Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic started, Vietnam has been closely monitoring the situation. The government’s proactive approach has truly paid off because Vietnam has one of the lowest numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Asia, even though it’s located beside China, where the virus started.
Currently, the number of Covid-19 cases in Vietnam has gone down. Thus, the government is slowly easing the restrictions that were put in place since March. In fact, the country has slowly opened up its tourism facilities to cater to domestic tourists. What about international tourists? Will Vietnam open to tourists this year 2020? Let’s find out.
Covid-19 Updates for Tourists in Vietnam
When Vietnam closed its borders in March, several foreign visitors were left stranded in the country. Because of this, the government decided to extend the validity of a temporary residence visa for free. According to the latest update, this extension will run until September 30. This extension will only apply to foreigners who have entered the country after March 1st when the Covid-19 pandemic started.
Tourism attractions and other tourist facilities in Vietnam have reopened since May. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have announced that they will restart the tourism market in order to revive the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
But since international visitors are not yet allowed to enter the country, the ministry has said that they will focus on stimulating the domestic tourism market for now. They will also coordinate with airlines, travel agencies, and transport firms when restarting tourism. Furthermore, the ministry urged these companies to offer discounts on airline tickets and other fees to lure tourists.
Has Vietnam Reopened for International Tourists?
Based on the latest updates, Vietnam has not yet reopened its borders for international tourists. Currently, the only foreign visitors that Vietnam is allowing to enter are foreign experts, investors, diplomats, and all those who have an essential purpose to come to the country. Therefore, tourists may have to wait a little bit longer before they can holiday again in Vietnam.
Will Vietnam open to tourists this year 2020? Given the current situation in Vietnam, there’s a good chance that the country will be opening its doors to tourism before the year ends. And if this will happen, there will be rigorous travel requirements that all visitors must adhere to. This may include submitting a negative result of the Covid-19 test, undergoing a mandatory quarantine, and more.
Just like with the other countries that have now reopened for tourism, Vietnam might only allow visitors from countries with low Covid-19 cases if indeed they will open to tourists this year. Also, Vietnam might also limit the number of passengers that can enter the country on a weekly basis.
Covid-19 Situation in Vietnam
Vietnam has more than 1,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Of these, more than 900 have recovered. Compared to several other countries, Vietnam is doing well in its fight against the Covid-19.
The first confirmed case in the country was reported last January 23. On March 22, Vietnamese authorities have ordered a border closure to prevent the entry of all foreign visitors. A countrywide lockdown was also put in place and people have been advised to stay at home, except for emergency purposes.
Now that the Covid-19 cases in the country are going down, Vietnam is preparing its borders to open to foreigners. However, the government is very careful in its approach to open the country because several other countries around the world are still experiencing a significant increase in confirmed cases. So although Vietnam is keen on welcoming foreign tourists back, the country has to do it gradually so as not to trigger another wave of the pandemic.
Applying for Vietnam Tourist Visa
Even though the Vietnamese government has not yet confirmed if they will open to tourists this year 2020, there’s a possibility that they will allow tourists to enter anytime soon. In fact, Vietnam has already resumed operations of the major airports in the country. Right now, Vietnam is welcoming flights from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. However, it will only allow foreigners to enter if their visit is essential.
If you plan on visiting Vietnam as a tourist soon, it is a good idea to prepare your travel documents in advance including your visa. It’s not yet clear if Vietnam has restarted issuing visas at the moment. But once the country starts accepting foreign tourists again, you will have several options to choose from for your visa. You can apply for the e-visa, visa on arrival, and the standard visa, which you can get from the Vietnam embassy.
It is best to prepare the requirements in advance, such as your passport, which should remain valid within six months of entry. You also need to submit recent photos and some other documents depending on the type of visa that you will apply for.
