Công văn 465/BVHTTDL-TCDL

Implementing order of the Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh under Official Dispatch No. 61/VPCP-KGVX of the Government Office dated January 3, 2022 assigning Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to, within their functions, tasks, and powers, cooperate with ministries and central governments in researching and revising the Provisional guidelines on pilot reopening for international tourists in order to match with applicable regulations in accordance with Resolution No. 155/NQ-CP dated December 8, 2021 of the Government; Notice No. 43/TB-VPCP dated February 16, 2022 on conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the meeting on tourism reopening measures; Official Dispatch No. 10688/BYT-MT dated December 16, 2021 of Ministry of Health on COVID-19 prevention and control; Decision No. 218/QD-BYT dated January 27, 2022 of Ministry of Health issuing Provisional health guidelines on implementation of Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021 of the Government; on the basis of remarks of relevant ministries and central governments, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism provides guidelines on implementing stage 2 of the pilot program for welcoming international tourism until March 14, 2022, to be specific:

1. Scope of tourism reopening

Welcome tourists via charter flights or regular international commercial flights.

Local governments shall depend on local COVID-19 prevention and control requirements to decide to welcome international tourists and inform Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

2. Regulations applicable to tourists

2.1. Regulated entities

Foreigners, overseas Vietnamese, and Vietnamese nationals are eligible for the pilot program for receiving international tourists if they satisfy requirements under part 2 of this section.

2.2. Requirements

- Participating in a tourism program provided by an international tour operator service provider (hereinafter referred to as “a tour operator enterprise”).

- Having COVID-19 vaccination certificate accredited by Vietnamese authorities, having their last dose administered within 14 days to 12 months prior to the date of entry. Or having COVID-19 recovery certificate or equivalent documents verifying COVID-19 recovery issued by competent authorities of the country that provides the treatment and accredited by Vietnamese authorities. The interval between the date of entry and the date of discharge must not be more than 6 months.

- For tourists under 18 years of age, tourists at 65 years of age or older, tourists who are pregnant women, or tourists who have underlying medical conditions (that do not require monitor and treatment at medical establishments) and have not been adequately vaccinated against COVID-19, they are allowed to travel with their parents or legal guardians or caregivers who have been adequately vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from COVID-19 and must strictly comply with testing requirements and COVID-19 prevention and control regulations as per the law.

- Having tested negative against SARS-CoV-2 (with RT-PCR/RT-LAMP) within 72 hours prior to the point of exit and obtaining the certificate issued by competent authorities of the country where the test is conducted (except for children under 2 years of age).

- Having health insurance or tourist insurance with at least USD 20.000 in minimum liability for incurring COVID-19 treatment

- Meeting entry and exit requirements in accordance with Vietnamese regulations on entry and exit.

3. Inspection, personnel approval, visa issuance, and temporary residence issuance

- International tour operator enterprises shall adopt procedures for inviting and providing guarantee for entry at the Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) in accordance with the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam. Prior to adopting the procedures, the enterprises must declare juridical person, attach documents of Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on selection for participation in the pilot program, attach contract for developing tourism program in permissible area signed with service providers eligible for welcoming international tourists (for the first 3 days or 7 days for tourists mentioned under section 4). COVID-19 prevention and control requirements must comply with regulations of Ministry of Health.

- Entry visas shall have effective duration suitable for the tourism programs; if tourists wish to register additional tourism programs in areas permitted by the local authorities to welcome international tourists, consider extending temporary residence under guarantee provided by the enterprises.

- Tourists who wish to stay for investment or relative visit purposes shall adopt procedures for applying for repurposing in accordance with the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

4. During tourism program in Vietnam

4.1. For tourists who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from COVID-19

- Participate in tourism programs provided by tour operator enterprises that last at least 3 days after entry.

- Tourists shall monitor their health for the first 3 days from the date of entry, any sign of fever, coughing, sore throat, dyspnea, fatigue - tiredness - shivers, reduced or lost sense of taste or sense of smell, or positive test result to COVID-19 must be immediately reported to the tour operator enterprises and medical personnel in order to be promptly screened and managed.

- Perform RT-PCR test on the 3^rd day from the date of entry. If tourists are positive to SARS-CoV-2, comply with regulations of Ministry of Health. Treatment costs shall be incurred by insurance or tour operator enterprises. If tourists are negative to SARS-CoV-2, continue to monitor their health for the rest of the 14-day period from the date of entry.

- After receiving negative RT-PCR test results against COVID-19 on the 3^rd day, tourists can:

+ Continue to participate in the tourism programs as registered (if the programs are longer than 3 days).

+ Participate in tourism programs and utilize local services permitted to welcome international tourists.

