Vietnam reopens to international travellers

Vietnam reopened its borders to international visitors on 16 March, after being closed for nearly two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, new arrivals in the country will still be required to provide a negative PCR test result taken up to 72 hours prior to departure, or a negative antigen test result taken up to a day before travel.

Inbound travellers will also be required to complete an online health declaration via Vietnam’s PC-Covid app, both before arrival and during their stay in the country.

The move is intended to support the recovery of the country’s tourism industry, which was worth around US$32 billion per year pre-Covid, but came to a standstill following the implementation of travel restrictions in 2020. Vietnam has already experienced a small uptick in visitors since November due to ‘bubble’ travel arrangements with countries such as Thailand.

The Vietnamese government have also reportedly decided to ease travel restrictions due to the country’s high rate of Covid vaccination, and low rate of hospitalisations and deaths despite a recent spike in Omicron cases.

Around 80 per cent of the total population are now fully vaccinated, including 98 per cent of all adults, with further efforts to roll out booster jabs and vaccinate children and teenagers currently underway.

However, the move to ease travel restrictions comes just over a week after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reclassified Vietnam with a Level 4 Covid travel advisory – recommending that US travellers ‘avoid travel to destinations’.

Kenya removes testing requirements for vaccinated travellers

Meanwhile, the government of Kenya lifted Covid-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers on 11 March. Under the new rules, fully vaccinated visitors to the country can provide valid certification of vaccination rather than taking a negative PCR test before travel.

However, unvaccinated travellers over the age of five will still be required to provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure to Kenya. They may also be asked to provide a negative rapid antigen test upon arrival.

All travellers, regardless of vaccination status, will also still need to fill out an online passenger locator form (PLF) via the Ministry of Health’s Jitenge Covid app upon arrival.

The announcement coincided with the removal of domestic bans on large in-person public gatherings and indoor meetings, as well as the removal of face mask mandates in public spaces.