Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Theywill also need to book a combo of air tickets, COVID-19 testing, hotel andregistered destinations.
Accordingto a proposal by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on a pilotprogramme for foreign tourists beginning in November, those visiting Vietnamfor seven days will be tested as soon as they arrive. If negative, they couldavoid a quarantine period.
However,they have to commit to staying with their group, not leaving arranged locationsand minimising contact with people from other tour groups.
Peopleon tours lasting more than seven days will be tested again on the 7th dayof their trip. They are allowed to visit destinations that are open to foreigntourists under the pilot programme, with the full combo booked in advance.
Underthe pilot programme for foreign tourists, they could spend a maximum of 90 daysin Vietnam.
Iftourists want to visit locations that are not included in the pilot programme,they have to register with tourism agencies, informing authorities in the hostlocalities for health monitoring and quarantine.
Underthe ministry’s proposal, foreigners and overseas Vietnamese have to have avaccination certificate or COVID-19 recovery certificate recognisedby Vietnam’s authorities.
Beforeentering Vietnam, they must have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccineat least 14 days and no longer than 12 months before arrival. COVID-19 recoverycertificates within 12 months before entry are accepted.
Travellersare also required to have a certificate proving they are negative forSARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR/RT-LAMP within 72 hours prior to departure. They must havetravel insurance that covers COVID-19 with a minimum liability of 50,000 USD,and must purchase a tour package from a travel agency.
TheMinistry of Foreign Affairs is temporarily recognising 'vaccine passports' of72 countries and territories, and is in discussions with nearly 80 others onmutual recognition for the 'vaccine passport'.
Thesemeasures will help Vietnam reopen international tourism activities,contributing to promoting related economic sectors and fields.
Accordingto businesses, although facilities to receive international visitors are ready,they are waiting for instructions from the management agency.
Proceduresfor foreigners on entry, publication of vaccination certificate forms or"vaccine passports" of countries and territories recognised by Vietnamand procedures to solve problems during the tours related to COVID-19infections have not yet been published.
Vietnamplans to welcome international visitors from November this year. The firstphase starts from next month only for those using combo packages and visitsseveral select destinations.
Thesecond phase starting from next year expects to see more international airroutes and more destinations re-opened.
Inthe third phase, full re-opening will be decided based on the pandemicdevelopment and the results of the two previous phases.
Ata quarterly press conference of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on October28, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of TourismPham Van Thuy said that it was necessary to reopen the tourism sector at thistime after companies have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Theministry and tourism administration will co-operate with Kien Giang provinceto prepare for receiving international tourists later this month.
Everyone inPhu Quoc island district has received a first dose of vaccine and the seconddose is currently being rolled out.
PhuQuoc authorities arranged safe destinations to host visitors as well asdeveloped plans to respond to visitors testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.People travelling to Phu Quoc by air will be from places that havecontrolled the pandemic like those in Northeastern Asia, Europe, the US andAustralia.
Thuysaid that the tourism administration is working with Vietnam’s diplomaticagencies in tourism promotion to attract more visitors to Phu Quoc.
Aftera tourism reopening pilot programme in Phu Quoc, tourism authorities would drawlessons and expand to other destinations like Ha Long, Hoi An, Nha Trang and DaLat, he said.
Theadministration also developed a digital tourism map which was integrated intothe app “Du lịch Vietnam an toàn” (Vietnam safe tourism) in which people couldfind information about safe hospitals and clinics.
Theadministration would soon introduce a tourism hotline 1039 and app VTV Travelas well as digital COVID-19 vaccination certificates at https://travelpass.tourism.vn tofacilitate reopening of international tourism./.
VNA
