Vietnam’s tourism seems to start recovering after nearly two years of restrictions due to Covid-19. Now the country gets ready to lift more restrictions.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has resumed flights to and from nine cities: Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Chinese authorities have not yet approved applications for flights to Beijing and Guangzhou.
In recent weeks, Vietnam Airlines has also arranged flights to Australia, the UK, France and Germany.
Next week, Bamboo Airways will begin service to Germany, the UK and Australia.
Foreign visitors to Vietnam have to provide negative Covid-19 PCR test results, and rapid tests are no longer required upon arrival. Fully vaccinated or Covid-19 recovered persons must self-isolate at home for three days. However, a seven-day isolation period applies to those who have not received both vaccines. Tourists must also have at least $50,000 in medical insurance coverage for Covid treatment.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is gradually resuming inbound tourism. Localities that have given their residents the third injection or are identified as "green" areas may allow foreign travelers to enter.
Vietnam’s tourism should be further boosted by easing the entry restrictions to visitors on March 31. The Ministry of Tourism stated that the timing was right because by then the entire adult population will have received the three doses of vaccination.
The government cautiously reopened to international tourism last November, when 29 travelers arrived in Hoi An city. Since then, the country has welcomed 8,500 tourists, mainly from Russia, South Korea, Singapore, UK and USA.