Official Dispatch 414/BVHTTDL-TCDL 2022 on receiving comments for the Draft Plan and Proposal for resumption of tourism

To:

- The Ministry of Health;

- The Ministry of Public Security;

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

- The Ministry of Defense;

- The Ministry of Transport;

- The Ministry of Information and Communications.

In the implementation of the Government's Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 30, 2022, on the Program for socio-economic recovery and development; the National Assembly's Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 on fiscal and monetary policies supporting the Program; the Government Office's Official Telegram No. 513/CD-VPCP dated January 19, 2022, on developing the safe, scientific and effective roadmap for welcoming international tourists to Vietnam; the Government Office’s Notice No. 28/TB-VPCP on the Prime Minister's conclusion at the meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control held on January 28, 2022; on the basis of the result of the “Meeting on a roadmap and solution for international tourism resumption” chaired by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on January 24, 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism develops the Draft “Plan for safe and effective resumption of tourism in the new normal” and Proposal to the Prime Minister.

Concerned ministries are requested for studying and sending opinions on the Draft Plan for resumption of tourism and Proposal (attached herein) to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (via the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Address: No. 80, Quan Su Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi; Tel: 0904157948; Email: [email protected]) on February 14, 2022 at the latest for timely reporting the Prime Minister on the meeting held on February 15, 2022.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hopes to receive the close coordination and attention from concerned ministries./.

For the Minister

The Deputy Minister

DOAN VAN VIET

DRAFT PLAN

For safe and effective resumption of tourism in the new normal

In the implementation of the Government's Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 30, 2022, on the Program for socio-economic recovery and development; the National Assembly's Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 on fiscal and monetary policies supporting the Program; directions of the Prime Minister in the Official Telegram No. 513/CD-VPCP dated January 19, 2022, on developing the safe, scientific and effective roadmap for welcoming international tourists to Vietnam; the Notice No. 28/TB-VPCP at the meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on January 28, 2022; on the basis of opinions from ministries and sectors (the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Information and Communications), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism develops the Draft “Plan for safe and effective resumption of tourism in the new normal” (hereinafter referred to as the Plan) with the following principal contents:

1. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Objectives

- To resume the tourism in the new normal with the “safe and flexible adaption to, and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic” motto according to the Government's directions provided in the Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021.

• To thoroughly grasp and implement the Government's Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 30, 2022, on the Program for socio-economic recovery and development and the National Assembly's Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 on fiscal and monetary policies supporting the Program.
• To gradually reopen the international tourism after the pilot period to full resumption of international tourism when safe conditions are fully met.
• To determine responsibilities of ministries, sectors and localities in implementing the Plan, creating the consensus among parties in order to make tourism becoming the key industry in accordance with the Political Bureau's Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW dated January 16, 2017.

2. Requirements

• The time, subjects and requirements for tourism resumption must be specified.
• The tourism resumption shall be carried out carefully and consistently as soon as possible with strict organization and roadmap in a safe, scientific, appropriate and effective manner; avoiding seeking for perfection or haste.
• Ministries, sectors and localities must synchronously and actively coordinate and show their responsibilities in safely and effectively implement the Plan.

2. PERIOD OF TOURISM RESUMPTION

1. Until March 14, 2022

To continue implementing the second phase of the Pilot program for welcoming international tourists to Vietnam.

2. From March 15, 2022

To reopen international and domestic tourism in the new normal by road, airway, and seaway in a safe manner in compliance with the time of implementing the Government's Program for socio-economic recovery and development.

The situation, results of COVID-19 prevention and control, and assessment of results of the welcoming international tourists in new normal periods shall be used as a basis for full resumption of international and domestic tourism.

3. REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE RESUMPTION OF TOURISM IN THE NEW NORMAL

1. For international tourism

a)       Until March 14, 2022: To follow the Temporary Guidance No. ... on piloting welcoming international tourists to Vietnam promulgated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on February 2022.

