As Vietnam is opening up since the national lockdown in March 2020, travelers worldwide are eager to plan the next trip to Vietnam, either for leisure or business reasons. On the whole, though international trips from and to Vietnam are now possible, only diplomats, professional managers, and skilled workers are allowed to enter. That is to say, with the current situation of the virus worldwide and the airport being one of the riskiest places of contracting the virus, should you delay your trip to Vietnam? See below for our updates and make plans for your next trip.
You Might Want to Delay Your Trip to Vietnam IF:
- If you’re not traveling from Guangzhou (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Taipei (Taiwan), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and Vientiane (Laos). International flights to Vietnam only allow these 2 Asian countries.
- There have been violent storms in Central Vietnam, which has resulted in severe flooding, landslide, and up to 100 casualties. As a result, certain international airports in the central (such as Hue and Da Nang) will be closed due to unfavorable weather conditions. International airports in Northern and Southern Vietnam (i.e., Noi Bai International_Airport in Hanoi or Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh) are still operating, but you will need to follow updates and check with the airlines if it is safe enough to travel
- If you have contracted COVID-19, have come into contact with someone carrying COVID-19, or even just a suspicion that you might have caught the virus, you might want to seek sufficient treatment and quarantine before traveling.
If you are a tourist looking to explore Vietnam. Unfortunately, Vietnam only allows foreigners traveling for diplomatic and high-level business purposes to enter the country for the time being.
Flights to Vietnam are still limited and all travelers must practice social distancing
Rescheduling Your Trip to Vietnam:
According to certain airlines’ policy, there is a timeframe during which you can make changes to your tickets, either to delay your trip to Vietnam to a future date when the pandemic situation settles worldwide, or to cancel it for good. Some waiving change fees can be applied, and the refund policy can vary, but it is always worth asking the airlines for a suitable solution.
You Don’t Have to Delay Your Trip to Vietnam IF:
If you don’t find yourself among the mentioned categories above, it is good news that you don’t have to delay your trip to Vietnam. Check out other eligibilities and what you’d need to prepare for your trip:
- All travelers must have a sponsor to be able to enter Vietnam
- Get a letter of approval from the local authorities that you’re allowed to come into the country
- Apply for an appropriate Vietnam visa, a work permit, and a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) before your trip
- A negative COVID test done at a certified clinic by WHO or your country’s government
- Set up a detailed quarantine and testing plan in Vietnam
Check out the Complete Checklist for Traveling to Vietnam COVID-19
For more information about traveling to Vietnam during COVID-19, check out our articles below:
Updates on International and Domestic Flights in Vietnam
Traveling to Vietnam for Work during COVID-19
Vietnam Travel Updates COVID-19
Safety Practices for Traveling Vietnam COVID-19
Testings and health declarations are done on-site at the airport
In General, Is It Safe to Travel to Vietnam from Abroad?
The US CDC listed Vietnam as a safe country to travel to with a very low COVID-19 virus risk. Although some cases have been recorded in the country lately, those are imported cases by foreign travelers and have been quarantined right when they landed in Vietnam. There has been no community infection in Vietnam since September 2020.
In order to achieve this promising status, Vietnam has been adopting firm measures to contain the virus outbreak, which include strict quarantine, testing, and contact tracing. Therefore, to protect travelers and the public’s health, the country encourages everyone to practice COVID-19 preventive measures seriously.
Travel Advisory from US CDC
Final Thoughts on Should You Delay Your Trip to Vietnam
As the situation in Vietnam is looking up, it can be understood that Vietnam will soon become a hotspot for traveling post-COVID. However, there are specific rules that travelers must follow, and the complications of the virus and the weather conditions in Vietnam at the moment will require everyone to put in more effort for planning your trip to Vietnam. Hopefully, this blog answered some of your questions and concerns. If you need more information, feel free to let us know in the comments.
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