Vietnam aims to fully reopen borders to foreign visitors in April

Nguyen Van Hung, Vietnam’s minister for culture, sport and tourism, said the country could open its borders by the end of April.

Vietnam.- Authorities in Vietnam hope to fully open the country to international tourists by the end of April to boost the tourism industry. The country has shortened the quarantine period for vaccinated travellers to three days and began a pilot reopening in November after achieving the sixth-highest vaccination rate in the world.

Nguyen Van Hung, Vietnam’s minister for culture, sport and tourism said the country has received 7,800 tourists from markets deemed safe, including Japan, South Korea and Russia, since the pilot program began.

“It’s determination, not idealism,” Van Hung said of the plan for a full reopening from April, according to Asian Gaming Brief.

See also: Vietnam: Corona casino receives first visitors from South Korea

Seven destinations are currently allowed to receive foreign tourists. Tourists are allowed to visit Hoi An, where the Hoiana club resort is located, and Khanh Hoa and Phu Quoc, home to the Corona Resort and Casino. Other destinations include Da Nang, home to several casinos, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam’s gaming industry was one of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic as the government has tight restrictions on locals entering casinos. 

Last March, casino operators asked the government to expand Vietnamese citizens’ access to casinos in major tourist destinations such as Quang Nam and Ba Ria-Vung Tau to help casinos face the loss of revenue from tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the government said the current scheme won’t be expanded.