VIETNAM is set to reopen some parts of the country to foreign tourists as the nation charts its roadmap towards normalisation post-Covid-19.
Authorities said five provinces will first open up to foreign tourists as it will allow them to better gauge their readiness to reopen the country on a wider scale.
The five provinces are Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang and Quang Ninh.
According to a Vn Express report, they will start receiving foreign tourists in November, in the first phase of Vietnam's roadmap to resume international tourism.
During a meeting between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and authorities of the five localities, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said the resumption of international tourism needs to happen quickly and safely.
During the first phase, foreign tourists coming to the five localities must confirm in advance their destinations and places of residence. Dam said the foreign tourists must be tested for Covid-19 after seven days, before being allowed to go elsewhere.
All five localities are major beach destinations and popular with tourists.
Kien Giang is home to the country's largest island Phu Quoc while Quang Nam is particularly known for the ancient town of Hoi An and Quang Ninh for its Ha Long Bay.
Although no details have been released on which parts of the provinces will be reopened to tourists, Dam said foreign tourists will be taken to some areas of Phu Quoc.
The Express reports that in the second phase starting January next year, other localities can also reopen but it depended on their vaccination rates and Covid-19 control status.
A decision on this will be made by the tourism ministry by the year-end.
Dam said the complete reopening of the tourism sector was expected to begin in the second quarter of next year but pointed out that it will depend on the pandemic situation at that time.
The tourism ministry is also expected to finalise the regulations on the reopening for the provinces soon.
Under current vaccine passport policy, even fully vaccinated visitors to Vietnam have to undergo centralised quarantine for seven days.
Vietnam currently accepts Covid-19 vaccine passports from 72 countries and territories and the Foreign Affairs Ministry said it was discussing the issue with 80 more countries.
When the pandemic started last year, Vietnam closed its doors to foreign tourists and cancelled all international flights in March.
In a bid to contain Covid-19, it only allowed repatriation of Vietnamese back home while foreign experts and highly skilled workers were also allowed to enter.
