Latest Updates

• As of November 1, 2021, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 921,122 cases of COVID-19. However, 820,334 of the affected patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Vietnam has also recorded 22,083 deaths due to the pandemic. The latest community transmission cases have been reported from Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Bac Lieu, and An Giang among others.

October 28

• Ho Chi Minh City resumed in-person dining at restaurants and eateries from October 28 though with pandemic prevention measures. Food establishments can only serve customers at 50 percent capacity and must close by 9:00 pm. District 7 and Thu Duc City are allowed further relaxation measures under a pilot program until November 15.

October 25

• Vietnam received 1.3 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from the US on October 24.

October 22

• Vietnam has temporarily recognized COVID-19 vaccine passport or certificates from 72 countries including China, the US, UK, UAE, Thailand, India, South Korea, Singapore, Italy, Germany, France, Cambodia, and Canada among others to facilitate the entry of foreign arrivals who are fully vaccinated.

October 21

• From October 21, Vietnam’s Transport Ministry scrapped the full vaccination requirement for domestic air passengers. However, passengers from high-risk areas or locked-down areas would still need a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to their flights. Passengers from other areas would need one of the following, such as a negative COVID-19 test, proof of vaccination, or a COVID-19 recovery certificate.

October 18

• Authorities in Khanh Hoa and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces reopened public beaches and restaurants in Nha Trang and Vung Tau respectively with restrictions from October 16.
• Vietnam received 2.02 million of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from Italy through the COVAX program on October 15.

October 15

• Da Nang will resume most activities from October 16 including dine-in services after not recording any COVID-19 cases for the past two weeks.
• Vietnam received 560,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Hungary, Croatia, and Slovakia.

October 14

• Hanoi allowed the resumption of on-site dining, taxis, and hotels from October 14, though with pandemic prevention measures. Restaurants would be allowed on-site dining at half capacity except for businesses that sell alcohol.
• Vietnam received 391,950 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on October 13 from the US.

October 12

• Hanoi and Hai Phong authorities scrapped the mandatory centralized quarantine requirements for passengers arriving on domestic flights. Instead, passengers would have to isolate at home for 7 to 14 days as per health authorities. Passengers would also need to be fully vaccinated and with a negative COVID-19 test certificate to travel.
• Interprovincial passenger road transport, as well as some train services, will resume on a pilot basis from October 13.

October 8

• Vietnam is expected to set criteria for vaccine passports recognizing all vaccines approved by the World Health Organization, (WHO), the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the European Medicine Agency (EMA), and Vietnam’s Ministry of Health.
• Ho Chi Minh City and the neighboring provinces of Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, and Long An have reached an agreement on the commute of workers and experts between the five localities. Businesses would be allowed to transport staff by company vehicles and those that are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 and have a negative test certificate.
• Vietnam received 608,400 doses and 397,800 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on October 7 and October 8 respectively from the US.

October 5

• Vietnam’s Immigration Department has announced another automatic stay extension for foreigners stranded in Vietnam due to the pandemic until October 31, 2021. The measure applies to those who entered since March 1, 2020, allowing them to leave the country without any penalty or official procedures. Those that have entered prior to March 1, 2020, are also eligible provided they show documents by their embassies or by Vietnamese authorities to confirm they were quarantined or treated for COVID-19.
• Vietnam received 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX program with assistance from the US on October 4.
• Ho Chi Minh City has allowed buses, taxis, and contract cars (ride-hailing) under nine seats to resume operations with limited capacity from October 5.
• Residents of Ho Chi Minh City that want to go out must be vaccinated at least once and obtain a QR code through the mandated health apps. If there is no QR code, residents must show proof by paper documentation. Businesses must also register to receive QR codes and receive employees using these codes.

October 4

• Domestic flights resumed on October 1 under a four-phase plan. Flights resumed with localities that have relaxed pandemic prevention and control measures.
• Ho Chi Minh City authorities have implemented Directive 18 on COVID-19 prevention and control measures while gradually reopening the economy. Residents have been asked to use VNEID and Y te HCM mobile apps to declare their health and destinations prior to going out. The directive includes eight groups of services that have been allowed to resume including manufacturing and trading, outdoor events, international organizations, and government agencies.

October 1

• Ho Chi Minh City eased curbs and social distancing measures from October 1. Several business activities with capacity restrictions were allowed to resume including, offices, industrial parks, export processing zones, high-tech parks, barbershops, gyms, museums, weddings, supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants (only takeaway), and in person grocery shopping. Bars, spas, karaoke and massage parlors, movie theaters, nightclubs, street vendors, and lottery ticket vendors among others will continue to be suspended. Public transport in and out of the city also remains suspended.
• Several tourist sites in Hue were reopened on October 1.

