Vietnam Reopens for International Tourism

Posted by Written by Pritesh Samuel Reading Time: 2 minutes

Vietnam on March 15 fully reopened for international tourism after almost two years. However, when the date arrived, there was confusion as entry procedures, visa requirements, etc were not released by the relevant government agencies.

Nevertheless, more details were subsequently released.

As of May 15, Vietnam dropped all COVID-19 testing requirements for international arrivals as per Official Dispatch No. 416/CD-TTg after a significant decrease in the number of cases.

The development is in line with Vietnam’s strategy of opening up and recovering its economy. It is also in line with several countries opening up their borders to boost their markets and GDP.

The dropping of testing is a welcome relief to tourists, business travelers, and airlines looking to recover after years of losses.

Most recently, Vietnam suspended medical declarations for all arrivals from April 27. However, tourists entering Vietnam should also have medical or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum liability of US$10,000.

Travelers are also asked to follow all pandemic protocols such as wearing face masks and disinfecting their hands.

The easing of entry procedures is a significant development compared to countries in Southeast Asia like Thailand and Indonesia, which maintain more onerous entry requirements for foreign tourists.

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Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has also asked relevant government agencies to restore immigration and visa procedures as before the pandemic. This also means that citizens from 80 countries can now apply for an e-visa for a stay of up to 30 days. The government’s e-visa website is open for visa submissions. The government also reiterated its stance to treat foreign and domestic tourists the same.

In addition, businesses visas for business travelers has also resumed without the need for prior approval from the local people’s committee.

Prior to this, the government issued visa exemptions for citizens of 13 countries including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Denmark, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Belarus, and Sweden.

The news is welcoming particularly for tour operators who have suffered significant losses. Vietnam received more than 18 million visitors in 2019 compared to just 157,000 foreign arrivals in 2021 due to border closures.

Vietnam has also resumed direct flights to several destinations such as the US, Singapore, Thailand, the UK, and Australia which will help boost the economy and people to people ties. The easing of entry procedures and visas will allow businesses and tour companies to plan trips and will further contribute to Vietnam’s growing economy.

FAQs

When will Vietnam open its borders for tourism in 2022?

Vietnam’s borders are already open for tourists. They reopened on March 15 have seen a steady stream of tourists entering the Southeast Asian nation ever since.

When will Vietnam allow UK tourists to enter the country?

Tourists from the United Kingdom (UK) can already enter Vietnam.

When will Vietnam lift travel ban?

Vietnam never had a travel ban per say. There were COVID related entry restrictions but these were all lifted back in March of 2022.

How popular is Vietnam as a tourist destination?

Vietnam is a very popular tourist destination. In 2019, the s-shaped Southeast Asian nation welcomed 18 million international arrivals.

How much money does Vietnam make from tourism?

In 2019, Vietnam reported US$32.75 billion in revenue.

About Us

Vietnam Briefing is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Readers may write to vietnam@dezshira.com for more support on doing business in Vietnam.

We also maintain offices or have alliance partners assisting foreign investors in Indonesia, India, Singapore, The Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Italy, Germany, and the United States, in addition to practices in Bangladesh and Russia.