Hướng dẫn 4122/HD-BVHTTDL

PROVISIONAL GUIDANCE

PILOTED REOPENING TO INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS VISITING VIETNAM

In a bid to carry out the Prime Minister’s instructions given in the Official Dispatch No. 8044/VPCP-KGVX dated November 2, 2021 of the Government Office, regarding the provisional guidance on piloted reopening to international tourists visiting Vietnam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism herein provides the detailed instructions about the piloted reception of international tourists travelling to Vietnam, including the followings:  

I. ROADMAP FOR PILOTED RECEPTION OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

1. 1^st phase (started in November 2021):

Piloting the reception of international tourists going on full-package tours, international charter and commercial flights to the authorized tourism service establishments in Phu Quoc city (Kien Giang province), Khanh Hoa province, Quang Nam province, Da Nang city and Quang Ninh province (Lists of tourist sites and tourism service providers authorized to receive international tourists should be compiled, decided and publicly announced by local authorities of these provinces and cities).    

2. 2^nd phase (started in January 2022):

Extending the scope of reception of international tourists and connecting tourist destinations through international charter and regularly-scheduled commercial flights. Tourists can have access to tours to visit a mix of destinations in the 5 local jurisdictions mentioned in the 1^st phase (maybe other local jurisdictions that meet regulatory requirements and submit their proposals for reception of international tourists) after they finish the first tourist destination within 7 days.  

3. 3^rd phase:

Fully reopening to the international tourist market. After having regard to the actual developments of the epidemic situation and the evaluation of results of reception of international tourists in the 2^nd phase, the commencement of the 3^rd phase is scheduled.    

II. INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

International tourists visiting Vietnam are foreigners or Vietnamese residing in foreign countries who arrive in Vietnam from Vietnam’s key or potential tourism markets, meet entry and exit requirements and the following medical requirements:

1. They must present their certificates of full COVID-19 vaccination endorsed by Vietnam's competent authorities (except children under 2 years of age who travel with their parents or guardians).  The second dose or the first dose (single-dose vaccines) must be received 14 days before they arrive in Vietnam, and within 12 months before they leave Vietnam.   If not, they must hold certificates of recovery from COVID-19 or equivalent proofs of their recovery issued by competent authorities in the treating countries and recognized by Vietnam. The period from the date of their hospital discharge to the date of their departure must not be more than 6 months.

2. They have received negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR/RT-LAMP test results within 72 hours before their departure and obtained certificates of such test results from competent authorities of the testing countries. This 72-hour period starts from the sampling date.

3. They must have health insurance or travel insurance policies that cover COVID-19 treatment costs at the minimum liability rate of USD 50,000.

4. They must take part in full package tours offered by travel companies.

III. PROCEDURES FOR RECEPTION OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

1. Booking tours

- Tourists choose and make bookings for tours organized by international travel companies providing tourism services during the piloting period (flight information, accommodations, travel, recreational, entertainment, leisure activities and tour schedule should be clarified).  Travel companies advise tourists of required procedures that they must complete before their bookings.

- Each tour is designed to operate within areas and tour service establishments permitted by local authorities and lasts for the maximum period of 90 days.  

- After finishing a tour (lasting for at least 7 days), in case of wishing to stay in Vietnam to visit family members/relatives/friends, tourists must register with travel companies in advance in order for them to assist in completing prescribed procedures for referral of foreign visitors to local jurisdictions where they make their visits and comply with medical supervision regulations currently in force.

2. Considering permission for foreign visitors to travel to Vietnam and granting them visas

- Before embarking on completing procedures for foreign visitor’s entry into Vietnam, international travel companies must notify the Vietnam Immigration Department under the control of the Ministry of Public Security of their legal status according to regulations of clause 2 of Article 16 in the Law No. 47/2014/QH13 and the regulatory document of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism regarding selection of participants in the pilot program.

- Travel companies directly submit applications to request permission for foreign visitors to Vietnam (using the application form NA2 enclosed in the Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 5, 2015 of the Minister of Public Security) and receive replies from the Vietnam Immigration Department; can send their applications and receive replies online at the Web Portal of Immigration (further instructions given at the website http://immigration.gov.vn).  

