02 Aug 2021 | 07:45 AM UTC
Vietnam: Officials extend enhanced COVID-19 measures in Ho Chi Minh City and southern localities through at least Aug. 15 /update 33
Vietnam extends enhanced COVID-19 measures in Ho Chi Minh City and southern areas through at least Aug. 15. Varying domestic rules in place.
Event
Authorities are extending enhanced COVID-19 restrictions in Ho Chi Minh City and several southern localities through at least Aug. 15. The affected southern provinces include An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Long An, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, and Vinh Long. All nonessential businesses must close. Residents must stay at home unless seeking medical treatment or purchasing essential goods at designated locations. An overnight 18:00-06:00 curfew remains in place. Public gatherings of more than two people remain banned except in government offices, hospitals, and essential businesses. Public transport services are suspended. Authorities may expand or extend measures if COVID-19 cases increase.
Varying localized measures are in effect in parts of Vietnam. Officials in Da Nang and Hoi An have imposed social distancing measures indefinitely from July 31; residents must stay at home except for medical emergencies and essential work. Nonessential businesses and public transport are also suspended. An overnight 19:00-06:00 curfew is in place in Nha Trang City. Similar business and gathering controls are active in other areas as local officials modify measures according to local COVID-19 activity. Officials in areas with high COVID-19 activity typically enforce localized entry and exit rules in the affected locations. Exceptions are usually in place for transport workers and people seeking medical care, among others.
Other nationwide restrictions remain. Authorities require individuals who have contacted known COVID-19 cases to quarantine in centralized facilities for 21 days. Long-distance domestic travelers must complete health declaration forms before departure. Facemasks are mandatory in public; violators may face fines of up to VND 300,000.
Many domestic flights are suspended or operating at a reduced frequency. Several airlines, including Bamboo Airways, Vietjet Air, and Pacific Airlines, have suspended most regular flights since July 26, while Vietnam Airlines operates two daily flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Flights to southern provinces continue at a reduced frequency.
Travel Restrictions
Most foreigners remain banned from entering Vietnam. Exceptions are in place for foreign experts, investors, managers, skilled workers, and resident diplomats, among others. Most passengers must quarantine at centralized facilities for 14 days upon arrival. Fully vaccinated foreigners entering Quang Ninh Province may undergo a shortened seven-day quarantine at a designated facility; however, they must self-isolate for another seven days after the initial centralized quarantine. Inbound travelers must obtain a health certificate within 36 hours of departing for Vietnam and provide evidence that they received the last vaccine dose between two weeks and one year before the trip. It is unclear if the policy covers returning citizens. Officials may adjust the policy in the coming days and weeks, depending on the local and international COVID-19 situation.
Inbound commercial flights remain suspended until further notice. Charter flights may operate on a case-by-case basis to transport Vietnamese citizens and foreign nationals permitted to enter the country. Officials require such arrivals to test negative for COVID-19 within five days before the travel date.
Officials have banned the entry of people with travel history within the past 21 days to Cambodia, India, Laos, and Thailand due to COVID-19 concerns. Authorities said exceptions are in place for people who are transporting goods into Vietnam. It is unclear whether there are other exemptions, including for returning citizens; the Vietnamese embassy in Laos has reportedly encouraged Vietnamese nationals there to refrain from returning to the country.
Advice
Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Confirm all travel arrangements within Vietnam. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.