Latest Updates

• As of November 1, 2021, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 921,122 cases of COVID-19. However, 820,334 of the affected patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Vietnam has also recorded 22,083 deaths due to the pandemic. The latest community transmission cases have been reported from Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Bac Lieu, and An Giang among others.

October 28

• Ho Chi Minh City resumed in-person dining at restaurants and eateries from October 28 though with pandemic prevention measures. Food establishments can only serve customers at 50 percent capacity and must close by 9:00 pm. District 7 and Thu Duc City are allowed further relaxation measures under a pilot program until November 15.

October 25

• Vietnam received 1.3 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from the US on October 24.

October 22

• Vietnam has temporarily recognized COVID-19 vaccine passport or certificates from 72 countries including China, the US, UK, UAE, Thailand, India, South Korea, Singapore, Italy, Germany, France, Cambodia, and Canada among others to facilitate the entry of foreign arrivals who are fully vaccinated.

October 21

• From October 21, Vietnam’s Transport Ministry scrapped the full vaccination requirement for domestic air passengers. However, passengers from high-risk areas or locked-down areas would still need a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to their flights. Passengers from other areas would need one of the following, such as a negative COVID-19 test, proof of vaccination, or a COVID-19 recovery certificate.

October 18

• Authorities in Khanh Hoa and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces reopened public beaches and restaurants in Nha Trang and Vung Tau respectively with restrictions from October 16.
• Vietnam received 2.02 million of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from Italy through the COVAX program on October 15.

October 15

• Da Nang will resume most activities from October 16 including dine-in services after not recording any COVID-19 cases for the past two weeks.
• Vietnam received 560,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Hungary, Croatia, and Slovakia.

October 14

• Hanoi allowed the resumption of on-site dining, taxis, and hotels from October 14, though with pandemic prevention measures. Restaurants would be allowed on-site dining at half capacity except for businesses that sell alcohol.
• Vietnam received 391,950 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on October 13 from the US.

October 12

• Hanoi and Hai Phong authorities scrapped the mandatory centralized quarantine requirements for passengers arriving on domestic flights. Instead, passengers would have to isolate at home for 7 to 14 days as per health authorities. Passengers would also need to be fully vaccinated and with a negative COVID-19 test certificate to travel.
• Interprovincial passenger road transport, as well as some train services, will resume on a pilot basis from October 13.

October 8

• Vietnam is expected to set criteria for vaccine passports recognizing all vaccines approved by the World Health Organization, (WHO), the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the European Medicine Agency (EMA), and Vietnam’s Ministry of Health.
• Ho Chi Minh City and the neighboring provinces of Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, and Long An have reached an agreement on the commute of workers and experts between the five localities. Businesses would be allowed to transport staff by company vehicles and those that are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 and have a negative test certificate.
• Vietnam received 608,400 doses and 397,800 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on October 7 and October 8 respectively from the US.

October 5

• Vietnam’s Immigration Department has announced another automatic stay extension for foreigners stranded in Vietnam due to the pandemic until October 31, 2021. The measure applies to those who entered since March 1, 2020, allowing them to leave the country without any penalty or official procedures. Those that have entered prior to March 1, 2020, are also eligible provided they show documents by their embassies or by Vietnamese authorities to confirm they were quarantined or treated for COVID-19.
• Vietnam received 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX program with assistance from the US on October 4.
• Ho Chi Minh City has allowed buses, taxis, and contract cars (ride-hailing) under nine seats to resume operations with limited capacity from October 5.
• Residents of Ho Chi Minh City that want to go out must be vaccinated at least once and obtain a QR code through the mandated health apps. If there is no QR code, residents must show proof by paper documentation. Businesses must also register to receive QR codes and receive employees using these codes.

October 4

• Domestic flights resumed on October 1 under a four-phase plan. Flights resumed with localities that have relaxed pandemic prevention and control measures.
• Ho Chi Minh City authorities have implemented Directive 18 on COVID-19 prevention and control measures while gradually reopening the economy. Residents have been asked to use VNEID and Y te HCM mobile apps to declare their health and destinations prior to going out. The directive includes eight groups of services that have been allowed to resume including manufacturing and trading, outdoor events, international organizations, and government agencies.

October 1

• Ho Chi Minh City eased curbs and social distancing measures from October 1. Several business activities with capacity restrictions were allowed to resume including, offices, industrial parks, export processing zones, high-tech parks, barbershops, gyms, museums, weddings, supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants (only takeaway), and in person grocery shopping. Bars, spas, karaoke and massage parlors, movie theaters, nightclubs, street vendors, and lottery ticket vendors among others will continue to be suspended. Public transport in and out of the city also remains suspended.
• Several tourist sites in Hue were reopened on October 1.