Vietnam’s fully Covid-19 vaccination certificates, or vaccine passports, have just been accepted by four more nations, increasing the total number to 14, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Egypt, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Turkey are the four new countries added to the current ones recognizing Vietnam's vaccine passport: Australia, Belarus, Cambodia, India, Japan, Maldives, Palestine, the Philippines, the UK and the US, the ministry said.

The recognition is the result of the Government’s efforts in campaigning for approval of the vaccine passports of Vietnam.

Egypt, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Turkey are the four new countries recognizing Vietnam's vaccine passport. Photo: the MoFA

Vietnam has currently accepted vaccine passports from 79 countries and territories.

After the Ministry of Health issued Vietnam's vaccine passport form on December 23, 2021, the MoFA and its Consular Department introduced the model to foreign representative offices in Vietnam to consider for approval.

With such recognized papers, people entering Vietnam since January 1, 2022 have been required to self-quarantine at home, hotels or other facilities for only three days, instead of seven days of centralized quarantine as previously, under a new rule issued by the Ministry of Health last December.

They will be tested for Covid-19 on the first day of entry and the third day. If they get a negative result, they will be required to self-monitor their health for the next 11 days, the rule said.

The Government approved that overseas Vietnamese and their family members just need to have valid visa exemptions and will be allowed to enter the country without further approval from localities.

Foreigners will be provided a visa in line with existing regulations such as the Law on Foreigners' Entry In, Exit From, Transit Through, and Residence in Vietnam, the ministry said, adding that overseas Vietnamese having valid documents can also enter Vietnam under the same law.

In case one does not have the above papers but still wants to enter for specific purposes, they would need to get approval from the provincial people’s committee, ministries, and central government before completing the procedures and receiving a visa.

Vietnam has decided to reopen international tourism from March 15, the foreign ministry stressed that it will work closely with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to provide measures for the reopening, including the policy for granting visas as directed by the Government.