According to the ministry, three out of the five localities included in the programme, namely Kien Giang, Quang Nam and Khanh Hoa, have reopened to foreign visitors.

Meanwhile, Da Nang city and Quang Ninh province are scheduled to begin the resumption next month.

The ministry reported that the first phase of the programme was rolled out in line with the COVID-19 prevention and control measures, with the quality of services ensured.

Foreign holidaymakers have shown their positive response to Vietnam tours, as well as their confidence in pandemic prevention and control measures taken by the country.

Ho Chi Minh City and the south-central province of Binh Dinh are expected to join the second phase that will kick off next month. Other localities should propose the resumption once they satisfy necessary requirements, the ministry said.

The ministry has also proposed the Prime Minister consider restoring visa exemption for tourists from a number of countries, who stay in Vietnam for less than 15 days.

Vietnamese studying and living abroad with Vietnamese passports, Vietnamese holding US green cards or permanent residence cards in certain countries should be allowed to join the pilot programme, it said.

Vietnam’s tourism market will fully open to international tourists in the last phase, the starting time of which will be based on the pandemic situation on the evaluation of the two previous phases.

Source: VNA