Vietnam scans stranded foreign tourists to support their repatriation

The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with embassies of foreign countries whose citizens are currently stranded in Vietnam to help them return home.

Foreign tourists in Hanoi's street (Photo: To Quoc Newspaper)

The Transport Ministry on April 10 sent an urgent note to the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism and locals governments, asking them to check and list foreign tourists who are stuck in the localities due to border closures and flight suspension, according to Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper. These foreigners are passengers who may be in quarantine, stranded due to flight suspension or in transit to a third country which closed it borders. 

The provincial authorities will report to the Ministries of Transport and Foreign Affairs about the number of foreign tourists, their departure points in Vietnam and countries/territories where the tourists come from. The deadline for submitting the report is April 16.

According to the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Vietnam has identified that coronavirus was imported to the country through infected entrants, leading to border closure and inbound flight suspension.  

In late March, the Vietnam’s Immigration Department issued guidelines on extension of temporary residence for foreigners who are unable to leave the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Accordingly, foreigners who entered Vietnam with a visa waiver or tourist visa (including electronic visas) and who have their resident permits expired but do not have any sponsoring entity and cannot leave due to reasons beyond their control may seek their embassies or consulate general sponsorship for their extension of temporary residence for a maximum of 30 days while awaiting departure, and submit their application at the Vietnam Immigration Department. The policy remains effective until April 30. 

Foreign individuals who entered Vietnam for business, visiting relatives or other purposes, should contact their sponsors (agencies, organizations or individuals) according to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam for residence extension.

Persons who have exceeded their valid temporary residence period for less than 10 days due to situations of force majeure (with documented evidence) may be considered for exemptions from administrative sanctions.