Hanoi allows foreign arrivals to self-isolate

In a regulation issued Tuesday, Hanoi stated those who have been fully vaccinated with two doses or recovered from Covid-19 will only need to self-monitor their health for three days, either at home, hotels or other facilities.

They will be tested on the third day. If results are negative, they will be required to monitor their health for the next 11 days, free to move about, but required to avoid large gatherings or crowded places.

Fully vaccinated people and recovered cases must have relevant certificates to prove their status.

Arrivals who are not fully vaccinated will be quarantined at home or other facilities for seven days, then tested on the third and seventh days.

Those under 18, above 65, pregnant women and those with underlying conditions can be quarantined with caretakers. However, the caretakers must be fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19.

Taking effect from Jan. 1 next year, the new guideline is made just one day after the capital announced that everyone arriving from countries where the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been detected have to stay in a centralized quarantine facility regardless of their vaccination or recovery status.

Hanoi made the adjustment after the government approved the resumption of international flights between Vietnam and nine destinations that have managed high vaccination rates and good pandemic control on Jan. 1.

Among the approved destinations are the U.S. and Japan, where Omicron has been detected.

According to initial information, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has allowed airlines to sell regular international flight tickets to Japan and the U.S.

It is the latest guidance, the Hanoi administration did not state specifically how it would quarantine those arriving from these two destinations.