- Within 02 business days of receipt of applications, Vietnam Immigration Department notifies results of processing of applications for permission for foreign visitors to enter Vietnam; in case of approval, they must send written replies bearing QR codes with the embedded link used for downloading the IGOVN app developed by the Ministry of Public Security.   In case of refusal, reasons should be clearly stated.

- Tourists receive visas at Vietnamese overseas representative missions or international border gates upon the request of travel companies.

- Entry visa validity must correspond to the tour length. If tourists continue to book tours to visit tourist sites located at local jurisdictions authorized to admit international tourists, the duration of their temporary stay may be extended under travel companies’ guarantee.

- After end of the minimum 7-day period of his/her tour, if any tourist wishes to visit his/her family members/friends/relatives, the responsible immigration authority can allow a change to another entry purpose in accordance with regulations in force.

- Regarding tourists entering Phu Quoc city (who are granted entry visas as per the Government's Resolution No. 80/NQ-CP dated May 25, 2020), travel companies submit applications for permission for entry before arrival.

3. Preparing for departure flights to Vietnam

- Before departure for Vietnam, travel companies should advise their tourists to monitor their health, cancel or delay their trips if they develop suspected symptoms of infection with COVID-19 or are identified as close contact with confirmed/suspected COVID-19 cases at the time of making their trips.

- Tourists undergo RT-PCR tests within 72 hours before departure (starting from the sampling date).

- Tourists should note appropriate epidemic safety measures to be taken onboard the means of transport before entry.

- Tourists (including children under 12 years of age who travel with their parents or legal guardians) need to prepare legally required documents, except for those of which electronic copies are approved by Vietnamese authorities, and negative RT-PCR test reports issued no more than 72 hours before departure for presentation to airlines and immigration authorities upon request.

4. Carrying out entry procedures at the airport to enter Vietnam

- Tourists undergo health screenings conducted by international airports of entry, including temperature checks and installation of IGOVN and PC-COVID apps. Tourists are required to use the above-mentioned apps when going on tours in Vietnam.

- Tourists complete legally-required entry procedures at international airports.  Health authorities at the airports check against medical requirements; border police takes control of entry, grants temporary stay certificates and visas (if any) to foreign visitors to Vietnam through international airports after they complete health procedures.

- Travel companies support and guide tourists in preparing entry documents, and making necessary arrangement for reception of foreign visitors after entry in accordance with regulations.

- Tourists are obliged to self-monitor their health and ensure compliance with “5K Message” and statutory infection control and prevention measures.

- In case tourists show any abnormal signs, such as fever, cough, sore throat, breathing trouble, body and muscle pains, fatigue, chills, taste or smell dysfunction or loss, airport health authorities must be notified promptly to monitor and adopt epidemic management procedures according to regulations.

5. Going on tours in Vietnam

a) Days 0-1

- Travel companies pick up arriving tourists, assign staff to guide and accompany them to the means of transport, and drop them off at accommodation establishments.

- At accommodation establishments, tourists do COVID-19 self-tests under the guidance and supervision of their medical staff or staff who have graduated from COVID-19 safety and test training courses or been tested for COVID-19 by local health authorities.

+ If the COVID-19 test result is negative, they can continue their tours.

+ If the COVID-19 test result is positive, they will be taken to the medical facilities that meet legally-required medical treatment conditions. All medical treatment costs are covered by insurance or travel companies.

- Accommodation establishments shall keep tourist’s test results in accordance with regulations.

b) Days 1-7

- Tourists are only allowed to take part in the trips or activities that they book in advance according to the predetermined itineraries planned by tourism businesses. They are strictly prohibited from leaving the tourist groups or the designated pick-up areas. Any close contact with members of other tourist groups shall be strictly controlled.

- Tourists must conduct self-monitoring of their health, and must immediately contact medical staff to have access to screening tests and timely response actions if they have symptoms of the disease, such as fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, body aches, fatigue, chills, dysfunction or loss of taste or smell, or test positive for COVID- 19 after conducting self-tests.

- Ensuring that tourists who participating in tour activities and tourism businesses that provide tourists with tourism services comply with “5K Message” and infection prevention and control measures.

