In the context of outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Vietnam Government has applied stricter regulations regarding entry, and travel of the foreigners in Vietnam in order to prevent spread of such epidemic throughout Vietnam, ensure safety for both Vietnamese and foreigners themselves.

This article will update you of the measures applied by our Government regarding entry, stay and travel of foreigners in Vietnam and it covers:

• Vietnam entry policy
• Health Check
• Quarantine regulations
• Closures of tourist attractions

1. Vietnam visa – entry suspension

Updated March 17, 2020: Government of Viet Nam has decided to temporarily halt visa issuance to foreigners for 30 days, applicable since March 18.

Foreigners enjoying visa-waiver program or overseas Vietnamese and their spouses and children having been granted with certificate of visa exemption shall only be allowed to enter Vietnam if they can submit papers certifying they are not positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The aforesaid measure shall also be applied to foreigners who are experts, business managers, highly skilled workers upon arrival to Viet Nam.

All the above measures shall NOT be applicable to entrants for diplomatic or official purposes.

► Source: https://www.facebook.com/thongtinchinhphu/posts/2825377487539420

Update March 14, 2020: From noon on March 15, Vietnam

• temporarily suspend entry for tourist who come from the Schengen countries and/or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or have visited or transited through these areas within 14 days preceding their expected entry into Viet Nam;
• suspend visa upon arrival for all foreign nationals

The bans will be in effect for 30 days. But it is not be applicable to entrants for diplomatic or official purposes.

Suspended Vietnam visa updates – Vietnam.travel

The new policy applies to all travelers, except those traveling for diplomatic or official purposes.  Foreigners who are experts, business managers, or highly-skilled workers entering Vietnam will need to undergo medical checks and quarantine will be applied in accordance with the guidelines of Vietnam’s Ministry of Health. 

► See this decision here.

Vietnam has indicated visa exemptions will be suspended for nations reporting 500 cases or more of COVID-19, or those with more than 50 new cases per day. 

At this time, Vietnam is refusing entry to all travellers arriving from mainland China, Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk, or those who have transited through these areas within the past 14 days.

Updated March 11, 2020: Officially from March 12, 2020 00:00, Vietnam visa exemption for the citizens of the following countries is suspended:

• Spain
• Germany
• France
• Sweden
• United Kingdom
• Denmark
• Finland
• Norway

At this time, Vietnam is refusing entry to all travelers arriving from mainland China, Hong Kong, Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk, or those who have transited through these areas within the past 14 days.

Also, at this time, it’s hard to get visa approval letter for citizens of the countries mentioned above to get visa on arrival.

► You can see full details here: http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/Govt-temporarily-suspends-unilateral-visa-exemption-for-8-countries-due-to-COVID19-outbreak/20203/39094.vgp

Additionally, as announced by the Vietnam embassy in London, United Kingom on March 10, 2020:

Beause of covid -19 outbreak in some countries in Europe, the Embassy of Vietnam in London for the time being will not accept requests for visa processing until further notice. Only applicants with visa approval letter from the Immigration Department of Vietnam can apply for visa issuance from the Embassy.

For those who wish to travel to Vietnam, they need to contact with their Vietnamese sponsors/tour-operators for arrangement of their visas with the Immigration Department of Vietnam. Once they get the visa approval letter from the Immigration Department, they can contact Vietnam Embassy for the issuance of their visas.

(Source: Vietnam embassy in UK)

Updated March 2, 2020: Officially from March 3, 2020 00:00, 15-day Vietnam visa exemption for the citizens of Italy is suspended. (You can see the source here.)

Updated February 27, 2020: Officially from February 28, 2020 00:00, 15-day Vietnam visa exemption for the citizens of South Korea is suspended.

In addition, all incoming travelers from South Korea or having travel record to South Korea are subject to to mandatory 14-day isolation.

► You can see the source here.

You are highly recommended to check Vietnam visa requirements before every trip to Vietnam.

In case you are of those nationalities and wish to stay longer in Vietnam but your visa is close to expiration, doing Vietnam visa extension seems to be the best way at present.

