Temporary Guidance 4122/HD-BVHTTDL 2021 pilot welcoming international tourists to Vietnam

TEMPORARY GUIDANCE

On piloting welcoming international tourists to Vietnam

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Following the Prime Minister's direction in the Official Dispatch No. 8044/VPCP-KGVX dated November 2, 2021 of the Government Office on temporary guidance on piloting welcoming international tourists to Vietnam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism guides the pilot to welcome international tourists to Vietnam with the following specific contents:

I. PILOT ROADMAP FOR WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

1. The first phase (starting from November 2021):

Piloting welcoming international tourists under package tours, through charter flights and international trade in selected areas and tourism service establishments in Phu Quoc city (in Kien Giang), Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Ninh (The list of areas and service providers eligible for welcoming international tourists shall be selected and published by localities).

2. The second phase (starting from January 2022):

Expanding the pilot program to welcome more international tourists and connecting destinations through charter flights and regular international trade. Travellers may participate in tourism programs featuring destinations in the five localities in the first phase (some other localities may be added in cases where they satisfy the conditions and propose for welcoming international tourists) after they have completed the seven-day tour program at the first destination.

3. The third phase:

Fully reopening to the international tourism market. The starting time of the third phase will be based on the actual developments of the pandemic and on the results of the first two phases.

II. INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

International tourists arriving in Vietnam are foreigners and Vietnamese residing abroad who come from key and potential tourism markets of Vietnam while meeting the following requirements on health, entry and exit:

1. Having a certificate of full vaccination against COVID-19 recognized by competent agencies in Vietnam (not applicable to children under 12 years old accompanied by parents or guardians), in which the second or first dose (for one-dose vaccines) must be taken at least 14 days and no more than 12 months before the departure time; or having a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or equivalent documents issued by competent agencies in the country of treatment and recognized by Vietnam. The time from recovery to departure must not exceed six months.

2. Obtaining negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method within 72 hours before departure, and having it certified by competent agencies of the country conducting the test (from the time of sampling).

3. Having medical or travel insurance that covers treatment for COVID-19 with a minimum liability of $50,000.

4. Participating in a package tour of a travel agency.

III. PROCESS OF RECEIVING INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

1. Registration for tour programs

- Tourists shall select and register to participate in the tour programs of international travel agencies providing services during the pilot phase (tour programs clearly specify information on flights, accommodation facilities, sightseeing and entertainment services, and program duration). The travel agencies shall inform tourists about the necessary procedures when applying for tour programs.

- Tour programs are designed in the areas and service establishments authorized by localities, with a maximum period of 90 days.

- After completing the tour program (at least 7 days), in cases where tourists wish to stay longer in Vietnam for visiting relatives, they must register in advance with travel agencies for assisting in the handover procedure to the localities where they intend to visit and performing health monitoring in accordance with current regulations.

2. Personnel approval and visa granting

- Before performing the entry procedures for foreigners, international travel agencies shall notify the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security of its legal status as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 16 of the Law No. 47/2014/QH13 and documents of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the selection to participate in the pilot program.

- Agencies shall directly send a written request for consideration and inspection of foreign personnel on their entry (using the form NA2 issued together with the Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 5, 2015 of the Minister of Public Security) and receive the results at the Immigration Department; They may submit applications and receive results via electronic transactions at the Immigration Portal (instructions provided at the website http://immigration.gov.vn).

- Within no more than 02 working days after receiving the written request, the Immigration Department shall notify the results of personnel inspection and approval for granting entry visas; in cases of approval, the written reply will have a QR code containing the link to download the IGOVN application built by the Ministry of Public Security. In cases of disapproval, specific reasons shall be notified to appliers.

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

- Validity duration of visas is suitable with tour programs, if tourists continue to register for tour programs in the areas of localities that are allowed to welcome international tourists, they may be considered for extending temporary residence duration under the guarantee of travel agencies.

- In cases where tourists have relatives in Vietnam, after completing the tour program (at least 7 days), if wishing to stay longer for visiting relatives, they will be allowed by the Immigration Department to change the purpose of entry in accordance with law provisions.

- With regard to cases of entry to Phu Quoc (that are exempted from entry visas in accordance with the Government’s Resolution No. 80/NQ-CP dated May 25, 2020), travel agencies shall carry out procedures to request personnel inspection before entry.

3. Preparation before departure

- Before entering into Vietnam, travel agencies shall advise tourists to monitor their health and consider canceling/postponing the trip if detecting symptoms of COVID-19 infection or being confirmed to have been in close contact with a confirmed/suspected case of COVID-19 at the time of departure.

- Tourists shall conduct a SARS-CoV-2 test by RT-PCR method within 72 hours before departure (from the time of sampling).

- Tourists shall pay attention to appropriate disease prevention and control measures on means of transport before entering into Vietnam.

