Update on entry and quarantine regulations in Vietnam

published on 13 January 2022 | reading time approx. 2 minutes

Recently, The Ministry of Health has begun to relax the entry regulations for Vietnam, especially with regard to the quarantine period. In particular, foreign arrivals  who have been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 will now only be required to quarantine for 3 days upon their arrival.

Furthermore, you currently have the option to quarantine at your place of residence. A Real Time (RT) PCR test must be taken on the third day of quarantine. If the test result is negative, self-monitoring for an additional 11 days is required. However, you may leave the residence and interact with other people.

Those who have not been (fully) vaccinated still have to quarantine for 7 days. RT PCR tests must be taken on the 3rd and 7th day. An additional 7 days of self-monitoring is also required. In addition to a Certificate of being vaccinated or having recovered from Covid-19, the following documents need to be presented on arrival:

• International-coverage insurance on all expenses, if passenger is found Covid-19-positive during quarantine;

• Covid-19 Real-Time RT PCR test to be done 72 hours prior to arrival in Vietnam.

Please note that depending on the issuing country, the Certificate of being vaccinated or having recovered from Covid-19 must be legalized. Exempted from the obligation of legalization are Covid Certificates issued in countries such as Germany, Austria, Australia, US, UK, France, Japan, Korea, Singapore, for example.

For a business trip not exceeding 14 days, quarantine is not required. However, the sponsoring company has to ensure that any potential infection is prevented. A detailed schedule must be submitted in advance.

While Vietnam has also relaunched commercial flights (see below) the issuance of visas is still restricted. In general, only diplomats, investors, experts, highly skilled professionals, managers, and their families as well as international students and foreign family members of Vietnamese nationals are granted visas. An Entry Permit needs to be obtained prior to the entry of Vietnam. Please note that the average processing time currently amounts to 6 weeks.

The government has additionally reinitiated the issuance of tourist visas. However, foreign arrivals with a Tourist visa are only allowed to access limited destinations (Phu Quoc, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Dinh) and in a group tour only. Tourists will also have to prepare the documents mentioned above and take part in the trips or activities that have been booked before. Travel within the country on a Tourist visa, for example to Hanoi remains restricted. Further destinations are expected to be included in the near future, subject to the Covid-19 situation.

Commercial flights

Vietnam is re-launching regular commercial international flights from and to several destinations. According to the latest information, these destinations include US, Taipei (China), Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia with 4 flights per week per destination. Flights to France, Germany, Australia are expected to re-open soon. Currently, it is envisaged to lift all remaining Covid related restrictions on commercial aviation starting from the 3rd quarter of 2022 onwards.