- Accommodation establishments should make rapid test kits available for use at hotel rooms or provide them at their disposal, recommend tourists to self-test every 2-3 days and report their test results for monitoring purposes in accordance with regulations.

- Local regulatory authorities shall undertake inspection and supervision tasks to ensure compliance of travel companies, tourism service providers and tourists with predetermined tour schedules and disease safety regulations.

- Tourists booking tours lasting for less than 7 days to visit localities must return to their home countries according to the domestic guidelines and procedures of their respective home countries.

c) Days 7+

- Tourists booking tours lasting more than 7 days shall have access to RT-PCR tests conducted by local medical staff or health authorities on the 7^th day in the tour schedule.

- After receiving negative test results, tourists can travel to other localities permitted to receive international tourists going on full-package tours (the list of regions and local areas authorized to receive international tourists are updated and released over specific phases of the roadmap for reopening to international tourists). If tourists wish to visit their family members/friends/relatives at locations other than those authorized to receive international tourists, they must register in writing with tour operators to request them to notify local authorities in charge of their destinations to cooperate on health monitoring and management tasks according to regulations in force. Tourists can choose to fly back home on either existing commercial flights or licensed charter flights.

- Tourists should fully comply with epidemic safety and management measures specified in section III.5.b and according to specific local regulations.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism  

a) Preside over and cooperate with local authorities in selecting international travel companies to participate in the pilot program and notify the list to the Vietnam Immigration Department, the Ministry of Public Security.

b) Preside over and cooperate with local authorities in running tourism communication and promotion events and programs during the period of piloted reopening to international tourists.

c) Assist local authorities in selecting tourism service providers and developing pilot plans for reception of international tourists.

d) Lead and cooperate with concerned ministries, central and local authorities in inspection and evaluation of effectiveness of the pilot program; preliminary and final review of achievements of the pilot program; and submission of the final report to the Prime Minister within its competence.

2. Ministry of Health

a) Dispense vaccines according to regulations to key tourist localities participating in the pilot program.

b) Update medical guidelines on monitoring, investigation and handling of emerging outbreaks to cope with new situations with the aim of ensuring the safe and effective execution of the pilot program.

c) Publish the list of COVID-19 vaccines approved for use by Vietnam’s competent authorities.

3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

a) Update and publish samples of vaccination certificates or “vaccine passports” of countries and territories recognized by Vietnam.

b) Cooperate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and local authorities in organizing tourism communication and promotion programs aimed at attracting international visitors to Vietnam.

c) Instruct overseas Vietnamese representative missions to facilitate the issuance of visas for foreigners entering Vietnam according to regulations upon receipt of notification of permission for international visitors to Vietnam from the Immigration Department, the Ministry of Public Security.

4. Ministry of Public Security shall enable international tourists and travel companies to complete legally required visa, entry and exit procedures; ensure safety, security and order for tourists when they are going on tours in the pilot program in Vietnam.

5. Ministry of Information and Communications shall provide international tourists with instructions for use of digital disease safety applications during entry, exit and travel in Vietnam for their convenience.

6. Ministry of Transport

a) License international flights to serve international tourists.

b) Ensure disease safety regulations and flight procedures are consistent before announcing them to passengers onboard aircraft.

c) Arrange entry and exit points and locations and carry out epidemiological control procedures; screen and channel passengers at international airports where international tourists enter or exit to ensure conformance to epidemic safety regulations.

7. People’s Committee of Kien Giang province, Khanh Hoa province, Da Nang city, Quang Nam province and Quang Ninh province

a) Cooperate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in deciding on tourist sites and tourism service providers meeting particular eligibility requirements for reception of international tourists or arranging zones intended for international tourists separate from zones intended for domestic tourists. Publicly announce the list of tourism service providers that international travel companies can contract to design tours for sale to tourists.

b) Take charge of vaccinating their locals and workers in the tourism industry to meet epidemic prevention and control requirements.

c) Issue detailed instructions about reception of international tourists for local use, including specific regulations on epidemic management and safety plans to protect tourists and respond to medical emergencies likely to happen.

d) Set up hotlines and officers in charge of receiving information and dealing with suspected COVID-19 cases at tourist destinations when necessary. Ensure corresponding medical capacity, get human and material resources ready for use, inspect and supervise reception of international tourists according to regulations.

dd) Provide workers at tourism service providers participating in the pilot program with training and coaching sessions on epidemic safety conditions, sampling and assistance in rapid COVID-19 tests for international tourists.

e) Submit periodic reports on results of reception of international tourists to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant ministries and central authorities to seek their prompt actions against any issues that may arise.

