Vietnam removes restrictions, restores entry and exit policies as before the pandemic

Guidance on tourism activities from March 15 (Infographic)

HANOI, March 16 (DHA Vietnam) Vietnam has fully reopened its tourism for foreign travellers as of March 15, reinstating the visa exemption policy for 13 countries as it seeks to resume the pre-pandemic fast-growing pace of the tourism industry.

Vietnam will launch a promotional campaign entitled "Live fully in Vietnam" to attract returns by foreign travellers. (Photo: The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism)

The Southeast Asian country's tourism industry observed a boom in the 2015-2019 period, with the number of foreign visitors nearly tripling to 18 million in 2019 from around 8 million in 2015 and the annual rise often reaching two digits, averaging 22.7 percent per annum, based on government data. Its revenues reached USD 32.8 billion in 2019, or nearly 10 percent of Vietnam's GDP.

But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam had to close its border in March 2020.

As of March 15, citizens from Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea can enter Vietnam without a visa for a 15-day stay, regardless of their passport type or visit purpose, the e-newspaper Chinh Phu cited a government resolution as saying. The directive is valid through March 14, 2025.

The Health Ministry is expected to "issue guidance on medical conditions for arriving visitors in the new situation", the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said.

In November 2021 Vietnam reopened its doors to foreign tourists but required them to have a vaccine passport, book package tours and stay within a specific accommodation. This partial reopening has failed to boost arrivals.

This year Vietnam will launch a promotional campaign entitled "Live fully in Vietnam" to attract foreign travellers to return to the country, VNAT said.

The Telegraph, a London-based multimedia news brand that has a 160-year history, in an article headlined “Vietnam is finally reopening – 10 reasons why it belongs on your 2022 must-visit list” and published on March 15, urged readers to book a trip at the earliest.

Vietnam's tourism authority has projected to welcome more than 5 million foreign visitors this year and serve 60 million domestic tourists.

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Held annually since 2018, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon has become Hanoi’s official race and won recognition to be a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) since 2019, with a running track standardized by AIMS experts and the Vietnam Athletics Federation. Runners’ results are recognized to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon. The VPBank Hanoi Marathon has joined the Age Group Ranking System of Abbott World Marathon Majors, counting from 2022.

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Race Date: October 16, 2022.

Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/VPBankHanoiMarathon

Should you have any question about the VPBank Hanoi Marathon, please email us at: hanoi.marathon@dhavietnam.vn.

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The Heritage Race system, owned and organized annually by DHA Vietnam, comprises of the VPBank Hanoi Marathon in October, the Halong Bay Heritage Marathon in November and the Can Tho Marathon - A Heritage Race in December.

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