Vietnam will remove its Covid-19 restrictions on international flights beginning February 15th. The government-run media reported that flights “will return to a pre-pandemic level”. The country imposed incredibly tight border restrictions at the beginning of the pandemic that has decimated its tourism industry.
Previously, Vietnam resumed regular flights with the U.S., Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Russia, the UK, France, and Germany…but the number of flights was limited according to the requirements of the National Committee for COVID-19.
Here are some flights from the U.S. and Canada to Vietnam that are available now:
- New York to Ho Chi Minh on Turkish Airlines – $846 Roundtrip
- San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh on United/ANA – $1009 Roundtrip
- Los Angeles to Ho Chi Minh on ANA – $714 Roundtrip
- Chicago to Ho Chi Minh on United/ANA – $720 Roundtrip
- Toronto to Ho Chi Minh on Cathay Pacific – $848 Roundtrip
- Vancouver to Ho Chi Minh on Cathay Pacific – $694 Roundtrip
These flights all include one stopover. As of now, there are no direct flights between the US and Vietnam but we can expect that to change as the country reopens. Bamboo Airways and Vietnam Airlines plan to offer non-stop service from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco, beginning this year.
While this increase in flights is a step away from pandemic era restrictions, travelers will need to keep in mind the entry requirements of Vietnam.
As of now, Americans can only enter Vietnam with a valid Vietnamese resident card, visa, or visa exemption certificate. Airline passengers aged 2 and above arriving in Vietnam from abroad must provide a negative Real-time PCR SARS-CoV-2 test taken within 72 hours of entering the country. According to the U.S. Embassy website.
After a two-year closure, plans are being finalized for Vietnam to fully reopen to international tourism by this April
The country’s tourism sector, along with much of Asia’s, was hurt badly by COVID travel restrictions. Much of the region hasn’t been open for tourism since the very beginning of the pandemic and it’s estimated that tourism in southeast Asian countries lost a combined 1.6 million jobs in the hospitality sector.
Vietnam Won’t be the first Asian country to reopen its borders for tourism.
Thailand plans to have tourism back in full swing by this spring, and the Philippines has fully reopened their borders for tourism after two years of being shut.
With this in mind, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has stated ”If the country is slow in reopening, it would lose its opportunity to attract foreign tourists as many regional countries have already restarted their international tourism.”
The entry requirements for Vietnam’s reopening plan are:
Show proof of full vaccination (at least 14 days before entry)
OR
Proof of recovery from Covid-19 within the previous 6 months
Negative PCR test result from 72 hours of travel
Travel medical insurance with coverage of at least $50,000 USD
Vietnam is currently experiencing a surge in COVID cases
most likely due to the Omicron variant. There is currently a mask mandate in place, with a non-compliance fine of $13. Restaurants are operational but could be shut down on short notice due to a COVID cluster. Schools are expected to reopen this month, and most people will be returning to their workplaces.
As of February 14, 2022, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 2,510,860 cases of COVID-19. However, 2,226,754 of the affected patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Vietnam has also recorded 38,946 deaths due to the pandemic. About 95% of the country is fully vaccinated.
If you’re looking for some things to do and see in Vietnam, make sure to read: Top 5 Awesome Destinations To Visit In Vietnam For 2022
