The Ministry of Health's most recent guidance on COVID-19 prevention and control allows travelers to enter Vietnam without being isolated, and exempts children under 2 years of age from arrival testing.

The Ministry of Health issued Dispatch No. 1265/BYT-DP on COVID-19 prevention and control measures for travelers to Viet Nam. The new Dispatch has been communicated to all other Ministries, government departments and agencies, and provincial People's Committees.

According to the Ministry of Health, although the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases remained high and new mutations of the Omicron variant were detected in the community, Vietnam maintained a high vaccination rate (in fact, Vietnam was among the countries having the highest vaccine rate) and the number of COVID-19 severe cases and deaths was still under control.

In accordance with the Government’s Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP on the temporal strategy of “Safe and flexible adaptation, and effective control of COVID-19 pandemic”, the Ministry of Health (Standing committee of the National task force for COVID-19 prevention and control) updated the requirements for international travels to Viet Nam.

Requirements for all travelers to enter Viet Nam

All travelers boarding a flight to Viet Nam are required to show a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result (except those aged 2 years and under) obtained within 72 hours before travel if using the RT-PCR/RT-LAMP test, or within 24 hours before travel if using the SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test. The test results must be approved by the authority in the country where the tests were performed.

Travelers arriving in Viet Nam via alternative modes of transportation (by land, sea and rail) are subject to the same requirements as air travelers

If travelers do not have a proof of negative SARS-CoV-2 test, they must take a SARS-CoV-2 test (RT-PCR/RT-LAMP test or SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test) within 24 hours of arrival in Viet Nam.

If the test results are negative, they are allowed to leave their places of accommodation and only need to adhere to applicable COVID prevention guidance.

If the test results are positive, they must immediately report the results to local health authorities for further guidance.

COVID testing is not required for children under the age of 2. All children aged 2 years and under are allowed to enter Viet Nam and participate in outside activities with their parents and relatives, regardless of whether they have received vaccination or are infected with COVID-19.

Health declaration prior to arrival in Viet Nam

All travelers must submit a health declaration before they enter Viet Nam and use the PC-COVID app throughout their stay.

If travelers develop COVID-19 symptoms (fever; cough; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; body aches, fatigue, chills; reduced or lost sense of taste; reduced or lost sense of smell; headache; diarrhea; shortness of breath; respiratory tract inflammation, etc.) at the point of entry, they must immediately contact health authorities for further guidance.

Post-arrival monitoring and implementation of COVID prevention measures

After arriving in Viet Nam, all travelers must monitor their health for the next 10 days. If any of the COVID-19 symptoms occur (fever; cough; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; body aches, tiredness, chills; decrease or loss of taste; decrease or loss of smell; headache; diarrhea; shortness of breath; respiratory tract inflammation, etc.), contact the nearest health institution for further guidance.

All travelers must comply with prevention measures: wear a mask frequently and wash their hands with an antiseptic solution.

Travelers who do not have negative test results prior to departure must limit their stopping or parking along the route from the point of entry to their place of accommodation, and maintain a safe distance from others.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that this Dispatch would supersede Dispatch No. 10688/BYT-MT by the Ministry of Health dated December 16, 2021 on COVID-19 prevention and control measures for travelers to Viet Nam; Dispatch No. 10943/BYT-MT by the Ministry of Health dated December 24, 2021 on medical guidance for travelers to Viet Nam on a short-term business trip of less than 14 days; Decision No. 2553/QĐ-BYT by the Ministry of Health dated June 18, 2020 on “Temporary guidance on medical inspection to prevent COVID-19 infection, required for vehicles and drivers at the points of entry by land, rail, sea and air”; Dispatch No. 429/BYT-MT dated January 26, 2022 on COVID-19 prevention and control measures for international flight crews.

The Ministry of Health (Standing committee of the National task force for COVID-19 prevention and control) requested that provincial People’s Committees, Ministries, and Agencies instruct relevant departments and units to implement the latest Dispatch as an approach to lower the risks of transmission.

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