Foreign arrivals not be required to undergo rapid testing

The move comes following Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh agreeing to increase the frequency of regular commercial flights carrying passengers between the nation and Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan (China).

Furthermore, it also aims to expand regular ​​international flights to Europe and Australia on a pilot basis in order to meet the growing demand among overseas Vietnamese for the upcoming Lunar New Year festival, known locally as Tet.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has therefore directed Vietnamese representative missions abroad to urge partners to swiftly respond to requests to resume regular international commercial flights.

According to the plan, Vietnamese people are not required to be subject to a quarantine period when visiting countries such as Singapore, Japan, or the Republic of Korea.

Earlier on January 4, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) had suggested that passengers from countries with the Omicron strain of COVID-19 arriving in the country must only have to undergo PCR testing, without the need of conducting rapid testing before boarding and getting off their flights.

Foreign flight crews entering the nation only need to be tested once while waiting for the next flight to return home.