Vietnam Travel Restrictions Winter and Spring 2021: What Travelers Need to Know

Located in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is a country that is widely known for its bustling cities, beaches, rivers, and Buddhist pagodas. Like many other countries, Vietnam went into total lockdown after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Vietnam is one of those countries that have succeeded in controlling its domestic outbreak. Vietnamese national authorities believe that economic benefits to be gained from restarting the tourism industry, are far much less compared to what a new surge of cases would cost.

As such, many tourists are asking whether Vietnam will open its borders to allow tourists to enter the country during the winter and summer seasons. Stringent precautionary measures have been put in place after a new cluster of infections was reported in the northern part of Vietnam.

These Measures Include

■ Ban on all large gatherings

■ Suspension of tourism operations such as cruises and hotels

■ Temporary closure of schools

■ Temporary suspension of flight operations in major airports such as Van Don international airport

Although Vietnam has suspended foreign nationals from entering the country until further notice, Vietnamese citizens, people on official duties, highly skilled workers, and diplomats continue to make their way into the country.

Medical check-ups and a mandatory quarantine are required for every person that is entering Vietnam. Also, they are required to fill a medical declaration form on arrival at the airport.

As a tourist, all you can do for now is keep hoping that Vietnam opens its borders for all foreigners. As we wait to see if this happens, here are some of the few things you can do to prepare you to travel to Vietnam once the bans are lifted.

Apart from some Asian, European, and South American countries, a Vietnamese visa is a requirement for anyone that wishes to travel to Vietnam. Permits are available in two forms: tourist and business visa depending on the purpose of the visit.

A Vietnam tourist visa has a validity of between 15 days to 3 months. To acquire a Vietnam tourist visa, you need to provide the following information.

■ Your name as it appears on your passport

■ Your date of birth

■ Your nationality

■ Your passport number

■ Date of expected arrival. It is essential to note that you cannot enter Vietnam on an earlier date than the proposed date. However, you can enter Vietnam later than the stipulated date as long as it is within the visa validity period.

The Vietnamese visa can also be obtained online, and it usually takes a maximum of three working days for it to be processed. Also, a permit can be issued at the airport upon your arrival. However, you will need to present a letter of approval from a Vietnamese consulate or embassy.

Final Thought

With the future filled with many uncertainties, no one can be sure whether Vietnam will lift its ban on foreign travels. As tourists, all we can do is wait and see if the coronavirus vaccination campaigns will bring the pandemic under control. Once this happens, we can be sure that borders will reopen, and we can finally visit Vietnam.

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