The latest proposal by the Ministry of Health is to lift the self-isolation regulations for foreign visitors entering Vietnam after the country opens its borders to foreign tourists from March 15.

According to the proposal, visitors entering Vietnam having negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 are free to travel within the country without undergoing a self-isolation period but taking precautionary measures. 

Foreign arrivals to Vietnam to be exempted from isolation. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

This was the latest draft guidance on Covid-19 prevention and control for arrivals on entry, issued by the Ministry of Health in response to the request of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam to ease the requirements for tourists on entry in the new situation. 

Passengers can enter Vietnam on condition that they must submit a negative result (except for children under two years old) of RT-PCR/RT test performed within 72 hours before departure, or a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours. The regulation is applied for visitors entering by air, land, sea or rail.

If the test result is positive, the case must be reported immediately to the local health authority for instructions.

According to this draft, children under two years of age, who have never been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or not vaccinated are not required to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 and should be allowed entry as well as can travel with their parents and relatives. 

If visitors make medical declarations at the border gate while showing symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, they should immediately notify the on-site health agency to take medical measures as prescribed.

Once in Vietnam, the infected visitors are required to undergo health monitoring for the next 10 days.

Those awaiting results of SARS-CoV-2 test upon entry should avoid close contact with others, especially the elderly (over 65 years old), pregnant women, people with underlying diseases during the travel from the border gate to the place of residence.

Currently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is waiting for the official instructions on Covid-19 prevention and control for immigrants by the Ministry of Health to issue a plan on restarting tourism activities.