• Subjects: Foreigners, overseas Vietnamese, and Vietnamese citizens who are allowed to participate in the Program for piloting welcoming international tourists.
• Scope: To pilot to welcome tourists through charter flights or regular international commercial flights to localities where conditions for welcoming tourists are satisfied.
• Requirements for tourists:

1. Participating the package tours of the selected international tourism enterprises, service providers within the first three or seven days (depending on the vaccination requirements).
2. Having a certificate of full COVID-19 vaccination recognized by a Vietnam-based competent agency, with the last dose given within 14 days and not more than 12 months from the date of exiting the country. Or obtaining a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or equivalent papers proving the recovery from COVID-19 which is granted by the competent agency of the country where the treatment is provided, and recognized by Vietnam. The duration from hospital discharge to the date of exit must not exceed 6 months.
3. Unvaccinated tourists who are under 18 years old, aged 65 years or more, pregnant women or persons with underlying medical conditions (without being monitored or treated at health establishments), or those who have not received full doses of COVID-19 vaccines are allowed to enter Vietnam, provided that they accompany with their parents, legal guardians or caregivers who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19; and must strictly comply with testing requirements and regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control according to regulations.
4. Having a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result (by RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method) within 72 hours before exiting the country which is certified by the competent agency of the country where the test is conducted (except children under 2 years old).
5. Having a health insurance or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with the minimum liability of USD 20,000.
6. Fully meeting conditions for exit and entry in accordance with Vietnam's law on entry and exit.

• Procedures for welcoming international tourists: Appendix 1

b)       From March 15, 2022:

• Subjects: Inbound and outbound tourists.
• Scope: Tourists shall enter Vietnam through the border gates of airway, land, seaway and comply with Vietnam's regulations on safety according to pandemic risk levels.
• Requirements for tourists:

1. Participating tours provided by international tourism enterprises.
2. Having a certificate of full COVID-19 vaccination recognized by a Vietnam-based competent agency, with the last dose given within 14 days and not more than 12 months from the date of exiting the country. Or obtaining a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or equivalent papers proving the recovery from COVID-19 which is granted by the competent agency of the country where the treatment is provided, and recognized by Vietnam (for inbound tourists) or recognized by the destination country/territory (for outbound tourists). The duration from hospital discharge to the date of exit must not exceed 6 months.
3. Unvaccinated tourists who are under 18 years old, aged 65 years or more, pregnant women or persons with underlying medical conditions (without being monitored or treated at health establishments), or those who have not received full doses of COVID-19 vaccines are allowed to enter Vietnam, provided that they accompany with their parents, legal guardians or caregivers who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19; and must strictly comply with testing requirements and regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control according to regulations.
4. Having a negative rapid test result with SARS-CoV-2 conducted at the place of residence within 24 hours after entering the country.
5. Having a health insurance or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with the minimum liability of USD 20,000.
6. Fully meeting conditions for exit and entry in accordance with Vietnam's law on entry and exit.

• Procedures for welcoming international tourists: Appendix 2

2. For domestic tourism

• To follow the Program on domestic tourism promotion for safe and flexible adaptation to, and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic provided in the Document No. 4698/BVHTTDL-TCDL dated December 16, 2021, by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
• To follow the Guidance No. 4698/BVHTTDL-TCDL dated October 18, 2021 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021, promulgating the Interim Regulation on “safe and flexible adaptation and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic” in the field of culture, sports and tourism.
• Localities shall announce the reopening of tourism, welcome and serve tourists according to each pandemic risk level at their localities in association with corresponding measures for safety.
• Tourism service providers shall:

+ Develop plans and procedures for safely welcoming tourists according to the Interim Guidance No. 3862/HD-BVHTTDL and relevant regulations of the tourism, health sectors and localities. Prepare conditions for safely welcoming and serving tourists, have a backup plan to handle incidents caused by epidemics according to regulations.

+ Disseminate, thoroughly gasp and provide guidance for employees for strict implementing regulations on pandemic prevention and control provided by the tourism sector and functional agencies.

