Localities welcome back vaccinated tourists after Covid restrictions relaxed

Ho Chi Minh City reopened hotels, resorts, and tourist destinations from Friday but at only 50 percent of their capacities while each has to meet Health Ministry criteria for Covid-19 prevention and control.

Currently, accommodation facilities and tourist destinations in HCMC only serve tourists within the city who got at least one dose of a Covid vaccine or those having recovered from the disease.

Authorities in Khanh Hoa Province allowed restaurants and food services to reopen from Friday but only serve intra-provincial, vaccinated customers as part of its economic recovery roadmap.

Before resuming operation, restaurants and dining services must register with local authorities and ensure pandemic prevention measures.

These facilities are only allowed to serve fully immunized customers, including those with two doses of a Covid vaccine or had recovered from the coronavirus. Those with only one vaccine shot need to furnish a negative Covid certificate obtained via PCR or rapid testing before entering restaurants, etc..

Facilities offering tourist services in isolated areas can resume operation from Friday but only welcome back intra-provincial customers who got at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.

People in Khanh Hoa, home to popular Cam Ranh and Nha Trang beach towns, who got at least one dose of a Covid vaccine or those who have contracted and recovered from the disease are allowed to travel within the province without furnishing travel papers and negative Covid certificates.

Provincial authorities also plan to reopen public beaches in green zones from Oct. 15.

Starting from Friday, the UNESCO heritage site Hue Imperial Citadel and the Nguyen Dynasty tombs reopened their doors to tourists after four months of closure. However, visitors are only allowed to engage in outdoor activities.

Quang Binh Province, dubbed Vietnam's kingdom of caves, also welcomed back vaccinated travelers from Friday to join package tours with pandemic prevention measures in place as part of its tourism recovery plan.

People cycle past hotels in Da Nang City on September 30, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

Da Nang City, a popular tourist hub in central Vietnam, already allowed hotels, resorts and accommodation facilities to resume operation from Thursday but only serve vaccinated tourists or those having contracted and recovered from the disease.

Northern port city Hai Phong, home to UNESCO-recognized Cat Ba National Park and Lan Ha Bay, reopened intra-provincial tourism from Friday. All tourists and tourism staff have to be fully vaccinated or furnish a certificate showing they had contracted and recovered from Covid-19 while accommodation facilities only serve guests within the province.

Some resorts in Sa Pa and Hoa Binh in northern Vietnam received the greenlight to welcome back tourists from ‘green zones’ with low Covid risks, though they must furnish a negative Covid certificate obtained within 48 hours before arrival.

In Hanoi, though tourist destinations and historical sites remain closed, residents are allowed to go camping or enjoy outdoor activities in the outskirt districts of Soc Son, Dong Mo and Ba Vi, but no gatherings of over 10 people are allowed.