After the Vietnamese government announced its resumption of immigration and emigration policies to those in place pre-COVID-19 on 15 March 2022, the Ministry of Health issued guidance on measures to prevent COVID-19 applicable for inbound passengers entering Vietnam by air, sea, train and road.
Highlighted below are key points to note from Official letter No.1265/BYT-DP of Ministry of Health.4
- COVID-19 test requirements
a. For inbound passengers travelling by air, a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued by authorised clinics of the issuing country is required. Either of the following are acceptable:
i. RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method test taken within 72 hours; or
ii. Antigen rapid test within 24 hours before departure.
b. For inbound passengers travelling by other means of transportation:
i. COVID-19 test certificate as mentioned above is required, or;
ii. If the test certificate is not available upon arrival in Vietnam, passengers must be tested using RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method or antigen rapid test within 24 hours upon arrival;
- If the test result is negative, the passengers can leave their property.
- If the test result is positive, the result must be reported to the local medical centre for further guidance.
- The passengers are encouraged to not stop on their way from the border gates to their property in Vietnam and avoid contact with the community before the negative test result is released.
c. Children under two years old accompanied by their parents/relatives to Vietnam by all means of transportation are not required to take a COVID-19 test or provide a vaccination certificate or certificate of recovery from COVID-19. Instead, they may travel within Vietnam with their accompanied family members.
- Medical declaration and medical scanning at border gates
a. Inbound passengers must compete a medical declaration before arrival and must use the medical declaration app, “PC-COVID,” during their stay in Vietnam.
b. At the border gates, if any COVID-19 symptoms are exhibited, the passengers are required to inform the medical centre at the border gates for suitable application of medical measures.
- Health observation and application of COVID-19 preventive measures
During the first 10 days upon arrival in Vietnam, passengers are required to self-monitor their health for any symptoms of COVID-19 and must inform the nearest medical centre for suitable guidance and medical supervision measures if they show any symptoms of COVID-19. Further, they are required to wear masks and frequently sanitise their hands to prevent COVID-19.