(TITC) - On February 15, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) send a report to the Prime Minister to propose allowing the announcement of the reopening of all tourism activities from March 15, 2022, and applying visa policies as before 2020.
Previously, at the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, the ministries agreed on proposals to reopen international and domestic tourism via air, land and sea from March 15, 2022 under new normal conditions and ensure regulations on prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. From now until March 14, the pilot plan to welcome international tourists to Vietnam will continue to deploy phase 2.
In addition, the ministries all agreed to apply the same visa policy for tourists as before the COVID-19 pandemic, including issuing electronic visas, unilateral visa exemption for citizens of 13 countries and bilateral visa exemption for specific citizens of 88 countries and territories.
The report also proposed on regulations for international visitors on entry and process of ensuring safety and preventing pandemics after entry, as follow:
Regulations for international visitors on entry
(1) For visitors aged 12 years or older: have a certificate of full dose of COVID-19 vaccine recognized by the competent authority in Vietnam. The last dose was given within at least 14 days and no more than 06 months from the time of departure;
Or have a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or equivalent documents certifying that they have recovered from COVID-19 disease, issued by a competent authority in the country of treatment within a period of not more than 6 months.
(2) Having negative test result for SARS-CoV-2 (by RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method) within 72 hours.
Or a negative rapid test result within 24 hours before departure (except cases of children under 2 years old) (for passengers entering via air) and having negative rapid test results (for guests entering through international border gates by land and sea). For countries and territories with higher requirements, apply the regulations of the place of exit.
(3) Having a negative rapid test result for SARS-CoV-2 at the accommodation within 24 hours after entry.
(4) Have medical or travel insurance that covers treatment for COVID-19 with a minimum liability of $10,000.
(5) Ensure the requirement on exit and entry according to Vietnamese law on entry and exit.
(6) Install at least 01 safety management application for COVID-19 disease prevention as prescribed by specialized agencies and maintain connected during stay in Vietnam.
Process of ensuring safety and preventing pandemics after entry
(1) Visitors with symptoms or suspected of being infected are tested at the international border gate.
(2) Visitors must go directly to the registered property and must not be in contact with the community for 24 hours.
(3) For visitors entering via air, a rapid test is required at the accommodation, within 24 hours after entry. In case of negative results, they are allowed to continue participating in tourism programs. In case of positive results, they are medically isolated at the accommodation or treated according to regulations of the Ministry of Health.
(4) Visitors self-monitor their health within 14 days after entry. Ensure compliance with the “5K Message” and infection prevention and control measures. Comply with regulations and instructions of travel service providers.
(5) Tourism businesses must implement safety measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic; support visitors, arrange rooms to isolate infected guests at the accommodation according to regulations.
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