+ Guide and support tourists in carrying out procedures and processes for safe tourism. Deploy activities for tourism promotion, dissemination and broadcasting in line with the “Safe tourism - Full experience” message, orientation to restart domestic tourism. Develop and introduce domestic tourism stimulus packages with incentives and commitments on quality, develop new tourism products and services, and tours to new destinations.

• Tourists and tourism service users shall:

+ Self-monitor their health and comply with the 5K messages and measures for infection prevention and control according to regulations.

+ Comply with regulations of the destinations, instructions and provisions of tourism service providers.

+ Have a health insurance or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment, take joint liability with tourism service providers and functional agencies for pandemic prevention and control in tourism.

3. Based on the actual pandemic control and assessment of results of welcoming international tourists in the first phrases to reopen tourism and remove conditions for tourists. At the same time, consider promulgating a number of policies to stimulate demand and attract high-quality tourists to Vietnam to promote brand development and enhance destination competition.

4. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall

1. Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with localities in selecting international tourism enterprises and notifying the list of destinations to the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security during the period of piloting welcoming international tourists until March 15, 2022.
2. Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate in organizing tourism communication, promotion and dissemination activities.
3.    Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, sectors and localities in implementing the Plan on safe and effective resumption of tourism.

2. The Ministry of Health shall update health instructions for people on entry; professional and technical guidelines on surveillance, investigation and handling of outbreaks according to the new situation, organize the safe and effective welcoming of international tourists.
3. The Ministry of Public Security/the Ministry of National Defence shall

1. Create favorable conditions for international tourism enterprises and tourists in carrying out procedures for grant of visas, procedures for entry or exit according to regulations; coordinate in supporting to ensure the safety, security and order for tourists when visiting Vietnam.
2. Assume the prime responsibility for guiding relevant units to use QR codes to install the IGOVN application for disseminating and guiding foreigners.

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall

1. Update and publicize the forms of vaccination certificate or vaccine passport of countries and territories that are recognized by Vietnam.
2. Coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and localities in disseminating, promoting and attracting international tourists to Vietnam.

5. The Ministry of Transport shall

1. Direct to ensure the safety and pandemic prevention on flights; arrangement of locations for entry and exit, carrying out of procedures for epidemiological control; the screening and separation of passengers at the international airports where pilot flights carrying international tourists to Vietnam land.
2. Request airlines to notify tourism enterprises and tourists regulations on transporting passengers by aircrafts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, guide foreigners to install and make declarations on the IGOVN and PC-COVID applications.
3. Direct airlines to increase the frequency and scope of operation of regular international routes, especially to key markets, ensuring COVID-19 prevention and control for incoming people on entry.

6. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall

Provide guidance on using digital applications on pandemic safety during entry, exit and travel in Vietnam to create favorable conditions for international tourists.

7. Local People's Committees

a)         In the period duration until March 15, 2022, localities welcoming international tourists shall, based on the local conditions and demand, actively decide on welcoming international tourists and notify the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Localities not welcoming international tourists shall coordinate to provide focal points to receive tourists who wish to stay in Vietnam to visit their relatives or return to their places of residence. Support in receiving and conducting medical surveillance for tourists wishing to stay in Vietnam to visit their relatives or return to their places of residence in localities as registered.

3. Localities shall actively prepare conditions for resumption of tourism, development of new quality tourism products and services; reach an agreement on procedures for safely welcoming tourists while ensuring COVID-19 prevention and control, develop a plan on response to medical incidents related to tourism; direct local units to closely connect with service providers, including airlines, transport and tourism enterprises./.

THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM

APPENDIX 1

Procedures for welcoming international tourists until March 14, 2022

(Attached to the Plan for safe and effective resumption of tourism in the new normal)

1. Tour registration

- Tourists shall choose and register to join the tours. Tourism enterprises shall notify tourists procedures necessary to register for joining the tours.

- Tours shall be designed in the areas and service establishments permitted to welcome tourists within at least 3 days.

