Vietnam to Allow Foreign Arrivals Without Government Approval

Hanoi — Vietnam will allow foreign arrivals and overseas Vietnamese to enter the country at its international airports without the need for prior permission from the immigration department, the government said in a statement Wednesday.

Vietnam closed its borders and shut down international flights at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Since then, entering Vietnam has proved immensely challenging, even for those who hold valid visas.

Since October 2021, new arrivals had to get an approval letter from the immigration department to enter, yet the process for attaining the document remained unclear, causing great confusion among those who wished to re-enter Vietnam, many of whom have been stuck outside of the country for almost two years.

On January 1, Vietnam resumed international flights to nine destinations, including the United States and seven Asian cities that have effectively managed the coronavirus pandemic and have high rates of vaccination, yet many foreigners remained confused about the rules for entry.

Foreign arrivals will still have to comply with Covid-19 prevention protocols, which includes a negative PCR test 72 hours before arrival, another Covid-19 test once they are in the country and a mandatory three-day period of self-isolation at home.

Foreign arrivals who do not have a valid visa will still require prior permission from the government.

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