VIETNAM may push forward its plan to reopen the country to foreign visitors, with authorities now suggesting March 15 as a possible date.
The Vn Express reports that its Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is now seeking opinions from relevant agencies on its proposal to fully reopen inbound and outbound tourism with eased restrictions.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had previously said a full reopening of the country's borders to foreign tourists should happen no later than the end of April and ideally at the end of March.
The ministry will now collect feedback from relevant ministries before completing its draft proposal that will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
Under the proposal, foreign visitors entering Vietnam via air, land and sea routes will only need to furnish a certificate that they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid.
Instead of having to submit a negative PCR test result done 72 hours before departure, they will be allowed to show a negative rapid antigen test result done within 24 hours after their arrival at their chosen accommodation.
The mandatory insurance coverage amount for Covid-19 treatment will also be reduced from US$50,000 to US$20,000.
Fully vaccinated visitors will be allowed to book three-day tour packages with designated travel agencies, while those unvaccinated will have to book a seven-day tour package at the minimum. They will be allowed to move freely after that.
Vietnam has also announced that it will allow all international flights starting today (Feb 15), with frequencies similar to that of pre-pandemic levels.
The government had allowed in foreign tourists under a vaccine passport programme since last November and nearly 9,000 visitors have arrived under it, with about half of them comprising Vietnamese living overseas coming back to see their relatives.
The provinces of Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh, and Binh Dinh provinces, along with Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang City are the only localities foreign tourists can visit under the programme.
Meanwhile, the Vn Express reports that the Health Ministry confirmed 29,403 new local Covid-19 cases in 63 cities and provinces on Monday, pushing the ongoing wave's tally to 2,510,662.
The three provinces with the highest number of new cases were Hanoi with 3,507 cases, Hai Duong with 1,915 cases, and Hai Phong with 1,489 cases.
The Covid-19 death toll in Vietnam rose to 39,040, with 91 deaths on Monday.
Almost 75 million people of Vietnam's 96 million population have been vaccinated with two doses, and more than 32 million have received the third dose.