Coronavirus in Vietnam – Is Vietnam safe for Travel?

2020 came along with an outbreak of the notorious 2019 Novel Coronavirus, and it affects every aspect of our living, from economy to our travel. Many of travelers who have planned or booked a trip to Vietnam are now in questions: what is the real situation of Vietnam at the moment, whether this country is still safe for travel and whether they should cancel/delay their trip or not. Just find out the answer here with Vietnam-visa.com.

Coronavirus situation in Vietnam – What travelers should know

I. Current COVID-19 Cases in Vietnam

• On November 30, the Vietnamese government confirmed its first case of COVID-19 community transmission in Ho Chi Minh City after 87 days.  Multiple individuals are currently being asked to quarantine and test to make sure the situation is effectively contained.  We encourage U.S. citizens currently living in Vietnam, particularly in the Ho Chi Minh City area, to practice caution and closely monitor the guidance of the local authority. 
• Most COVID-19 patients in Vietnam have recovered and were released from the hospital.  Around 50 cases are currently being isolated for treatment.  Vietnam has not had any new community transmission cases since September 2, 2020; all recent confirmed cases involve people who arrived in Vietnam with COVID-19 and, like all arrivals, were sent directly to quarantine.

• The Vietnamese government continues to advise all people in Vietnam to wear face masks in public places and to avoid large gatherings.  Vietnamese media previously reported several cases involving fines for individuals not wearing face coverings in areas where strict social distancing requirements are in place (for further details please see Section “Fines for Non-Compliance” below).  We continue to encourage U.S. citizens to wear a face covering, or at least keep one ready, when leaving their houses to avoid any unforeseeable inconveniences including in areas where social distancing requirements have been loosened.
• Any individuals experiencing symptoms of the COVID-19 virus — fever, cough and difficulty breathing — or those concerned they may have been exposed to the virus should call Vietnam’s health hotline right away: 19009095 (Press 1 for English).

For updates, please refer to website of the Ministry of Heath of Vietnam,  COVID-19 section at https://ncov.moh.gov.vn/.

II. Vietnam Travel Policies

Understanding that traveling creates a high risk of spreading of Coronavirus throughout the country, the Vietnam government has applied strict policies, including:

• Suspension of Vietnam visa and entry for tourists, only foreign experts, investors, highly-skilled workers, their family members; international students, foreign family members of Vietnamese citizens can enter the country conditionally;
• Mandatory health check upon travelers’ arrival at any entry point of Vietnam;
• Mandatory centralized quarantine;

► Click here for full updates. Remember to read it as it may be subject to change from time to time and directly affects your travel in Vietnam.

III. What Does Vietnam Do to Beat the Coronavirus?

Facing this outbreak, our government and people have taken a lot of measures to prevent its spread in our country, including:

1. Preventative measures by the Vietnamese Government

Dr. Kidong Park, the WHO representative in Vietnam, attributed the success to the Government’s “proactiveness and consistency throughout the response”. Let’s quickly review how the country coped with the sudden outbreak right from the beginning of the Lunar New Year.

Vietnam declared the COVID-19 an epidemic in Vietnam on February 1, 2020. Although the number of confirmed cases remains low within the country, a lot of strong preventive measures have been taken to avoid a further outbreak. The very first action undertaken was forming a National Steering Committee to direct efforts and communicate to the public. 

The most distinctive steps taken include:

• Closure of overland border crossings to Vietnam;
• Suspension of many international flights to Vietnam;
• Epidemic prevention training for flight crews and attendants;
• 14-day quarantine of all travelers and Vietnamese people returning to Vietnam;
• Strengthened disease screening at international points of entry
• Four hospitals designated by Ministry of Defense to handle potential cases
• Increased prevention and control measures at health care facilities
• 45 quick response medical teams set up to assist hospitals nationwide

As the situation remains well-controlled within the country borders, airports are still under strict policies to prevent unexpected risks. 

2. International flights to Vietnam

Since the start of February, all Vietnam’s airports have been ordered to deploy additional personnel and coordinate with local health agencies to deploy body temperature scanning equipment as well as a screening of passengers.

And then, all international flights have been indefinitely suspended.

And on September 15, 2020, the Vietnam government approved the resumption of 6 international air routes as follows:

Resumed 6 international air routes to Vietnam after covid, since September 15

3. Closures and cancellations in Vietnam due to COVID-19

As quick response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Vietnam government has decided to close a number of festivals.

IV. Emergency Contacts and Official Government Sites in Vietnam

In the current situation, fake news is just as dangerous as the virus itself. Please update information from these trusted sources only:

• Coronavirus app at https://coronavirus.app/
• Official Vietnamese’s government website: https://ncov.moh.gov.vn/

If any traveler experiences symptoms of the virus: fever, cough and difficulty breathing, please immediately contact this emergency hotline: +84 19003228 the following hotlines. Please be aware of the risks you are carrying and take appropriate actions to help prevent community spread.

Hotlines for Coronavirus report and consultancy in Vietnam

Generally speaking, in face of complicated development of COVID-19, we  highly recommend that all foreigners in Vietnam should temporarily limit your travel if it’s not necessary. In order to stay in a country other than your home country, it’s important to check visa validity to have prompt solutions to save unnecessary costs. In case you wish to stay in our Vietnam longer than your visa validity, remember to extend and renew your visa.