Lao Cai has many tourist attractions that are ready to open to welcome tourists.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health has requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to consider supplementing and amending the draft content of a number of contents related to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Health said that the reopening of tourism activities under new normal conditions should be based on the results of the assessment of the pandemic level in each locality and area that is expected to provide accommodation and visit, entertainment services... for tourists, and at the same time, the locality needs to have a backup plan to respond to possible COVID-19 pandemic situations during the process of opening to welcome tourists to ensure absolute safety for tourists and the community.

The content of the plan needs to stipulate and clarify the responsibilities of localities, tourism service establishment providers, accommodation service providers and especially individual passengers in monitoring, managing and implementing preventive measures, reminding the inspection and supervision of testing, medical declaration, and 5K implementation of passengers in the first days of entry (3 days for those who have had enough vaccinations and 7 days for those who have not been vaccinated or have not had enough vaccinations).

Regarding the requirements of implementing pandemic prevention and control with tourists entering Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has divided into different subjects. For tourists aged 12 years and over: Must have had enough COVID-19 vaccinations, the last dose given within at least 14 days and not more than 6 months from the time of entry (verified by the Certificate of Vaccination recognized by Vietnam or legalization/confirmed documents at a competent authority if such Certificates have not been recognized for direct use in Vietnam); or have ever been infected with SARS-CoV-2 (verified by the Certificate of Positive Test for SAR-COV-2 by single RT-PCR; or the certificate of COVID-19 recovery or other equivalent document certifying that has been recovered, issued by the competent authority in the country/territory for testing and treatment within 6 months from the time of entry).

High-risk people such as people aged 65 years and over, pregnant women, people with underlying medical conditions (but not monitored and treated at medical facilities), have to avoid to travel until new recommendation. Strictly compliance with all vaccinations against COVID-19 before entering Vietnam.

Having a negative test result for SARS-CoV-2 (by RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method) within 72 hours before entry and certified by the competent authority of the testing country.

Medical declaration before entry and mandatory use of the medical declaration application (PC-COVID) during staying time in Vietnam.

At the border gate, if there are any symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain, loss/reduced taste...) then immediately notify the health authority at the border gate to take the necessary measures according to the regulations.

The 5K recommendation must be strictly followed during the movement from the entry border gate to the accommodation, avoid stopping, parking along the road, contact with the community. In special/emergency cases, if it is required to stop and park along the road, must take safety measures to prevent and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Within the first 24 hours (from the time of entry), the passenger stays at the accommodation (not allowed to leave the accommodation), have to take a test for SARS-CoV-2, if it is negative, they self-monitor their health, if it is positive, they will take isolation measures and medical treatment according to the regulations.

Within the first 272 hours from the time of entry, the passenger should not be allowed to leave the accommodation.

In case after 24 hours (from the time of entry) it is necessary to leave the accommodation, the passengers need to do a daily SAR-CoV-2 test (rapid antigen test or PCR) for negative results (before leaving the accommodation) until the end of 72 hours, at the same time continue to strictly self-monitor their health until 10 days are over and regularly implement the 5K recommendation.

In case the passengers do not leave the accommodation within 72 hours (from the time of entry), only test for SARS-CoV-2 twice (first time on the first day of entry, second time: sample collection on the third day from the time of entry), if the second test result is negative, the passengers can leave the accommodation within 72 hours after entry, but it is necessary to continue to strictly follow self-monitoring until 10 days are over and regularly implement the 5K recommendation.

For the tourists under 12 years old (children): It is not required to have a certificate of vaccination (including children who have not been vaccinated or received insufficient doses of vaccine against COVID-19) before entering Vietnam to travel with parents, relatives (met the requirements).

If the children have been vaccinated or has been infected with SARS-CoV-2, then take measures for pandemic control and prevention and test for SARS-CoV-2 (except for children under 2 years old) as for the tourists aged 12 and over.

Children who have not been vaccinated or vaccinated with insufficient doses of vaccine or have never been infected with SARS-CoV-2: must not leave the accommodation within the first 24 hours (from the time of entry), after 24 hours from the time of entry if they need to leave the accommodation, take a daily continuous test (rapid antigen test or PCR) within 7 days (except for children under 2 years old) before leaving the accommodation, and continue to strictly follow the follow self-monitoring until 10 days are over and regularly implement the 5K recommendation.

Children under 2 years old are not required to be tested and are allowed to participate in outside activities of their accommodation with their parents and relatives (who have met the requirements) even though they have not been vaccinated or have never been infected with SARS-CoV-2, continue to monitor health and regularly implement pandemic prevention and control measures according to the regulations.