Plan 829/PA-BVHTTDL 2022 on resumption of tourism in the new normal

PLAN

On resumption of tourism in the new normal

In the implementation of the Government's Resolution No. 25/NQ-CP dated March 07, 2022; the Government's Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated March 15, 2022; directions in the Prime Minister’s Official Telegram No. 513/CD-VPCP dated January 19, 2022, on developing the roadmap for safe, scientific and effective welcoming of international tourists; the Government Office's Official Dispatch No. 1606/VPCP-QHQT dated March 15, 2022, regarding the restoration of Vietnam's immigration policy; the Government Office’s Notice No. 43/TB-VPCP dated February 16, 2022, on Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam's conclusion at the meeting held on February 15, 2022, on the plan for resumption of tourism; and on the basis of opinions of the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health's Document No. 1265/BYT-DP dated March 15, 2022, regarding the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic for people entering Vietnam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism promulgates the Plan for safe and effective resumption of tourism in the new normal (hereinafter referred to as the Plan) with the following 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 resume international tourism after the period of piloting to welcome international tourists to Vietnam.
• To determine the responsibilities of ministries, sectors and localities in implementing the Plan, creating the consensus among parties in order to make tourism become the key industry in accordance with the Political Bureau's Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW dated January 16, 2017.

2. Requirements

• To implement the Prime Minister's directions in the Official Telegram No. 513/CD-VPCP dated January 19, 2022, on developing the roadmap for the safe, scientific and effective welcoming of international tourists.
• To specify the time, subjects and requirements for tourism resumption in the new normal.
• Ministries, sectors and localities must synchronously coordinate and show their responsibilities in safely and effectively implementing the Plan.

II. PERIOD OF TOURISM RESUMPTION

1. Period: From March 15, 2022
2. Scope: Resumption of international and domestic tourism in the new normal by air, land, railway and sea in a safe manner in accordance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.
3. Subjects

• International tourists traveling to Vietnam.
• Outbound tourists.
• Inbound tourists.

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

1. For international tourism

1.1.    Visa policy: To follow the Government’s Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated March 15, 2022, on visa exemption for citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Russian Federation, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Finland and the Republic of Belarus; the Government Office's Official Dispatch No. 1606/VPCP-QHQT dated March 15, 2022, regarding the restoration of Vietnam's immigration policy, and relevant regulations.

1.2.      Requirements for international tourists traveling to Vietnam

1. Tourists entering Vietnam by air must be tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (except for children under 2 years of age) before departure within 72 hours if they take RT-PCR/RT-LAMP tests, or within 24 hours if they take rapid antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 virus, with the results thereof certified by the countries where the tests are conducted.
2. Tourists entering Vietnam by land, sea, railway must take the tests as required at Point a. In cases where they do not have negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 as required at Point a, the tests (RT-PCR/RT-LAMP tests or rapid antigen tests) for SARS-CoV-2 virus must be conducted at the border gates before they enter Vietnam.
2. If the test result is negative, they are allowed to enter Vietnam and participate in tourism activities. If the test result is positive, instructions provided by health agencies must be followed.
3. Children under 2 years of age shall be exempted from the SARS-CoV-2 testing requirement and shall be allowed to enter Vietnam and participate in activities outside their accommodations with their parents and relatives, regardless they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, or infected with SARS-CoV-2, or not.
4. Tourists must make health declarations before entering the country and use the health declaration app (PC-COVID app), take anti-pandemic measures during their stay in Vietnam according to regulations.

dd)     At any border gate, if they show symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection (fever; cough; sore throat; stuffy or runny nose; myalgia, fatigue, chills; reduction or loss of taste or smell; headache; diarrhea; dyspnoea; acute respiratory infection, etc.), they must immediately notify the health agency at such border gate for taking medical measures according to regulations.

5. Tourists must have health insurance or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum liability of 10,000 USD.

7. Within 10 days from the date of entry, tourists must self-monitor their health and, immediately notify the nearest health facility for timely instruction and management as well as take pandemic preventive measures such as regularly wearing face masks, disinfecting their hands with antiseptic solutions, in case of showing suspected symptoms (fever; cough; sore throat; stuffy or runny nose; myalgia, fatigue, chills; reduction or loss of taste or smell; headache; diarrhea; dyspnoea; acute respiratory infection, etc.).
8. Tourists must fully satisfy immigration conditions in accordance with Vietnam's law on exit and entry and other relevant regulations when traveling to Vietnam.

1.3.          Requirements for outbound tourists: They must comply with immigration and medical regulations, and relevant regulations of Vietnam and countries, territories where they are going to travel.

2. For domestic tourism

• To comply with 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” and relevant guiding documents for the safety in pandemic prevention and control.
• To deploy the Program to stimulate demand and restore domestic tourism activities nationwide. To organize the promotion of destinations, build diversified and attractive tourism products and experiences.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall

1. Coordinate with ministries, sectors and localities in implementing the Plan in a safe and effective manner.
2. Organize strategies, promotion, stimulation of domestic and international tourism, promote the communication of “Live fully in Vietnam” for international markets and “Safe destination, full experience” for the domestic tourism market.
3. Coordinate with localities in directing and supporting tourism enterprises in improving tourism infrastructure and physical foundations, human resources, tourism product development, service quality improvement in service of tourism activities.
4. Direct tourism enterprises to update medical guidelines for COVID-19 prevention and control according to Vietnamese law and inform such information to foreign tourists and counterparties.

2. The Ministry of Health shall

1. Update medical regulations applicable to people on entry and provide guidance on the procedures for COVID-19 prevention and control for tourists entering Vietnam.
2. Provide professional and technical instructions on supervision, investigation and handling of people on entry who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at border gates by air, road, railway and sea.
3. Direct international health quarantine agencies at border gates to inspect and ensure the tourists’ medical entry conditions before carrying out immigration procedures, guide them to make electronic health declarations.
4. Coordinate with ministries and branches in preparing plans for medical quarantine, handling of risks in case of outbreaks, especially for new virus strains.

dd)       Guide the organization of COVID-19 vaccination in case of needing after tourists enter Vietnam.

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, immigration according to regulations; coordinate in supporting to ensure the safety, security and order for tourists when visiting Vietnam according to the Prime Minister's Directive No. 10/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2021, on the protection of national security, social order and security in the field of tourism in the new normal.
2. Provide guidance on health declaration procedures applicable to foreigners entering Vietnam, at the same time, ensure the connection with data of the PC-COVID app, facilitating the tourists’ declaration as well as the medical monitoring, supervision and trace of people on entry.
3. Apply information technology science, based on the national database on population, citizen identity cards and digital map to service the resumption of tourism.
4. Prepare conditions (including location, means and human resources, etc.) for conducting rapid tests for tourists before entering Vietnam by road, railway or sea, avoiding congestion, and ensuring safety and convenience for tourists.

dd)     Prepare plans serving the pandemic prevention and control under the Government's direction. Coordinate with health agencies and involved parties in preparing locations and plans for medical quarantine in case of necessity.

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall

1. Notify Vietnam's immigration procedures and regulations to other countries/territories. Monitor anti-pandemic policies of other countries to propose appropriate visa measures, preventing foreigners from getting stuck in Vietnam.
2. Continue negotiating with other countries on mutual recognition of vaccine passports, creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens traveling abroad.
3. 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 airlines to coordinate with functional agencies in ensuring the passengers’ compliance with immigration regulations and ensure safety in pandemic prevention and control in flights according to regulations.