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:
1. Vietnam Visa – Entry & Quarantine regulations
As of today, the Vietnamese government continues to suspend entry into Vietnam to all foreigners, including people with a Vietnamese visa exemption certificate. This policy has very limited exemptions for Holders of diplomatic and official passports coming to Vietnam for
- Diplomatic and official duty and their family members;
- Experts, investors, business managers, high-tech workers and their family members;
- International students; and
- Foreign family members of Vietnamese citizens.
1. 5 Steps to get Vietnam visa for Foreigners during COVID 19 and take them to Vietnam
In order to enter Vietnam during the COVID breakout, those foreigners and their sponsors in Vietnam shall follow the 5-step procedure below:
- Step 1: The sponsor in Vietnam prepares the required documents and forms;
- Step 2: The sponsor submits the prepared documents to the Department of Health;
- Step 3: After getting approval from the Department of Health, the sponsor shall obtain flight booking confirmation (if the foreigner enters Vietnam by air), and hotel booking confirmation.
- Step 4: The sponsor shall submit the approval by the Department of Health, flight booking confirmation (if the foreigner enters Vietnam by air), hotel booking confirmation, and other documents as required to the Vietnam Immigration Department to get an entry permit.
- Step 5: Enter Vietnam and stay in quarantine
Feel free to contact us at +84.946.583.583, or Support@Vietnam-visa.com or @vietnamvisaservice for consultation and assistance to enter Vietnam as an expert.
Enter Vietnam as an Expert
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2. Vietnam entry and quarantine procedure in COVID
At the moment, the entrants into Vietnam are subject to quarantine. You can check its full procedure here.
Additionally, as updated on September 10, 2020, experts entering Vietnam and staying in the country for less than 14 days will no longer be required to stay in 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
All details about this regulation are available here.
This guide has just been issued by the Ministry of Health.
Update September 1, 2020
Vietnam extends the automatic stay permit extension until October 31, 2020 for those entering Vietnam with tourist visa, visa exemption or e-visa who meets these conditions for automatic stay extension.
Vietnam visa extension advice
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3. 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.
4. Fines for Non-Compliance:
Hanoi’s Department of Justice issued Document 925/STP-PBGDPL detailing heavy fines or even criminal charges in some cases for people who violate the government’s COVID-19 prevention and combat regulations. Depending on their local context and COVID-19 community transmission situation, localities throughout Vietnam may adopt these regulations to penalize individuals who violate the social distancing requirements in place. For further information, please see http://baochinhphu.vn/Phap-luat/Chi-tiet-muc-phat-13-hanh-vi-vi-pham-quy-dinh-phong-chong-COVID19-tai-Ha-Noi/392004.vgp (in Vietnamese only).
- People who do not wear face coverings in public places may be fined from 100,000 VND to 300,000 VND.
- Littering used face masks in public places may result in fines of up to 7 million VND.
- People who deliberately hide their or others’ health conditions when infected with COVID-19 will be subject to a fine of VND 2 million.
- Eateries or food stalls that fail to follow the order to close down in virus-hit areas will be subject to a maximum fine of VND 20 million.
- Individuals or businesses that fail to follow the business restrictions order applicable in public spaces could face fines up to VND 10 million and VND 20 million, respectively.
- Those who do not observe the authorities’ instructions on medical observation and safety protocols before entering or exiting virus-hit regions could face a maximum fine of VND 20 million.
- Individuals who escape from quarantine sites, violate quarantine protocols, or reject or evade compulsory quarantine could face an administrative fine of VND 10 million. If their actions cause infections in other people, they could be criminally tried in accordance with Article 240 of Vietnam’s Penal Code on “spreading dangerous infectious diseases.”
- In addition, individuals who escape from quarantine sites, violate quarantine protocols, or reject or evade compulsory quarantine that cause VND 100 million in additional costs for authorities to contain COVID-19, may be criminally tried in line with Article 295 of Vietnam’s Penal Code on violations of occupational safety and hygiene regulations in crowded areas.
- People who fail to fully and accurately report their health status in a way that results in the spread of COVID-19 may face criminal liability in line with Penal Code’s Article 240.
- Individuals who post misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic may face administrative fines of up to VND 15 million or criminal liability in line with Article 288 of the Penal Code on “Illegal provision or use of information on computer networks or telecommunications networks.”
- Resorting to violence, threatening to use violence, or hindering law enforcement in their efforts to contain COVID-19 may lead to criminal charges under Article 330 of the Penal Code on “resisting law enforcement in the discharge of their duties.”
- Owners of service businesses like bars, night clubs (discos), karaoke bars, massage parlors or beauty salons, etc.- whose defiance of temporary closure orders lead to VND 100 million in damage and costs for authorities – would constitute a crime under the Penal Code’s Article 295.
- People who exploit the scarcity or create artificial scarcity during the pandemic situation to buy in large quantities and stockpile goods that are in the government’s price control list in an attempt to resell and make “illicit gains” would be considered hoarding under Penal Code’s Article 196, which provides for administrative fines and imprisonment depending on the value of the goods.
5. 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).