Tourists wishing to change the entry purpose after their tours must register in advance to the tourism enterprise for notifying localities where they shall reside.

After the tours, tourists may register to join other tours.

2. Inspection and approval of personal information, grant of visas or temporary residence certificates

- International tourism enterprises shall carry out procedures for inviting, guaranteeing foreigners on entry at the Immigration Department (the Ministry of Public Security) in accordance with the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam. Before carrying procedures, enterprises shall notify their legal status, enclose with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's documents on options to participate in the pilot program; contracts of developing tours at permitted areas with service providers eligible for welcoming international tourists (within the first three or seven days as requested).

- For people entering Phu Quoc in accordance with the Government's Resolution No. 80/NQ-CP dated May 25, 2020, or those who have visa exemption certificates, such entry to Phu Quoc or use of visa exemption certificates (enclosed with copies) shall be clearly stated on the application for inspection of personal information (made according to Form NA2 attached to the Minister of Public Security's Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 05, 2015). Dossiers of application for approval of personal information sent by tourism enterprises to the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security must be enclosed with the health insurance or travel insurance contract that covers COVID-19 treatment according to regulations.

- Within 2 working days after receiving the application, the Immigration Department shall notify the personal information inspection and approval result. In case of approval, the written reply shall contain QR codes for installing the IGOVN application.

- The visa’s validity duration shall be suitable to the tour, if the tourist continues registering tours in the localities permitted to welcome international tourists, their temporary residence duration shall be considered extending according to the enterprise’s guaranty. If the travel duration is expired but the tourist wishes to stay in Vietnam to visit his/her relatives, the Immigration Department shall change the entry purpose according to his/her relatives’ guaranty.

- Tourists using the visa exemption certificates shall be granted a temporary residence certificate with a validity duration of 6 months at the border gate (if the visa exemption certificate’s validity duration is less than 6 months, then the temporary residence certificate’s validity duration shall be equal to the remaining validity duration of the visa exemption certificate). After the tour, the tourist entering Vietnam with the visa exemption certificate may continue to stay in Vietnam to visit his/her relatives (if wishing) without carrying out procedures for change of entry purpose.

- For Vietnamese tourists, tourism enterprises shall send the list of people on entry to the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security for carrying out procedures as prescribed.

3. Preparation before the flights

- Before tourists entering Vietnam, tourism enterprises must recommend tourists to monitor their health, consider canceling/postponing if they show any suspected symptoms of COVID-19 or are determined to be in close contact with confirmed cases at the time of travel.

- Tourists shall conduct RT-PCR tests within 72 hours before exiting their countries (except children under 2 years old).

- Tourists should take appropriate measures for pandemic prevention on transport means before entry.

- Tourists must prepare necessary papers as prescribed, except papers whose electronic versions are accepted by Vietnam's functional agencies, and the negative RT-PCR test certificate granted within 72 hours before exiting the countries for producing airlines and immigration agencies at their requests.

4. Implementation of the immigration process

- Tourists shall undergo health screening measures at the international airport upon their entry, including checking body temperature and installing the PC-COVID application for their health declaration and health monitoring in accordance with Vietnam’s regulations. Tourists are required to use the above application during their whole tours in Vietnam.

- Tourists shall carry out immigration procedures at the international airport in accordance with regulations. Health agencies at the airport shall check their medical conditions and border police forces shall control the entry as well as grant temporary residence certificates and visas (if any) to foreigners entering the international airport after they complete the medical procedures.

- Tourists shall self-monitor their health and adhere to infection prevention and control measures as prescribed.

- In cases of detecting unusual symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, body pain - fatigue - chills, decrease or loss of taste or smell or other according to health agencies’ recommendations, tourists shall immediately notify the health agency at the airport to monitor and implement disease handling procedures in accordance with regulations.

5. Process of participating in tours in Vietnam
   1. General requirements

- Tourism enterprises shall receive tourists, bring them into means of transport and transport them to accommodation establishments.

