Localities to soon welcome international tourists

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued instructions on a pilot program to welcome foreign tourists, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong told the government’s regular conference on November 6.

The pilot program includes three phases, with the first starting this month and the second in January, while the start of the third phase is dependent upon the pandemic situation.

In the first phase, tourists can register for full-package tours to five select areas and travel service establishments on Phu Quoc Island (Kien Giang province) and in Da Nang city and Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, and Quang Ninh provinces.

In the second phase, other localities that meet certain conditions and prepare a proposal to welcome international tourists will be added to the list.

In the third phase, the entire tourism market will be open to all tourists. The starting time of this phase is based on actual circumstances and on an evaluation of the results of the first two phases.

International tourists or Vietnamese living abroad wanting to come to Vietnam must meet four conditions: possess a full vaccination certificate, test negative for Covid-19 under the RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method, have medical insurance or travel insurance that covers Covid-19 treatment, and travel in a full-package tour program.

Vietnam is accepting vaccine passports from 72 countries, territories, and regions.