Recorded on the 5th of August 2021, 3,941 positive cases to Covid-19 were found in 24 cities in Vietnam. The total number has now been raised to 177,804 with 1,008 cases are now under epidemiologic treatment and 2.993 cases were found in the quarantine and lockdown areas.
The current situation in Saigon
As for Saigon, things have been a bit brighter for the last 7 days. The number of cases has shown a tremendous decrease.
Daily new cases in HCMC in the fourth wave. Graphics by VnExpress.
It reached the highest point on the 29th of July with 4.592 cases and the number has slowly fallen to 2.349 cases on the 5th of August, which is a good sign showing that Vietnam has been and Ho Chi Minh City specifically, has been trying its best to defend itself from the virus outbreak.
What the government has been doing to control the outbreak
Here is a short video giving the perspective from a foreigner currently living in Vietnam and sharing his experience about the recent updates.
Through this video, you will get a better understanding on :
- the effectiveness of the lockdown;
- a vaccination feedback as an expatriate in Ho Chi Minh City;
- the new 7-day quarantine period for vaccinated travelers coming to Vietnam;
Directive 16
As the situation wasn’t easing, the Vietnamese government had to apply strict directive 16 so that everything could be under complete control.
The first 14-day streak of lockdown took place from the 17th of July 2021 and the situation was expected to be back to normal on the first day of August. However, the severity of the situation was barely under control since the number of cases wasn’t showing any good. Therefore, the officials continued to expand the lockdown for another 14 days starting to be effective from 00:00 August 2nd, 2021, with directive 16 still applied but more strict and limited. Delivery and other necessary services which include pharmacies, supermarkets, and convenience stores are still allowed to open to serve the basic needs of the people. However, the delivery service is only allowed to deliver essential items which include food, medicine, industrial fuels, and other critical materials for construction and farming.
Curfew officially went active on the 2nd of August. All services and activities must stop before 18:00 and are only allowed to happen at 6:00 AM the next day.
Massive vaccination
The Prime Minister of Vietnam deployed the biggest vaccination campaign since the first outbreak, stating that he aims to have 75 million people vaccinated as soon as possible. The government is now trying to push the process forward as the goal is to have everyone vaccinated until the beginning of 2022.
The campaign is currently on a good run. People in many districts of Ho Chi Minh City have got their first vaccine.
The 6 vaccines that are certified to use in Vietnam include AstraZeneca, SPUTNIK V, Vero Cell, Comirnaty, Spikevax, and Janssen. All are approved as certified vaccines by the World Health Organization.
The 7-day quarantine for those entering Vietnam
On the 4th of August, the Ministry of Health announced their official dispatch that explains the regulations for those who want to enter Vietnam during this time.
The documentary includes the 7-day quarantine regulation and the instruction of the next 7 days of self-observation at home. The documentary states that:
- Only those who were tested negative (using the RT-PCR/RT-LAMP testing method) within 72 hours before entering and were given a certificate by the recognized officials of the country implementing the test are allowed to enter the country.
- Only those who are fully vaccinated (The last shot was conducted within less than 14 days and does not exceed 12 months until the entering) and have the vaccination certificate are allowed to enter the country.
- Those who were infected (must have a document that says he or she was positive to SAR-COV-2 and was tested using the RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method. The document is only valid within the 6 months since vaccinated until the entry) and they must have a passport that confirms they are cured or any equivalent paperwork that proves he or she recovered and must be approved by the recognized officials of the country they were tested. If tested negative when entering the country, the person will have to go through any process given by Vietnam’s regulations.
Covid is dangerous but it’s not an obstacle
Even though the government is still trying as hard as it can to fight the virus, the economy still needs to improve for the stable growth of the country. So, if you’re planning to come here to work, do business or invest, Covid won’t be a problem.
Vietnam has been a very healthy country that attracts a lot of foreign investors. Especially with the cost of investment, you don’t have to own a giant budget to open a business and you can own 100% of the shares of a Vietnamese company.
You can also come here to work. Since the 4th wave of the outbreak has caused many expats to return to their home countries, Vietnam is under a huge shortage of talents that serve different needs. For that reason, the country is now welcoming new expats. This has opened a lot of opportunities for foreigners that are looking for a chance to work in Vietnam.
Since Vietnam is one step closer to approach the global market, it won’t be hard to conduct any research before you visit the country. There is a great variety of courses that you can now take to get a required certificate.
However, if you’re still unsure about what you can do and how you can get here, download the free eBook “7 mistakes I made in Asia“, a summary of 5+ years, actionable tips to avoid pitfalls you must overcome along an expat’s journey.