- Tourists shall participate in tourism activities under the registered schedule in the plan organized by tourism enterprises. They may change the tours under their demands, but shall not be allowed to leave the arranged tourist pick-up areas.

- The compliance with infection prevention and control measures in accordance with competent health agencies for all activities of tourists and service providers must be ensured.

- Local authorities shall conduct the inspection and supervision to ensure compliance with tour schedules and safety in disease prevention and control of tourism enterprises, service providers and tourists.

- Accommodation establishments shall arrange rapid test kits in hotel rooms or provide them upon request, and recommend tourists to test by themselves for SARS-CoV-2 upon tourists’ demands and notify the results to the accommodation establishments. Accommodation establishments shall monitor and keep tourists’ test results according to regulations.

- In case tourists change the purpose of entry, their tourism enterprises must notify in writing the localities where the tourists come for residence to coordinate in health monitoring and management of tourists in accordance with regulations.

1. For tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from COVID-19

• Participate a tour of a tourism enterprise for at least 3 days from the date of entry.
• Tourists shall self-monitor their health for the first 03 days from the date of entry; if detecting symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, body pain - fatigue - chills, decrease or loss of taste or smell or having positive test results for COVID -19 during their self-testing, they must immediately notify their tourism enterprises and health staff for timely screening test and management.
• They shall be tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR technique on the third day from the date of entry. In case their test results for SARS-CoV-2 are positive, the regulations of the Ministry of Health shall be complied with. The expenses for treatment are covered by insurance or their tourism enterprises. If their test results for SARS-CoV-2 are negative, they shall continue to monitor their health until the end of 14 days from the date of entry.
• After receiving a negative test result for COVID-19 by RT-PCR technique on the third day, tourists may:

+ Continue to participate in the registered tour (in case the tour duration is longer than 3 days).

+ Participate tours and use services at localities eligible for welcoming international tourists.

+ Go to the place of residence or the localities to visit relatives as registered. Tourists must give a written registration to their tourism enterprises so that the latter notify the local authorities of destination to coordinate in health monitoring and management of tourists in accordance with regulations.

• Tourists may leave Vietnam on exploited regular international commercial flights or permitted charter flights.
  1. For tourists who have not been vaccinated or have not received full doses of COVID-19 vaccine
• Participate a tour of a tourism enterprise for at least 7 days from the date of entry.
• Tourists shall self-monitor their health for the first 07 days from the date of entry; if detecting symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, body pain - fatigue - chills, decrease or loss of taste or smell or having positive test results for COVID -19 during their self-testing, they must immediately notify their tourism enterprises and health staff for timely screening test and management.
• They shall be tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR technique on the third day and seventh day. In case their test results for SARS-CoV-2 are positive, the regulations of the Ministry of Health shall be complied with. The expenses for treatment are covered by insurance or their tourism enterprises. If their test results for SARS-CoV-2 are negative, they shall continue to monitor their health until the end of 14^th day.
• Tourists’ parents, legal guardians or caregivers who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 accompanying tourists who have not been vaccinated or have not received full doses of COVID-19 vaccine must comply with testing requirements and regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control like the tourists who have not been vaccinated or have not received full doses of COVID-19 vaccine must adhere to.
• After receiving a negative test result for COVID-19 by RT-PCR technique on the seventh day, tourists may:

+ Continue to participate in the registered tour (in case the tour duration is longer than 7 days).

+ Participate tours and use services at localities eligible for welcoming international tourists.

+ Go to the place of residence or the localities to visit relatives as registered. Tourists must give a written registration to their tourism enterprises so that the latter notify the local authorities of destination to coordinate in health monitoring and management of tourists in accordance with regulations.

• Tourists may leave Vietnam on exploited regular international commercial flights or permitted charter flights.
• For tourists participating under-7-day tours, after completing the tours, they may leave Vietnam on exploited regular international commercial flights or permitted charter flights under guidance and process announced by the corresponding country of destination.