(photo: nhandan.vn)

Experts say any delay in reopening at this time would reduce the number of foreigners visiting Vietnam as many other countries in the region are already reopening. Until May 1, ministries and sectors will have time to revise regulations and issue guidance for safe reopening and businesses will have time to prepare recovery plans, communications, and advertising. Vietnam’s resumption of domestic tourism activities will help sectors and businesses prepare to receive foreign visitors.

General Director of the Vietnam Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh said: "We need immigration procedures that will ensure health safety at international border gates. We also need to restore the visa exemption policies in effect before 2020 and increase the frequency of regular international commercial flights."

In the pilot phase of receiving international tourists who have a vaccine passport, 8,500 foreign tourists visited Phu Quoc island in Kien Giang province, Khanh Hoa province, and Quang Nam province.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, says Vietnam has a great opportunity to reopen to foreign tourists: "With vaccination coverage among the world’s top ten, strong determination on the part of the health care sector, and the Prime Minister’s request for accelerating the vaccination program, we have all the necessary conditions for reopening to foreign tourists."