My Vietnam May 2022 Entry Experience

Vietnam greatly limited visitor entry to the country ever since the pandemic began and only removed flight restrictions this past February.

Then the country suddenly reopened fully for international visitors this past March and reinstated visa waivers and visa-on-arrival issuance for foreigners.

After being in Thailand (Bangkok, Koh Samui & Phuket) for two weeks, I flew to Ho Chi Minh City this past Thursday, and it was refreshing how little documentation was needed. Essentially, I was only required to have a PCR-RT (within 72 hours) or an antigen (within 24 hours) before departure to Vietnam.

Bamboo Airways had a list of entry requirements at its check-in desks at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

As is usually the case when I am flying to Vietnam, the agent was typing their computer for a while (I assume that this was to check the entry requirements per Timatic), and I was then asked to show:

1. Covid-test

2. Proof of insurance

3. Onward ticket (I am actually flying to Bangkok)

The requirement of making an electronic health declaration had already been removed.

And soon, I had the boarding pass in my hand.

Immigration at Ho Chi Minh City was empty when the flight arrived (so was the arrivals hall), and I was asked if I had a visa (not required), and then I was stamped for 15 days. No other documentation was needed.

Vietnam’s Road To Reopening:

• Reopened: Vietnam Has Scrapped All Arrival Quarantine & Remaining Travel Restrictions Effective Immediately
• Ho Chi Minh City Allows 13 Hotels Host Foreign Tourists
• Vietnam’s Cabinet Backs Reopening The Country For International Arrivals On March 15, 2022
• Vietnam Removes International Flight Restrictions February 15, 2022
• Vietnam Intends To Reopen For International Tourists In March Or April
• Vietnam Set To Lower Quarantine & Reopen International Air Links On January 1, 2022
• Vietnam Opens Phu Quoc For Vaccinated Tourists

UPDATE: Nationalities with Visa-Free Entry To Vietnam:

There were comments left that were somewhat confused about who has a visa-free entry to Vietnam, and you can find the information below.

Others should apply for an electronic visa directly from the Vietnam government (access their portal here).  Many non-government websites offer you visas to Vietnam, but you can do it yourself.

ASIA

Brunei, Myanmar – 14 days.
Japan, South Korea (ROK) – 15 days.
The Philippines – 21 days.
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand – 30 days.

EUROPE

Belarus, Denmark, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, The United Kingdom – 15 days.

Conclusion

I am one of the nationals (Finland) that don’t require any visa to enter Vietnam for up to 15 days, not even visa-on-arrival, and I was able to extend this once in the early 2010s with the help of a local agent in HCMC.

Now, if we can only drop the predeparture covid-test requirement when traveling to Vietnam, we would be back to prepandemic travel convenience.