2. Health Check upon arrival in Vietnam

From March 7, 2020, all travelers entering Vietnam are REQUIRED to have their health checked and complete a Medical Declaration Form on arrival.

This form can be filled out online via this link on the day of entry into Vietnam or on paper upon your arrival at the entry point.

For online declaration:

• Follow this link https://suckhoetoandan.vn/khaiyte, select the language and complete the form.
• After submission, you will be provided with a unique code. Please keep it in your phone or note it on your paper and bring it with you to Vietnam.
• Upon reaching the entry port, visit the Medical Declaration Area, and show your code to take the print of your Medical Declaration Form.
• The health staff there will check your health status and seal your Statement if there is no problem with your health.
• You then take the sealed Statement and go to the visa/immigration counter.

For paper declaration:

• Upon reaching the entry port, go to the Medical Declaration Area to take the Medical Declaration Form and fill it out.
• The health staff there will check your health status and seal your Form if there is no problem with your health.
• You then take the sealed Form and go to the visa/immigration counter.

All entrants shall be medically checked and have to comply with the nation’s COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

3. Quarantine regulations in Vietnam

In order to minimize the risk of infection in Vietnam, all those with close contact with those carrying Coronavirus will be quarantined. So, if you have any contact — such as the sharing of flights, vehicles, or hotels — with others who have tested positive for COVID-19 while in Vietnam, you can expect to be tested for the virus and placed in 14-day quarantine.

Here come 3 levels of quarantine observed by Vietnam at the moment:

• Self-quarantine in homes or hotels with regular check-ups by local health authorities,
• Quarantine in health establishments for those showing symptoms of the virus, as well as those who have tested positive for COVID-10 and those in close contact with them, and
• Quarantine in non-medical establishments for those returning from high-risk areas.

Updated March 16, 2020: all incoming travelers from the US, Europe and ASEAN countries shall be subject to centralized quarantine.

4. Closure and procedures of hotels, and tourist attractions in Vietnam

Many of Vietnam’s tourist destinations have announced temporary closures.  If you are planning to visit a specific location, please check the attraction’s website or contact the management to confirm that they are open to visitors.  Please also note that many hotels in Vietnam are now requesting guests to undergo temperature checks at reception. Guests with temperatures of 37 degrees and below should have no trouble checking in.

Details:

• Tourist attractions in Hue stops receiving visitors from March 14, 2020.
• Tourist attractions in Phu Yen stops receiving visitors from March 13, 2020.
• Tourist attractions in Tien Giang stops receiving foreign visitors from March 12, 2020, 13:00.
• Other destinations such as Ly Son Island, Cham Islands, and Con Dao are also not receiving tourists at this time. 
• The Hoi An Ancient Town is not selling tickets to visitors, and has suspended its pedestrian and cycling street hours until the end of March 2020.
• All tourist sites in Ninh Binh (including Mua Cave and Trang An Tourism Complex) are closed from March 13 until the end of March 26.
• From March 12 to March 26, Ha Long Bay and other attractions in the area such as Bai Tu Long Bay and Yen Tu Complex will not receive guests. 
• Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi) is closed from afternoon of March 9 to the end of March 15.

5. Others

From 16 March 2020, Vietnam Government requires that:

• All Vietnamese and foreign nationals in Viet Nam shall wear face masks at crowded public places, including supermarkets, airport terminals, train stations, coach stations, and public transport vehicles.
• All passengers on domestic and international flights to and from Viet Nam shall wear face masks throughout the flight and during their stay at the airport terminals.

6. Local sources

• Online Health Declaration Form (available in Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Korean, Italian, Cambodian, Russian, Spanish, French, Lao)
• Vietnam’s Ministry of Health COVID-19 Web Page
• Vietnam official travel website (run by the Ministry of Tourism).  Travel Advisory button on the top will direct here.
• Vietnam Tourism website (offers news rather than advisories)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Consular Department (Vietnamese only).