Latest Updates

• As of 25 June, a total of 352 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. However, 329 of the affected patients have recovered and have been discharged from hospital.
  
  
• The latest additional case is a Vietnamese national who has returned from Kuwait to his home province of Quang Ngai with a case of COVID-19. Taiwanese shoemaker Pouyuen Vietnam announced on June 20 that it had laid off more than 2,000 workers as a result of the pandemic, which led to a drop in orders. In the first week of June, Chinese experts and workers traveled to Vietnam on specially approved trains to work in an industrial park in Quang Ngai province. Vietnam's borders remain tight enough to prevent a second wave of pandemics, according to Nguyen Van Thi Phuong, head of the public health department at the Ministry of Health.
  
  
• Vietnam's prime minister has authorised the reopening of nightclubs and karaoke bars, although the exact date for the reopening has not yet been set because of the location.
  
  
• Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have lifted a June 11 ban on the plant, though business owners must follow preventive measures and guidelines. Vietnam delivered 30 million medical face masks to locations in North America from June 3 to 6. About 200 South Korean students entered Vietnam on June 12 after obtaining special permits to enter the country. The students visited the South Korea - Vietnam International University of Science and Technology in Hanoi.
  
  
• The agreement enters into force on July 1, according to the official website of the South Korea - Vietnam International University of Science and Technology.
  
  
• The FTA is expected to boost exports from the country's manufacturing sector as it recovers from the pandemic. Vietnamese fruit exporters have been hit by rising air freight prices due to a limited number of commercial flights. With freight companies charging two to four times as much, exports have fallen by half in the past year.
  
  
• However, no date has been set for the resumption of normal international flight operations. Vietnamese airlines have resumed domestic operations, and the national carrier Vietnam Airlines added six new domestic routes last week, according to its website.
  
  
• The United States has become Vietnam's leading export market, and the number of exports from Vietnam to the US has increased significantly in recent years.
  
  
• Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have asked all hospitals to check the medical records of their patients in the US and other countries before providing medical services. Details of the list of countries can be found here, the full list here.
  
  
• More than 300 Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and Africa arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on 23 / 24. While this is a positive sign, Vietnam's borders remain closed to foreign visitors because of the pandemic. Vietnam plans to cut $679 million from its annual budget of $1.5 billion to $2.2 billion to fight COVID-19. In May, foreign specialists who qualify for the US National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are expected to be quarantined and will not be able to enter the country or be deployed in the event of an outbreak, the State Department said.
  
  
• Vietnam has shipped 2 million hand sanitizers to the US, Europe and Canada, and a shipment of 4.6 million disinfectants is scheduled for the end of May. Apple will produce its first over-the-ear headphones in Vietnam, but this is the first time it has produced a brand new product outside of China.
  
  
• Vietnam's Immigration Department has announced it will extend its automatic visa and entry permit renewal program for foreigners until June 30. The same automatic renewal programme also entitles foreigners with a valid visa or visa to enter the country from 1 March 2016 to 30 June this year, as well as foreigners who entered the country on or after 1 April this year.
  
  
• Travellers can contact the authorities on 0243-9387320 for information on the renewal of their visa or visa renewal.
  
  
• Vietnam has donated $240,000 worth of medical supplies to eight countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. Vietnam has approved the construction of a railway line from Lang Son in Quang Ninh province linking China with China to facilitate trade between the two countries. Some 4,300 Vietnamese brought home more than 1.5 million tonnes of goods and services last year.
  
  
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Vietnam's economic growth could slow to 2.7 percent this year due to the pandemic, but rise to 7 percent by 2021. The Deputy Health Minister said on May 12 that the first round of the World Health Organization (WHO) The World Food Programme (WFP) is implemented.
  
  
• In the first four months of this year, more than 18,000 homes and businesses have closed, and Ho Chi Minh City has the highest number of closed shops due to the pandemic in the country. As a precaution, the resumption of religious activities in Vietnam was permitted on 8 May, albeit with large gatherings. The government has authorized the reopening of churches, mosques, temples and other religious places of worship as a "preventive measure."
  
  
• The Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup will supply 2400 fans to Russia and Ukraine from 15 May to 30 August. On May 6, the Ministry of Transport eased restrictions on the transport of goods from Vietnam to China, China's second largest trading partner.
  
  
• The Vietnamese Medicines Agency ordered the resumption of the delivery of 37 medicines that had been suspended since 16 April and reserved for domestic use during the pandemic. On 5 May, the authorities lifted a ban on the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices during patients' visits to Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi. Several cities and provinces, including Ho Chi Minh City, the capital of South Vietnam's Phnom Penh province, have reopened after social restrictions. The reopening of hospitals in Tran Dinh Hoa, Hai Phong and Bao Bai Provinces and Hoi An City was also resumed on 1 May.
  
