Localities remove quarantine, testing regulations for tourists

Tourists arriving in Thua Thien-Hue, home to former imperial capital Hue, by air would be exempt from quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from the disease within six months before arrival. Before flying, they need to furnish a negative Covid certificate obtained within 72 hours as regulated by aviation authorities.

Hue has reopened tourist destinations and historical sites from early October.

Ho An Phong, vice chairman of Quang Binh Province, said it has removed centralized quarantine for arrivals who have received two doses of a Covid vaccine or recovered from the coronavirus. They only need to monitor their health at home or place of accommodation upon arrival.

Authorities in Quang Binh, home to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and the world’s largest cave Son Doong, earlier this week approved major tour operator Oxalis Adventure trialing a tour package program that welcomes fully vaccinated domestic tourists from now until June next year.

As envisaged, tourists from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi would arrive in Quang Binh by charter flight or bus to join the tour package that allows them to stay at isolated homestays and explore pristine caves like Tien and Tu Lan over five days and four nights.

Authorities in Quang Nam Province, home to Hoi An ancient town, plans to reopen tourism from next month. Under the latest regulations, visitors from localities that have passed 14 days without community transmissions would be exempt from quarantine and testing upon arriving in Quang Nam.

Da Nang that borders Quang Nam currently requires arrivals from localities and areas deemed safe from the pandemic to furnish a negative Covid certificate obtained within 72 hours before arrival.

The popular tourist hub plans to resume intra-provincial tourism from Oct. 20 and welcome back foreign tourists from next month.

After two months of suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic, flights restarted on 19 domestic routes last Sunday, with two more added on Wednesday. There is currently one daily flight from HCMC to Hue, Quang Binh, Quang Nam and Da Nang each, and one from Hanoi to Da Nang.

Vietnam is planning to switch from seeking zero Covid cases to responding safely to the disease so socio-economic activities could resume after months of lockdown.