The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control reached agreement at a meeting on May 28 that the country should not open door to all foreign tourists at this time, as risks of transmission from outside remain.
Foreign visitors explore sand dunes in Binh Thuan province before COVID-19 broke out (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi(VNA)🍎 – The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control reachedagreement at a meeting on May 28 that the country should not open door to allforeign tourists at this time, as risks of transmission from outside remain.
The committee’smembers said only visitors from countries where there have been no new casesfor at least 30 days should be allowed to enter Vietnam.
Deputy Ministerof Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy reported that localities andtravel businesses have responded warmly to the domestic tourism stimulusprogramme, offering numerous discounts and new products. Hotel occupancy rateshave reached 80-90 percent and even 100 percent in some places, which are goodsigns for domestic tourism.
According tothe deputy minister, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hascoordinated with travel associations to prepare plans to receive internationaltourists once the pandemic is contained, but the focus in the immediate futureis on domestic tourism.
Discussingthe entry of foreign investors, experts, technicians, business managers andskilled workers, the steering committee underlined the responsibility of People’sCommittees of provinces and cities in approving the list of such peoplesubmitted by companies. The list will then be sent to the Ministry of PublicSecurity for visa consideration.
People’sCommittees of provinces and cities are also responsible for designating thefacilities for quarantining those foreign experts following their entry intoVietnam. Family members of those experts, especially children who have earlierstudied in Vietnam, are also allowed to enter the country, the steeringcommittee said.
The steering committeealso required rapid-response teams of the Health Ministry to intensifyinspections of concentrated quarantine facilities, flight crews and ship crewsas part of preparations to receive foreign experts.
Foreign studentsentering Vietnam by land will be quarantined in concentrated facilities run bythe military.
Vietnam hasrecorded no community transmission of COVID-19 for 42 consecutive dayssince April 16. The total number of cases in the country stands at 327 as of May28 morning, including 187 imported cases who were quarantined upontheir arrival, posing no risk of community infection.
As many as278 out of 327 patients have recovered, accounting for 85 percent of the total,and there has been no death./.
Like many other countries across the world, Vietnam has been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, experts still forecast a positive prospect for the Vietnamese economy after the pandemic is stamped out.
Only 3.7 million foreign tourists visited Vietnam in the first four months of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a year-on-year decline of 37.8 percent, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
Foreigners entering the country under visa waiver programmes, e-visas or tourism visas after March 1 will be automatically given stay permit extension until June 30 free of charge.
Around 60 percent of travel companies in HCM City have resumed operating while the rest are expected to regain business in the fourth quarter of the year, according to the city’s Department of Tourism.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
Foreign visitors explore sand dunes in Binh Thuan province before COVID-19 broke out (Photo: VNA)
