BAKER MCKENZIE UPDATED: VIETNAM - COVID-19 - NEW GUIDELINES FOR FOREIGNERS ENTERING VIETNAM TO WORK

On 24 July 2020, the National Steering Committee on Prevention and Control of COVID-19 issued Official Letter No. 3949/CV-BCD regarding enhancing assurance of COVID-19 epidemic prevention for experts entering Vietnam to work ("Official Letter No. 3949"). Also, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee issued Official Letter No. 2814/UBND-VX regarding the utilization of tourist accommodation establishments as paid quarantine locations for people entering Vietnam ("Official Letter No. 2814").
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Given the significant increase in the number of entry requests and because policies and practices regarding the entry of foreigners are constantly changing, please always check with us for timely updates.
If you need further details or assistance on how to file the request to bring in or bring back foreign employees and their family members into Vietnam, please do not hesitate to contact us.
In more detail

1. Additional requirements applicable for foreigners coming to Vietnam to work and for sponsoring entities
According to Official Letter No. 3949, organizations that invite experts to enter Vietnam to work must ensure the following:

• Experts are tested for SARS-CoV-2 by Real-time - PCR technique 3 to 7 days prior to the date of entry into Vietnam. SARS-CoV-2 tests must be carried out in a laboratory approved by governments or under the laboratory system of the World Health Organization.
• Experts bear international health insurance; or the agencies or organizations who invite experts commit to paying for treatment in case such experts are infected with COVID-19.
• Organizations inviting experts are responsible for ensuring that precautions for COVID-19 prevention and control are taken when inviting experts to work.
The above requirements do not apply to experts who already have their tickets and are entering Vietnam before 5 August 2020.

2. Eight hotels officially confirmed to be used as pay-to-stay quarantine locations in Ho Chi Minh City
According to Official Letter No. 2814, the eight hotels below have been selected to be paid quarantine locations for people entering through Ho Chi Minh City:

Source: Baker McKenzie