Vietnam scraps pre-departure COVID-19 testing

From 15 May 2022, travellers to Vietnam will no longer be required to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test, regardless of vaccination status.

Vietnam has become the latest country to eliminate pre-departure COVID-19 testing, with effect from 15 May 2022. This applies to all travellers, regardless of vaccination status.

Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand have already eliminated COVID-19 testing (albeit for fully vaccinated travellers only) which leaves Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines as the only ASEAN countries still requiring travellers to test. 

Vietnam scraps pre-departure testing

Pre-departure testing will no longer be required for travel to Vietnam from 15 May 2022

Currently, travellers to Vietnam are required to present a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test result, which can be any of the following:

  • ART: 24h before departure
  • RT-PCR: 72h before departure
  • RT-LAMP: 72h before departure

Testing is required regardless of vaccination status, but those aged below two are exempt.

From 15 May 2022, the testing requirement will be lifted for all travellers. IATA TIMATIC and Singapore Airlines’ travel advisory page have already been updated to reflect the latest regulations. 

Vietnam previously scrapped the requirement to submit a health declaration form within one day of arrival, which means that the only red tape remaining is to download the PC-COVID contact tracing app (Android | iOS).

While TIMATIC does not list travel insurance as a mandatory requirement, Vietnam’s official tourism website states that travellers must have at least US$10,000 coverage for COVID-19 treatment. Regardless of the official requirement, you shouldn’t be travelling without insurance anyway. 

🇻🇳 Checklist: Vietnam Travel
(From 15 May)
  • Purchase travel insurance with at least US$10,000 of COVID-19 medical coverage
  • Download PC-COVID (Android | iOS) contact tracing app
  • Monitor health for 10 days after entry and report if COVID-19 symptoms arise

Which other ASEAN countries have scrapped testing?

With Vietnam’s decision to scrap pre-departure testing (PDT), only 4 out of 10 ASEAN countries will require fully vaccinated travellers to test before departure. 

Testing Regime for Fully Vaccinated Travellers
CountryPDTOn-Arrival
🇧🇳 BruneiART (1 day) or PCR (2 days)ART
🇰🇭 CambodiaN/AN/A
🇮🇩 IndonesiaPCR (48h)N/A
🇱🇦 LaosN/AN/A
🇲🇾 MalaysiaN/AN/A
🇲🇲 MyanmarPCR (72h)ART
🇵🇭 PhilippinesART (24h) or PCR (48h)N/A
🇸🇬 SingaporeN/AN/A
🇹🇭 ThailandN/AN/A
🇻🇳 VietnamART (24h) or PCR (72h) 
-scrapped from 15 May-
N/A

Rumour has it that Indonesia will be the next to scrap PDT, or at the very least downgrade it to antigen testing (which is already possible for travellers from Singapore to Batam/Bintan). Fingers crossed it happens soon!

For a list of the cheapest places to do a pre-departure ART or PCR test in Singapore, refer to the article below. 

Cheapest pre-departure COVID-19 ART and PCR tests in Singapore

Conclusion

Enjoy two-way testing-free travel to Vietnam

Vietnam will be eliminating pre-departure testing for all travellers from 15 May 2022, which means that mandatory travel insurance aside, entry will return to pre-COVID conditions (you don’t even need to be vaccinated to visit!).

It’s high time I started looking at redeeming my Banyan Tree Lang Co voucher…

Aaron Wong
Aaron Wong
Aaron founded The Milelion to help people travel better for less and impress chiobu. He was 50% successful.

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kcsl

At the moment, Brunei on arrival ART is Day 1, 2 & 3 and must use the ART kits supplied on arrival with the QR code on the ART kits.
To upload results on the local Bruhealth contact tracing app.
Strictest requirement in region I think.

Veronica Jap

Indonesia PDT PCR requirement is 48hrs atm 🙂

JW19

I have been avoiding Indonesia like a plague, for a country that hasn’t been very honest about covid numbers and poor in its vaccination campaign, asking for the nonsensical PCR is just too much.

chk

And from today, Indon lifts all testing for fully vaxxed travellers

Marcus

The Singapore Airlines website also says health insurance is not required, but I can’t find any official confirmation for that.

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