- Tourists (including children under 12 years old accompanied by parents or guardians) shall prepare necessary documents as prescribed, except for documents of which electronic versions are accepted by Vietnamese authorities, and negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR method within 72 hours before departure for presentation to the airline and immigration agencies upon request.

4. Implementation of the immigration process

- Tourists shall undergo health screening at the international airport upon their entry, including checking body temperature and installing the IGOVN and PC-COVID applications. Tourists are required to use the above applications during the whole tour programs 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.

- Travel agencies shall support and guide tourists in the process of preparing entry documents and organizing reception of tourists after entry in accordance with regulations.

- Tourists shall self-monitor their health and adhere to the "5K Mesages" and 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, tourists shall immediately notify the health agency at the airport to monitor and implement disease handling procedures in accordance with regulations.

5. The process of participating in tour programs in Vietnam

a) Day 0-1

- Travel agencies shall receive tourists into means of transport and bring them back to accommodation establishments.

- At accommodation establishments, tourists shall self-test for COVID-19 under the guidance and supervision of the accommodations’ medical staff or staff who have been trained in safety for COVID-19 testing or shall be tested for COVID-19 by local health agencies.

+ If the test results are negative for COVID-19, tourists may continue to participate in the tour programs.

+ If the test results are positive for COVID-19, tourists shall be taken to health treatment establishments that meet the requirements for medical treatment as prescribed. The cost of treatment is covered by insurance or travel agencies.

- Accommodation establishments shall keep the test results of tourists in accordance with regulations.

b) Day 1-7

- Tourists shall only participate in tourism activities under the registered schedule according to the plan organized by tourism enterprises. They shall not be allowed to leave the group or leave the tourist pick-up areas during the trip while limiting close contact with members of other tourist groups.

- Tourists shall self-monitor their health; if detecting symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, body pain - fatigue - chills, decrease or loss of taste or smell or having test results for COVID -19 during their self-testing, they must immediately notify medical staff for timely screening and management.

- Strictly adhering to the “5K Messages” and infection prevention and control measures as prescribed by competent health agencies in all activities of tourists and tourism service providers.

- Accommodation establishments shall arrange rapid test kits in hotel rooms or provide them upon request, and recommend tourists to self-test every 2-3 days and notify the results to the accommodation establishments for monitoring in accordance with regulations.

- Local competent agencies shall conduct the inspection and supervision to ensure compliance with travel schedules and safety in disease prevention and control of travel agencies, service providers and tourists.

- With regard to tourists who register for tour programs under 7 days in localities: tourists shall return to their home countries according to the guidelines and procedures published by the respective countries.

c) Day 7+

- With regard to tourists who register for tour programs over 7 days: on the seventh day of tour programs, tourists must get RT-PCR test by medical staff or local health agencies.

- After receiving negative test results for COVID-19, tourists may visit other localities that are allowed to welcome international tourists under the package tours (the list of regions and localities eligible for welcoming international tourists shall be announced according to each phase of the roadmap for welcoming international tourists). In cases where tourists wish to visit relatives at places other than the ones that are allowed to welcome international tourists, they must have a written registration with organizers to notify the local authorities of destinations to coordinate in health monitoring and management in accordance with regulations. Tourists may return to their countries on commercial and licensed charter flights.

- Tourists shall fully comply with disease prevention and control measures as specified in Section III.5.b and regulations of each locality.

IV. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

a) Assuming the prime responsibility for, and coordinating with localities in, selecting international travel agencies to participate in the program and notifying the list to the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

b) Assuming the prime responsibility for, and coordinating with localities in, organizing communication and promotion activities during the pilot of receiving international tourists.

c) Supporting localities to select service providers and develop pilot plans on receiving international tourists.

d) Assuming the prime responsibility for, and coordinating with concerned ministries, sectors and localities in, inspecting and evaluating the effectiveness, reviewing and reporting to the Prime Minister according to its competence.

2. The Ministry of Health

a) Providing vaccines as prescribed for key tourist localities participating in the program.

b) Updating professional and technical guidelines on monitoring, investigation and handling of COVID-19 clusters in accordance with the new situation, ensuring a safe and effective pilot organization.

c) Publishing the list of vaccines against COVID-19 recognized by competent agencies in Vietnam.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

a) Updating and publishing the form of vaccination certificates or “vaccine passports” of countries and territories recognized by Vietnam.

b) Coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and localities in communicating, promoting, advertising and attracting international tourists to Vietnam.

c) Directing overseas Vietnamese representative missions to facilitate the issuance of visas for foreigners to enter into Vietnam as prescribed upon notification of personnel approval from the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

4. The Ministry of Public Security shall create favorable conditions for tourists and international travel service enterprises to carry out procedures for visa issuance and entry and exit in accordance with regulations; ensure safety, security and order for tourists during the tours in Vietnam under the pilot program.

5. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall guide the use of digital disease prevention and control applications during entry, exit and movement in Vietnam to create favorable conditions for international tourists.

