US to resume tourist visa appointments in Vietnam

B1/B2 temporary visitor visa appointment slots would be opened starting December 7 and December 9 respectively, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi announced Thursday. The visa is for short-term visitors who have a need to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure purposes, it said.

People are required to wear masks upon visiting the embassy and consulate. Those feeling ill or believing they were exposed to Covid-19 must postpone or reschedule their appointments for at least 14 days later.

In July, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and Consulate in HCMC resumed interviews for certain visa categories for students, doctors, government guests, professors, scholars, specialists, traders and investors, shipping or international airline crews in the U.S., media representatives and journalists, athletes, artists and entertainers.

The U.S. suspended all visa services in Vietnam late March as a protective measure against Covid-19.

Vietnam has recorded 1,358 Covid-19 cases so far, 119 still active. Thirty-five have died, many being elderly patients with underlying conditions like diabetes or kidney failure.

A 32-year-old man broke Vietnam’s 88-day streak of no community transmissions after being confirmed Covid-19 positive in HCMC on Monday. At least two other community transmissions followed: the man’s one-year-old nephew and a 28-year-old student of his English class.

Vietnam has halted all inbound international commercial flights following its latest Covid-19 community transmission cases.

Meanwhile, the U.S. remains the world’s biggest coronavirus hotspot, with over 14.3 million cases recorded and over 279,000 deaths.