Vietnam is slated to resume pre-pandemic bilateral and unilateral visa exemption policies for foreigners when the country fully reopens international tourism on March 15, 2022.
In the regular press briefing held virtually on March 03 in Vietnam capital city of Hanoi, when being asked about updates to visa policies after two years of disruptions caused by COVID-19, the spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said that, all foreigners and Vietnamese nationals permanently residing abroad, along with their families, can enter the country with valid entry documents, as per the regulations on entry, exit, transiting through and residing in the country, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
Foreigners wishing to enter the country for tourism will, for now, adhere to the regulations by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the spokesperson added.
Related: Are you ready to visit Vietnam from March 15? If YES, here’s what you should know
As reported, Vietnamese nationals are free to enter the country on regular international commercial flights, which resumed earlier this year.
According to the spokesperson, the foreign ministry has also reported to the Vietnamese Government on the concrete measures for visa policies and visa exemption policies to be implemented from March 15, 2022, in a bid to foster socio-economic recovery, engage in international integration in the new normal, as well as facilitate trade between Vietnam and other countries and territories.
The ministry will implement regulations on visa granting and exemptions in line with the provisions of the 2014 Law on Entry and Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Việt Nam (amended and supplemented in 2019), as well as other documents on the implementation and eradication of demands for quarantine measures after entry or restrictions on purposes of entry.
Vietnam is resuming bilateral visa exemption policies as per international treaties and agreements with other countries, or the principle of reciprocity, with demands for personnel and quarantine at localities now removed.
The country is also resuming unilateral visa exemption for arrivals from 13 countries and territories – Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom – in line with regulations of the Article 13 of the 2014 Law on Entry and Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Việt Nam and other resolutions of the Government.
“Once these measures are adopted [by the Government], the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be providing this information so that people, including foreigners and businesses, can quickly learn of the updates,” the spokesperson said.
Also read: Vietnam new visa policy for foreign tourists will be issued very soon. Here’s what you should know
So far, 15 countries and territories have officially recognized Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccination certificate, also called the “vaccine passport”. These are Japan, the US, the UK, Australia, India, Belarus, Cambodia, the Philippines, Palestine, the Maldives, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Turkey, and Singapore.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has to date officially recognized the vaccine certificates and/or COVID-19 recovery documents of 79 countries and territories – those which have been made known to the government by the foreign ministries of the respective countries, or their representative missions in Vietnam.
Health ministry’s protocols criticized
The spokesperson was also asked about pandemic prevention and control protocol recommended by the Ministry of Health regarding the full tourism reopening – including items like requiring daily COVID-19 tests in the first 72 hours for tourists if they want to leave their accommodation or recommending against older people from traveling – which have been criticized for being too stringent and cumbersome and might deter foreign tourists.
According to the spokesperson, the consistent guideline of the Vietnamese Government is that Vietnam has transitioned to a strategy of safe and flexible adaptation and effective control of COVID-19, while promoting socio-economic recovery and development.
Foreign tourists at Trang An tourist site in Ninh Binh (Photo: VNA)
“I believe that the Government’s decision to fully reopen from March 15, 2022, not only serves to facilitate the resumption of tourism but also serves to promote people-to-people exchanges and provide opportunities for foreigners to enter Vietnam to work, study, do business, invest and so on,” the spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang noted.
Vietnamese authorities are making every effort to implement the Government’s instructions in this direction, she added.
“With regards to the specific items of health protocols from the Ministry of Health, we will work with the Ministry of Health for clarification and provide updates when more information is available,” Vietnam News Agency citied the speech of the spokesperson.