6. The Ministry of Transport

a) Permitting international flights to welcome tourists.

b) Agreeing on regulations to ensure safety in disease prevention and control, procedures and process upon flights to notify tourists.

c) Arranging entry and exit positions and locations, and carrying out epidemiological control procedures; screening and channeling passengers at international airports to welcome international tourists on entry and exit to ensure safety in disease prevention and control.

7. People's Committees of localities, including Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh

a) Coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in selecting areas and service providers to receive international tourists on the basis of eligibility for private pick-up for international tourists or arranging separate areas for international passengers and domestic passengers. Publishing the list of travel service providers for international travel agencies to choose and sign contracts to build tourism programs for sale to tourists.

b) Organizing vaccination for people and workers in the tourism industry to meet requirements on disease prevention and control.

c) Promulgating detailed instructions to welcome international tourists to their localities, in which they shall specify plans on disease prevention and control, security and safety for tourists and handling of medical emergencies.

d) Setting up hotlines and arranging focal staff to receive information and handle suspected cases of COVID-19 at tourist destinations when necessary. Ensuring medical capacity and readiness of human and material resources, inspecting and supervising the deployment of receiving international tourists in accordance with regulations.

dd) Organizing training and guidance for employees at tourism business establishments participating in the pilot program on safe conditions for disease prevention and control, sampling, and supporting for rapid COVID-19 testing for international tourists.

e) On a periodical basis, reporting the results of receiving international tourists to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant ministries and sectors to promptly handling problems arising during the implementation.

8. People's Committees of other localities

a) Organizing vaccination for people and employees in the tourism industry to meet requirements on disease prevention and control.

b) When they have the demand and have ensured the conditions to receive international tourist, they shall propose appropriate time and develop plans on welcoming international tourists, and submit them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in order to report to the Prime Minister for considering and expanding the list of localities eligible for welcoming international tourists.

c) Supporting in receiving and medical supervision for tourists who wish to stay longer and visit relatives in localities as registered.

9. Tourism enterprises participating in the pilot program

a) International travel agencies

- Developing plans to welcome tourists (including tourist market, proposed number of tourists, destinations, implementation time and duration of stay, airline, tour program), plans to organize delegations for ensuring safety in disease prevention and control, and plans to handle incidents, committing to fully comply with the regulations when participating in the pilot program and send it to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and provincial-level Departments managing tourism of localities involved in the pilot of welcoming international tourists to sum up and notify agencies.

- Signing direct contracts with service providers (on the list proposed by localities), clearly delineating the responsibilities for providing safe services for tourists and coordination options for handling problems that arise.

- Complying with the regulations on epidemiological safety, in which all people directly involved in the process of welcoming and serving tourists shall be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 vaccine while employees shall be trained for safety in COVID-19 prevention and control.

- Supporting tourists (such as procedures, service delay or cancellation, etc.) in cases where they are F0, F1 cases or cannot return their home countries due to other reasons. In cases where the tourists do not pay the related expenses, enterprises shall be responsible for payment to relevant units.

- Setting up hotlines and arranging staff and employees as focal points to support tourists.

- Registering and self-assessing COVID-19 safety daily at the website http://safe.tourism.com.vn to connect to the national COVID safety system.

b) Service providers participating in receiving tourists in areas

- Registering and committing to local authorities to ensure safe tourist service plans, and plans to handle incidents arising.

- Complying with the regulations on epidemiological safety, in which all people directly involved in the process of welcoming and serving tourists shall be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 vaccine while employees shall be trained for safety in COVID-19 prevention and control, especially assisting tourists with rapid testing and keeping of results.

- Registering QR codes of locations on the application or website www.qr.tokhaiyte.vn, requiring tourists entering and leaving such locations to scan their QR codes.

- Accommodation establishments shall arrange buffer rooms to temporarily isolate suspected cases of COVID-19.

- Arranging trained medical staff to monitor the health of tourists, guiding the sampling for COVID-19 test, summing up results and coordinating in implementing disease prevention and control measures when necessary. Medical staff shall always implement the “5K Messages” during their work and only use personal protective equipment when performing procedures for suspected cases of COVID-19.

- Planning and self-organizing random and periodic screening tests for employees and people at high risk of COVID-19 infection.

- Informing and guiding tourists about the regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control before and during travel in Vietnam.

- Setting up hotlines and arranging staff and employees as focal points to support tourists.

- Registering and self-assessing COVID-19 safety daily at the website http://safe.tourism.com.vn to connect to the national COVID safety system.

- Signing contracts with travel agencies, clearly specifying the responsibilities of the parties in ensuring safety in disease prevention for tourists as well as in handling of incidents.

This guidance will be updated and adjusted in accordance with policies and regulations on entry and exit, regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, and other regulations of ministries and sectors according to the actual implementation through specific phases. Any problems arising during the implementation shall be reported to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) for timely consideration and modification./.

For the Minister

The Deputy Minister

DOAN VAN VIET