HCMC ready to welcome fully vaccinated international tourists

The first phase (from January to March) will be for foreigners, overseas Vietnamese citizens, and Vietnamese people. 

These people are required to meet the following conditions: Vaccine passports, negative results for SARS-CoV-2 test by RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method within 72 hours before departure, medical or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum liability of US$50,000 and package tour programs.

The second phase will start from April with similar requirements on COVID-19 tests and insurance as set for the first phase. However, more tourists will be qualified including those aged 18-65 unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. 

Director of the HCMC Tourism Department Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa reported that the local tourism sector has prepared guest reception protocols and set up a hotline to ensure disease prevention. 

Earlier, on January 3, the Government permitted the southern metropolis to welcome back foreign tourists under a vaccine passport trial program from this month.

Last year, the city welcomed 1.3 million tourists, falling a staggering 85% against the 2019 figure, with a majority of tourists visiting the city in the first three months of 2020./.