid-19 pandemic, the biggest problem at present is that Vietnam does not have specific medical regulations for international visitors entering the country.
According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh - General Director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism - the implementation of tourism opening has been carried out to ensure readiness to serve tourists in the new normal context. However, through the pilot period, it can be seen that the number of tourists coming to Vietnam is only about 10,000. Airlines also have about 10% of their aircraft not yet put into operation, although the deadline to open to international visitors starts from March 15. This is due to the limited application of personnel review and visa issuance policies; there are no specific instructions on medical conditions for international tourists entering the country.
A representative of Vietnam Airlines said that the airline has plans to increase the frequency of flights for international passengers to/from Vietnam, but there are currently no instructions from ministries/sectors on conditions for passengers to enter the country.
Bui Doan Ne, General Secretary of the Aviation Business Association, commented: “It is not true that once the door is opened, passengers will come. When the opening deadline has come, there are no regulations on loosening conditions for entry passengers, especially tourists. In addition, international passengers are also affected by the mentality of the epidemic area, barriers to entry and exit regulations, and medical surveillance.”
Many travel and tourism businesses have also voiced their opinion that strict and unclear regulations when opening tourism will make international tourists “afraid” to come to Vietnam, and will choose other countries with easier and more open procedures. This also makes it difficult for businesses to access international tourist markets to advertise, promote and sell products.
On March 15, the ancient capital of Hue welcomed nearly 600 domestic tourists - Photo: Le Hoang.
Update information
On the morning of March 16, there was an official dispatch from the Ministry of Health aboutentry regulations for foreign visitors, signed by Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son on the evening of March 15.
Accordingly, there is no regulation requiring passengers entering Vietnam by air to be tested again upon entering the country, nor is there a quarantine requirement. International visitors to Vietnam only need to have a negative test result 72 hours before leaving the country by air, if using the RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method; or within 24 hours if using the rapid testing method.
The document also does not mention that visitors entering Vietnam must have a certificate of full vaccination or have recovered from Covid-19 within 6 months.
