Official Dispatch 465/BVHTTDL-TCDL 2022 providing guidance on piloting welcoming international tourists to Vietnam in the second phase

To:     - The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Information and Communications;

- People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.

In the implementation of the directions given by the Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh in the Government Office's Official Dispatch No. 61/VPCP-KGVX dated January 03, 2022, which assigns the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to base on the assigned functions, tasks and competence to coordinate with ministries and sectors in studying and adjusting the Temporary Guidance on piloting welcoming international tourists to Vietnam in accordance with applicable regulations in the spirit of the Government's Resolution No. 155/NQ-CP dated December 08, 2021; Notice No. 43/TB-VPCP dated February 16, 2022 notifying the Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam's conclusion at the meeting on the plan for resumption of tourism; the Ministry of Health's Official Dispatch No. 10688/BYT-MT dated December 16, 2021, on COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control; the Ministry of Health's Decision No. 218/QD-BYT dated October 11, 2021, promulgating the Interim Regulation on “safe and flexible adaptation and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic”; on the basis of opinions from relevant ministries and sectors, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism provides guidance on piloting welcoming international tourists to Vietnam in the second phase (until March 14, 2022) as follows:

1. Scope

Welcoming tourists traveling by charter flights or regular international commercial flights.

Localities shall, based on local demand and requirements for COVID-19 prevention and control, actively decide and notify the welcoming of international tourists to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

2. Requirements for tourists

2.1. Subjects

Foreigners, overseas Vietnamese, and Vietnamese citizens who satisfy requirements provided in Part 2 of this Section and are allowed to participate in the Program for piloting welcoming international tourists.

2.2. Requirements

- Participating in the tours of the selected international tourism enterprises, hereinafter referred to as tourism enterprises.

- 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.

- 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 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.

- 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).

- Having health insurance or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with the minimum liability of 20,000 USD.

- Fully meeting conditions for exit and entry in accordance with Vietnam's law on entry and exit.

3. Regarding 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 selecting 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 tourists mentioned in Section 4). Conditions for COVID-19 prevention and control shall comply with the Ministry of Health's regulations.
• 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 guarantee.
• Those who wish to stay in Vietnam to make investments or visit their relatives may carry out procedures for change entry purposes in accordance with the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam.

4. Process of joining tours in Vietnam

4.1. For tourists who have received full doses of COVID-19 vaccines or have recovered from COVID-19

• Tourists must join tours provided by tourism enterprises for at least 3 days from the date of entry.
• Tourists shall self-monitor their health within the first three days after the date of entry, in case of showing symptoms of fever, sore throat, dyspnoea, myalgia - fatigue - chills, reduction or loss of smell or taste, or have a positive COVID-19 test result during their self-testing, they must immediately report tourism enterprises and healthcare workers for timely screening test and management.
• Tourists must be tested by RT-PCR method on the 3^rd day after entering Vietnam. In case the test result is positive, the Ministry of Health’s regulations shall prevail. Treatment costs shall be covered by insurance or tourism enterprises. If the test result is negative, they shall continue to monitor their health until the end of the 14^th day from the entry date;
• After receiving the negative test result (by RT-PCR method) on the 3^rd day, tourisms may:

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

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

+ Go to the places of residence or other localities to visit relatives as registered.  Tourists must send written registration to their tourism enterprises for the latter to notify the local authorities of the destinations to coordinate in health monitoring and management of tourists in accordance with regulations.

• Tourists may leave Vietnam on regular international commercial flights or permitted charter flights.

4.2. For unvaccinated tourists (accompanying their parents or guardians) or tourists who have not received full doses of COVID-19 vaccines

• Tourists must join tours provided by tourism enterprises for at least 7 days from the date of entry.
• Tourists shall self-monitor their health within the first seven days after the date of entry, in case of showing symptoms of fever, sore throat, dyspnoea, myalgia - fatigue - chills, reduction or loss of smell or taste, or have a positive COVID-19 test result during their self-testing, they must immediately report tourism enterprises and healthcare workers for timely screening test and management.
• Tourists must be tested by RT-PCR method on the 3^rd day and the 7^th day. In case the test result is positive, the Ministry of Health’s regulations shall prevail. Treatment costs shall be covered by insurance or tourism enterprises. If the test result is negative, they shall continue to monitor their health until the end of the 14^th day.
• Parents, legal guardians or caregivers who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 and accompany tourists who are unvaccinated or have not received full doses of COVID-19 vaccine must comply with the testing requirements and regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control applicable to unvaccinated tourists or those who have not received full doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
• After receiving the negative test result (by RT-PCR method) on the 7^th day, tourisms may:

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

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

+ Go to the places of residence or other localities to visit relatives as registered. Tourists must send written registration to their tourism enterprises for the latter to notify the local authorities of the destinations to coordinate in health monitoring and management of tourists in accordance with regulations.

• Tourists may leave Vietnam on regular international commercial flights or permitted charter flights.
• For tourists participating in under-7-day tours, after completing the tours, they may leave Vietnam on regular international commercial flights or permitted charter flights under instructions and processes announced by the corresponding countries.

5. Ministries and sectors shall continue performing tasks related to the pilot welcoming of international tourists to Vietnam under the functions and tasks, while ensuring pandemic prevention and control, and creating favorable conditions for tourists.

6. People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall, based on their demands and conditions for COVID-19 prevention and control, actively decide and notify the welcoming of international tourists to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

• Localities welcoming international tourists must:

+ Choose areas and units providing services to participate in welcoming international tourists in accordance with the Ministry of Health's Decision No. 218/QD-BYT dated January 27, 2022. Publicly announce the list of tourism service providers as options for international tourism enterprises to enter into the tour contracts for tourists.

+ Consider the accuracy and suitability of the plans on welcoming and managing tourists in localities as proposed by international tourism enterprises and send written opinions to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

+ No later than the 28^th of every month, report the results of welcoming international tourists of the previous month to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under 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.

7. International tourism enterprises must have plans on welcoming and managing tourists, ensuring safety and COVID-19 prevention according to regulations. Tourism enterprises shall send a written application for participating in the pilot welcoming of international tourists and the following information to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism:

• A copy of the international travel business license;
• A written opinion of the local Tourism Department on the accuracy and suitability of the plan on welcoming and managing tourists in the locality as proposed by the international tourism enterprise;
• A commitment to fully comply with regulations when participating in the pilot program;

- A plan on welcoming tourists (including tourist market, the number of tourists expected to visit, destinations, time, residence duration, airlines, tours);

• A response plan for safety and prevention of pandemic;
• Contracts directly signed with service providers (including the responsibility for providing safe services and coordination plan for handling of incidents);
• A contract signed with insurance enterprise in terms of health insurance or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment according to regulations;
• A list of employees participating in welcoming and serving tourists.

Within 48 hours before the tourists enter Vietnam, tourism enterprises must notify the local Tourism Department and Vietnam National Administration of Tourism information about enterprises welcoming tourists, the list of tourists, tours and ensure the tourists’ satisfaction of requirements provided in this Guidance. The tourism enterprises must report their tourists’ rapid test results or RT-PCR test results during their stay in Vietnam to the Tourism Department.

8. Other contents shall continue to comply with the Document No. 4122/HD-BVHTTDL dated November 05, 2021 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, provide Guidance on piloting welcoming international tourists to Vietnam.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hereby requests ministries, People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to direct the implementation of the pilot welcoming of international tourists to Vietnam in the second phase until March 14, 2022 in a safe manner, creating favorable conditions for international tourists./.

For the Minister

The Deputy Minister

DOAN VAN VIET