Vietnam, open doors in July? The latest news on the quarantine
Uncertainty dominates regarding Vietnam's reopening to tourists. The world is moving toward a return to [...]
Uncertainty dominates regarding the Vietnam's reopening to tourists. The world is moving toward a return to normalcy, speeding up the vaccination process, aiming to let the travel industry breathe. Surprisingly, however, no definite news is coming from the Vietnamese government.
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As of today, in fact, access is allowed only to a limited number of people, belonging to essential labor categories. These can cross the border, but this does not exempt them from undergoing the mandatory quarantine period. A measure that does not have a fixed duration, it can in fact vary depending on the area from which one comes, from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 21 days.
Vietnam ready to reopen its doors?
Mixed signals from Vietnam, which in early June decided to completely close its doors to foreign passenger arrivals to Hanoi e Ho Chi Minh. A sharp decision related to a new variant of Covid-19 and, therefore, to fears of the spread of dangerous outbreaks. A sharp and sudden step backward was taken, however, just two days later. In fact, on June 2, the Vietnamese Air Force decided to re-establish international flights to the two cities, without providing further explanation.
The most likely reasons come from local news outlets, which speculate that the turnaround is due to a thorough analysis of recorded cases that would be mainly due to transmissions between premises, rather than infections caused by outside visitors. The same sources also report how something is moving in terms of widespread reopenings. Just as in Thailand, the month of July seems to have been identified as ideal for the gradual return of tourism international. A plan is reportedly currently under consideration by Vietnam's Ministry of Tourism, which is ready to allow concessions only for vaccinated travelers.
Shortened quarantine?
Between the end of June and the beginning of July, travel and accommodation bookings will undoubtedly see a considerable rise. Lots of "green light" allowed in different countries. Just think of Bali. While waiting to find out what decisions for July will be made regarding vaccinated tourists intending to travel to Vietnam, something appears to be about to change on the quarantine front.
The National Committee for Prevention and Control of Covid-19 has requested the Minister of Health to adopt new procedures. The reference is to those travelers who have already been inoculated with two doses of vaccine and who, when tested, came back negative. For them, considering this level of safety, it could be decided at this intermediate stage to Reduce the quarantine period to one week. A considerable reduction, taking into account that the maximum provided by the government is 21 days.
A first step in the right direction, also aimed at those who have had Covid and, having recovered, present the necessary antibodies to fight the virus. It is still a slow process, considering the general reopenings taking place elsewhere. The goal of the government of Vietnam, however, is to be able to secure itself by October, and then ensure a return of tourism to pre-pandemic levels. Statistically speaking, the hope is to secure 150 million doses of vaccine by 2021, so as to inoculate the population's 70%. From March to date, however, the vaccination process has involved just over 1 million citizens, compared to 98 million residents.