8. People’s Committees of other local jurisdictions

a) Take charge of vaccinating their locals and workers in the tourism industry to meet epidemic prevention and control requirements.

b) If they wish to receive international tourists and meet eligibility requirements for reception of international tourists, they can submit their proposals clarifying schedules and plans of reception of international tourists to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to seek the Prime Minister’s consent to put them on the list of localities qualified for reception of international tourists.

c) Render assistance in reception and medical supervision of tourists who wish and register to stay for visits to their family members/friends/relatives at localities falling within their remit.

9. Tourism businesses participating in the pilot program 

a) International travel companies

- Formulate tourist reception plans (including tourist markets, proposed number of tourists, destination, plan execution schedule and length of stay, airlines, tour details), plans to ensure safety against the epidemic and emergency response plans; make commitments to fully complying with regulations when participating in the pilot program, for submission to the National Administration of Tourism, a subordinate unit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Departments of tourism at localities joining the pilot program for the purpose of reporting to competent authorities.

- Enter into direct contracts with tourism service providers (on the list proposed by local authorities), clearly apportioning responsibilities for providing safe services for tourists between contracting parties, and clarifying plans for cooperation in response to emergencies that may arise.

- Comply with epidemiological safety regulations; ensure all people directly involved in the process of receiving and serving tourists are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and all employees complete training and coaching courses on COVID-19 safety.

- Render assistance for tourists (in procedures, cancellation or postponement of services, etc.) in case their customers are F0 or F1 cases, or cannot return home for other reasons. In case their customers cannot pay expenses incurred from such emergencies by themselves, travel companies shall be responsible for paying relevant units.

- Set up hotlines and assign their officers and staff members in charge of handling tourist support information. 

- International travel companies can register and conduct self-assessment of COVID-19 safety daily at http://safe.tourism.com.vn to connect to the national COVID safety system.

b) Local companies providing tourism services and participating in reception of international tourists

- Register with and make commitments to local authorities to ensure implementation of safe tourist service and emergency response plans.

- Comply with epidemiological safety regulations; ensure all people directly involved in the process of receiving and serving tourists are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and all employees complete training and coaching courses on COVID-19 safety, especially assistance in rapid tests for tourists and custody of test results.

- Register their location QR codes on the app or website www.qr.tokhaiyte.vn, and require tourists entering and leaving locations to fully scan QR codes issued to tourists.

- Accommodation establishments shall use "buffer" rooms to temporarily isolate suspected COVID-19 cases.

- Assign their trained medical staff to monitor tourists’ health, guide them how to collect COVID-19 test samples, collect test results and cooperate in organizing epidemic prevention and control activities when necessary. Medical staff shall implement the “5K message” when on duty at all times; use personal protective equipment only when rendering medical procedures to suspected COVID-19 cases.

- Plan and actively conduct random and periodic screening tests for their employees and people at high risk of COVID-19 infection.

- Advise tourists of COVID-19 prevention and control regulations and provide them with instructions about these regulations before and during their travel in Vietnam.

- Set up hotlines and assign their officers and staff members in charge of handling tourist support information. 

- International travel companies can register and conduct self-assessment of COVID-19 safety daily at http://safe.tourism.com.vn to connect to the national COVID safety system.

- Enter into full contracts with travel companies sending their tourists, clearly apportioning responsibilities between contracting parties for ensuring disease safety for tourists and clearly describing emergency response plans.

This Guidance will be updated and adjusted to regulatory policies and regulations on entry and exit procedures, prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic and other regulations of ministries and central authorities over specific phases of implementation of the pilot program. In the course of implementation, should there be any issue that arises, authorities and units putting this Guidance into practice can send reports to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (via the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) about such issue to request its timely revision of this Guidance./.