Phú Quốc is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Việt Nam. Photo nld.com.vn

HCM CITY — Phú Quốc Island in Kiên Giang Province expects to welcome international visitors with vaccine passports beginning in October. 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed opening Phú Quốc Island to international visitors with vaccine passports after receiving consultations from the Ministries of Health, Public Security, Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Transport and Information and Communication.

During the first phase of the pilot programme, which will last three months, Phú Quốc will welcome 2,000 to 3,000 visitors per month via charter flights in a limited number of locations.

The second phase, also lasting for three months, will host 5,000 to 10,000 visitors per month. Passengers will be picked up via commercial flights and experience Phú Quốc on a larger scale.

The purpose of this programme is to gradually restore the international tourism market and the tourism industry while promoting Việt Nam as a safe and attractive destination with effective pandemic prevention and control measures.

International visitors who want to visit Phú Quốc must have two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine recognised by Vietnamese authorities. The second dose must be injected at least 14 days and not more than 12 months from the entry time. 

Visitors with a certificate showing COVID-19 recovery and who have been discharged for not more than 12 months are also allowed to enter Phú Quốc. 

All tourists before entering Việt Nam must be tested negative for COVID-19 via the PCR method.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Kiên Giang Province People’s Committee will select appropriate service providers to host foreign visitors.

Vịệt Nam is expected to welcome visitors from markets with high tourism potential and epidemic safety across regions such as Northeast Asia, Europe, the US and the Middle East.

Visitors must enter Phú Quốc by air only.  They will be taken to designated accommodations and entertainment sites.

To ensure safety during the pilot period, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposes vaccinating at least 70 per cent of the population and workers in Phú Quốc City between July and September this year. 

At the end of June, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Kiên Giang Province to develop a tourism pilot programme to welcome international visitors to designated areas in the province. VNS