Since March 22, 2020, Vietnam has suspended the entry of foreign tourists from all countries to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Recently, Vietnam has banned flights coming from countries that have been recorded to have the new Covid-19 variants, including the UK and South Africa.
Although Vietnam is not yet allowing the entry of foreign tourists, Vietnamese authorities will permit the entry of travelers who are visiting for essential reasons. These include businessmen, investors, foreign workers, diplomats, Vietnamese citizens, and other foreign travelers whose reasons for the visit are valid.
If you are planning to visit Vietnam soon for essential reasons, then here’s everything you need to know.
Foreigners Entering Vietnam for Essential Reasons
Take note that Vietnam is still not allowing the entry of foreigners who are visiting for tourism purposes. Because of this, the Vietnam tourist visa has been temporarily suspended. These apply to both E-visas and visa on arrival. As of the moment, it is not yet clear when Vietnam will start issuing visas to foreign tourists.
You will only be permitted to enter Vietnam if you are holding other visas, such as the business visa, work visa, and visit visa. To apply for these types of visas, you need to visit the Vietnam embassy or consulate in your area. But before you do so, you must get in touch with partner agencies or organizations in Vietnam that can apply for an approval letter on your behalf. They will coordinate with the Vietnam Immigration Department to obtain approval for your entry into the country.
Take note that all foreign visitors will be required to go into quarantine upon entry into the country. Therefore, the agency will also coordinate with the local government for the quarantine facilities that you will use upon entry into the country. When Vietnam Immigration approves your entry, they will issue an approval letter. Make sure to print the Immigration’s approval letter because you need to show a copy of this letter to the Vietnam Embassy in your country so you will be given a Vietnam visa.
Vietnamese Citizens Returning to Vietnam
For Vietnamese citizens who are living abroad, they are welcome to return home to Vietnam during this time. They have two options to do so. First, they can take advantage of the repatriation flights organized by the Vietnamese government. Second, they can book their flights through a Vietnamese airline or other foreign airlines that have flights to Vietnam.
1. Joining the repatriation flights supported by the Vietnamese Government
To help Vietnamese citizens return home and be with their loved ones, the government of Vietnam has launched several repatriation flights. The schedule of these flights is posted on the website of the Vietnam Embassy. For those who came from Malaysia, they should check with the website of the Vietnamese embassy in Malaysia for the schedule of these flights. If they want to join the flight, they must register in advance. All registration must be done online through the embassy’s website.
2. Joining flights not supported by the Vietnam Government
For those who cannot join the repatriation flights organized by the Vietnamese government, they can book their flights, either through a Vietnamese airline or a foreign airline. In this case, they must call the local authorities themselves and coordinate with the Vietnamese embassy for the immigration approval procedures. They must also make sure to apply for the approval of the Covid-19 isolation facility that they need to use upon entry.
Take note that you will not be allowed to board the flight if you do not have the necessary requirements. Therefore, if you plan to go home to Vietnam soon, make sure to process the requirements as early as possible. You can ask for help from a local agency in Vietnam to help you with the approval and other requirements needed for your entry. They can also get in touch with the local authorities to arrange your isolation facility.
Things to Keep In Mind
All foreigners who plan on entering Vietnam at this moment need to have a valid visa to enter the country. Currently, Vietnam does not honor applications for a visa exemption. Those who were given a visa exemption certificate before the pandemic cannot enter Vietnam using the certificate during this period. The only way you can enter the country is to apply for a visa. Depending on your purpose of visit, you can apply for a business visa or other types of visa.
But before you can be approved for your visa, you must first get a letter of approval from Vietnam Immigration. If you need help with this, you can get in touch with a local agency in Vietnam. You can also contact the Consular Department of Vietnam in your country to ask for assistance.
