People wait to handle entry procedures at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)Addressing the ministry’s regular press meeting held virtually, she said the Ministry of Health on March 15issued Document No. 1265/BYT-DP on COVID-19 prevention and control for foreign arrivals to Vietnam.
Accordingly, those entering thecountry by air need to show a negative result of RT-PCR tests for thecoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours or of rapid antigen tests within 24hours prior to their departure.
The arrivals going by road, railway, and sea can do the same if their travel timeis short, but need to undergo testing at border gates before entering Vietnamif the travel time is long. In the latter case, if the test result is negative,they can leave their accommodations and have to take the regulated anti-pandemicmeasures, Hang noted.
Peopleentering Vietnam have to make health declarations prior to their entry, monitortheir health, and use health declaration app PC COVID as in line withregulations while staying in Vietnam, she added.
To implement the VietnameseGovernment’s policy of reopening tourism in the new normal, ministriesand sectors have actively coordinated with one another and devised guidelineson the entry procedures and reception for international visitors to Vietnam.
On March 15, basing on the MoFA’sproposal, the Government agreed to restore the pre-pandemic entry policy forforeigners and overseas Vietnamese people. The same day, the Ministry ofCulture, Sports and Tourism issued a tourism reopening plan for inbound andoutbound tourists, and those making domestic trips by air, road, railway, andsea.
Meanwhile,the Ministry of Health has promulgated guidelines on COVID-19 prevention andcontrol for arrivals, which is in conformity with Article 16.1 in the law onentry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.
Hang explained that foreign touriststo Vietnam can contact and ask international travel companies in thecountry to represent them to handle procedures at the Immigration Department andthen receive their visas at Vietnam’s overseas representative agencies or theagencies authorised to grant visas such as the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Officein Taipei.
The MoFA has ordered the overseasrepresentative bodies and the authorised agencies to grant visas to coordinate withdomestic relevant agencies to deal with visa demand from people enteringVietnam for tourism, as well as business and investment purposes.
Vietnam has resumed visa exemptionfor foreigners in accordance with the international treaties to which it is aparty, or waived visa on the basis of reciprocity with some countries,including Southeast Asian nations like Singapore and Thailand, according to the spokeswoman./.
VNA
