Traveling Around Vietnam: Here Are The Safety Rules You Have To Know

Globally, it has been proven that vaccination is the most effective tool we have to prevent widespread resurgence of COVID-19 in our communities. In Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Health’s October 22 data, the country has so far inoculated 70 million doses to its 98 million population, including the 20 million fully vaccinated individuals. 

As a result, many parts of Vietnam have opened their doors to domestic visitors. And because of the increasing vaccination rate and decreasing daily number of cases, the country is slowly getting back to its feet again.

In the press conference held on Friday morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) confirmed Vietnam now recognizes vaccine passports from 72 countries including China, the US, UK, UAE, Thailand, India, South Korea, Singapore, Italy, Germany, France, Cambodia, and Canada among others to facilitate the entry of foreign arrivals who are fully vaccinated. Visitors from those countries will only be quarantined for a week. 

MoFA spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said their office has suggested some relaxed regulations on approving vaccine passports in the visa issuance process to facilitate the entry of visitors. 

Domestically, following a successful pilot operation, flight routes connecting Hanoi-HCMC, Hanoi-Danang, and Danang-HCMC were re-established on October 21, allowing a maximum of six daily return flights. Come November 14, the number of flights will increase to seven on those routes.

Travel restrictions around Vietnam’s major cities and provinces

After months of movement restrictions, what better way to spend weekends than a trip to the country’s top tourist destinations. 

One major thing the pandemic changed the way we travel is ‘spontaneity’ — we no longer have the luxury to just book last-minute escapades, or take the next flight available when we’re in the mood to get away. Truth is, more than the experience, we all have to be mindful of our safety and everyone else’s. 

If you’re spending one of the coming weekends by the beach or up in the mountains, here are a few options as well as helpful travel and safety guidelines implemented in these cities and provinces.

 Binh Thuan (Mui Ne)

• Already reopened to domestic tourists since October 17

• Visitors must be fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19

• Those aged under 18 must furnish a negative COVID-19 test certificate obtained within 48 hours before arrival

• Visitors are encouraged to book tour packages and must comply with pandemic prevention measures

Lao Cai (Sapa)

• Fully-vaccinated visitors from low-risk areas, including Hanoi, don’t to undergo quarantine period 

• Must provide a negative COVID-19 certificate for tests done within 72 hours before arrival

• Visitors are encouraged to book tour packages and must comply with pandemic prevention measures

Kien Giang province (Phu Quoc)

• Will reopen on November 1

• Fully vaccinated domestic tourists from localities with low and medium risk

• Visitors are encouraged to book tour packages and must comply with pandemic prevention measures

Ho Chi Minh City

• No longer requires negative COVID-19 tests except those coming from “very high-risk” areas. 

• Border police will only ask for vaccination records and health declaration

• For movement within the city, residents must receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and obtain a QR code through the mandated health apps 

• Starting Monday, October 25, bus routes 14, 20, 27, 29, 141, 65, 74, and 79 will be operational 

Hanoi

• Have a full vaccination certificate with the second dose taken at least 14 days and no more than 12 months before departure time, or COVID-19 recovery certificate issued within 6 months before departure time.

• Have a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued within 72 hours before departure time.

• Comply with the Ministry of Health’s 5K message

Quang Binh Province (Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Son Doong)

• Welcomes tourists who are fully vaccinated with the second dose administered at least 14 days before arrival or furnish a certificate showing they had contracted and recovered from COVID-19

• Need to show a negative COVID-19 certificate using the PCR method within 72 hours before departure

• Upon arrival, tourists are exempt from quarantine and testing regulations

Ba Ria-Vung Tau

• Tourists must be fully immunized and furnished a negative COVID-19 certificate before departure

Dalat

• Arriving local tourists from green and yellow zones with low and medium risks are exempt from quarantine

• Those from high risk areas like HCMC would have to monitor their health at home or place of accommodation for seven days

Starting November, Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang and Quang Ninh will welcome foreign tourists.