+ Return to registered residence or relative visit location. Tourists must register to tour operator enterprises in writing to enable the enterprises to inform local authorities about cooperation in monitoring health and managing groups of tourists as per the law.

- Tourists can return to their countries via regular international commercial flights or licensed charter flights.

4.2. For tourists (accompanied by parents or guardians) who have not been adequately vaccinated against COVID-19

- Participate in tourism programs provided by tour operator enterprises after within 7 days from the date of entry.

- Tourists shall monitor their health for the first 7 days from the date of entry, any sign of fever, coughing, sore throat, dyspnea, fatigue - tiredness - shivers, reduced or lost sense of taste or sense of smell, or positive test result to COVID-19 must be immediately reported to the tour operator enterprises and medical personnel in order to be promptly screened and managed.

- Take RT-PCR test on the 3^rd and the 7^th days. If tourists are positive to SARS-CoV-2, comply with regulations of Ministry of Health. Treatment costs shall be incurred by insurance or tour operator enterprises. If tourists are negative to SARS-CoV-2, continue to monitor health until the end of the 14-day period.

- Parents, legal guardians, and caregivers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from COVID-19 accompanying tourists who have not been fully vaccinated must comply with requirements for testing and regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control applicable to tourists who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

- After receiving negative RT-PCR test results against COVID-19 on the 7^th day, tourists can:

+ Continue to participate in the tourism programs as registered (if the programs are longer than 7 days).

+ Participate in tourism programs and utilize local services permitted to welcome international tourists.

+ Return to registered residence or relative visit location. Tourists must register to tour operator enterprises in writing to enable the enterprises to inform local authorities about cooperation in monitoring health and managing groups of tourists as per the law.

- Tourists can return to their countries via regular international commercial flights or licensed charter flights.

- For tourists who have completed the tourism programs that last less than 7 days, they can return to their countries via regular international commercial flights or licensed charter flights in accordance with guidelines and procedures publicized by the respective countries.

5. Ministries and central governments shall continue to implement tasks relating to implementation of pilot program for welcoming international tourists within their tasks and functions while preventing, controlling the pandemic and facilitating tourists.

6. People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall depend on requirements and COVID-19 prevention and control conditions and decide to welcome international tourists and inform Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

- Areas open to international tourists must:

+ Select areas and service providers open to international tourists in accordance with guidelines under Decision No. 218/QD-BYT dated January 27, 2022 of Ministry of Health. Publicize list of tourism service providers in order to allow international tour operator companies to sign contracts for developing tourism programs and sell to customers.

+ Review veracity and suitability of measures for welcoming and managing groups of tourists at request of international tour operator enterprises and submit written remarks to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

+ Before the end of the 28^th of each month, submit reports on results of welcoming international tourists of the previous months to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

- Areas that do are not open to international tourists shall cooperate in providing contact points for welcoming tourists who wish to stay to visit their relatives or return to their residence. Assist in welcoming, medically supervising tourists who wish to stay to visit relatives or return to residence as registered.

7. International tour operator enterprises must develop measures for welcoming and managing groups of tourists while maintaining COVID-19 prevention and control as per the law. Tour operator enterprises shall submit application for participation in the pilot program for welcoming international tourists to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. The application consists of:

- Copies of the International tour operator service license;

- Written request for remarks of local Departments of Tourism regarding veracity and suitability of the measures for welcoming and managing groups of tourists at request of international tour operator enterprises;

- Written commitment to fully comply with regulations when participating in the pilot program;

- Plans for welcoming customers (including market, proposed estimated number of customers, itineraries, time of implementation, duration of stay, transporting airline, tourism programs);

- Plans for dealing with epidemic prevention and control incidents;

- Contracts signed directly with service providers (including responsibilities for providing safety services and plans for cooperating in dealing with incidents);

- Contracts signed with insurance enterprises regarding health insurance or tourism insurance that incurs COVID-19 treatment costs as per the law;

- List of personnel engaging in welcoming and serving tourists.

Tour operator enterprises must inform local Departments of Tourism and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism about information of enterprises receiving customers, list of customers, detail tourism programs 48 hours before entry of tourists and ensure that tourists satisfy all requirements under these Guidelines. Submit reports on rapid test results or RT-PCR test results of groups of tourists which are staying in Vietnam and organized by the tour operator enterprises to Departments of Tourism.

8. Regarding other details, comply with Document No. 4122/HD-BVHTTDL dated November 5, 2021 of Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism providing guidelines on implementation of pilot program for welcoming international tourists in Vietnam.

Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism hereby requests ministries and People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities to direct implementation of stage 2 of pilot program for welcoming international tourists in Vietnam until March 14, 2022, maintain epidemic prevention and control, and facilitate entry of international tourists into Vietnam./.