  
• In adopting Resolution 60, Vietnam agreed to revoke its export licence for face masks and called on the authorities to strictly monitor the volume of exports. The US will provide Vietnam with more than $1.5 million in medical supplies and other assistance to combat COVID-19 and the pandemic.
  
  
• Vietnam missed its target of a million businesses when the pandemic prompted many to close their businesses. Schools across the country, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, temporarily reopened for classes on May 4, and some resumed on April 30.
  
  
• However, the government has put together a package of assistance for employers and workers, and details and information on the government's response to the outbreak are available here.
  
  
• On 25 April, the Vietnamese Prime Minister adopted COVID-19, which provides for measures to prevent and control the coronavirus outbreak in the country's economic sector. In addition, the limit for public gatherings has been raised from 20 to 30 people, and the authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have removed sports centers and indoor sports shops from the list of suspended companies, as part of CO VID-19, which allows the reopening of gyms.
  
  
• These measures include washing hands and wearing masks, while religious gatherings, festivals and sporting events have been banned. In addition, all schools, hospitals, health centers, medical facilities and hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City will remain closed until further notice.
  
  
• After five rounds of tests and quality assessments, the World Health Organization has approved the use of locally made test kits for the first time in Vietnam. Although the ban on the sale and distribution of non-medical products has also been lifted, some restrictions remain, such as the ban on gatherings of more than 20 people. Although these restrictions remain in place for people in high-risk areas, Vietnam has ended guidelines on social isolation. Meetings of no less than 30 people in public places are prohibited, as are all public gatherings of people over the age of 20.
  
  
• All restaurants and restaurants that operate must comply with strict guidelines from local authorities. Taxi services in the city of Ho Chi Minh City have also been fully resumed, the transport authority said.
  
  
• Honda Vietnam said it would resume car and bicycle production on April 23, but travelers should still consult with airlines about travel details. Vietnam has announced that it will organise flights to return Vietnamese citizens to their home countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Ministry of Transport has approved the reopening of flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. However, demand depends on the number of passengers and the availability of air connections in the city.
  
  
• Vietnam's COVID-19 test kits have met European standards and have been authorised to sell the kits in the European Economic Area, including the UK.
  
  
• Vietnam's prime minister said adequate controls were in place to combat the epidemic, but China's recent tightening of border controls had led to congestion. Officials said more than 2,600 trucks were waiting at the border, while only 600 had been cleared by customs. Vietnamese authorities have proposed a plan to stop the flow of goods from China to Vietnam, the world's second-largest drug exporter.
  
  
• Authorities in Hanoi have begun to check sellers at local wholesale markets with rapid test kits for sellers of pandemic rapid test kits. Vietnam has donated more than $1.5 million in medical supplies and equipment to help the country fight COVID-19.
  
  
• Vietnam has extended the social segregation measures for industrial and commercial enterprises and the coronavirus until at least 22 April, including the travel ban for foreign companies to Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Binh Province and other parts of the country to include Hoi An Province, Phuoc Trang Province, Tran Dinh Province, Bien Hoa Province and Bac Minha Province. The social decoupling measure has been relaxed so that industry and businesses can resume operations on 16 April. Nonetheless, municipalities must enforce restrictions on business activities, such as closing factories, shops, offices, restaurants, hotels, and restaurants. Depending on the situation in each locality, the measures could be extended until 30 April or even longer.
  
  
• In order to take action in relation to the pandemic, Vietnam has classified some localities as "vulnerable" and others as not at risk in connection with the outbreak of the coronavirus. Following the end of social isolation on April 22, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Binh Province, and other parts of the country were downgraded to vulnerable areas, and the last confirmed case came from there.
  
  
• Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Commerce has decided to cut electricity bills for businesses and households by 10 percent for three months, and details of implementation are expected soon. Authorities isolated Samsung's plant after a worker tested positive for COVID-19 and ordered the closure of its factory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's second-largest city. However, Samsung said its production lines were not affected and authorities have yet to isolate its plant for any workers who tested negative for CoVID 19.
  
  
• Face masks and hand sanitizers have been added to the list of essential items covered by the National Commission on Health and Family Planning (NHP) and the Ministry of Health. The price of stabilized goods ranges from $1,000 to $2,500 for face masks, $3,300 for hands - for toiletries and $4,400 to $5,200 for hands - for detergents and toiletries.
  
  
• Vietnam's government approved plans in April to export 400,000 tons of rice from previously suspended rice exports. Vietnam has approved a plan to delay the implementation of COVID-19 to help affected companies and reopen the country's export terminals.
  
  
• Vietnam will supply 450,000 protective suits to the United States to support medical professionals in the fight against COVID-19. Anyone visiting a medical facility will be tested and treated as a "suspicious" CO VID-18 patient, the health ministry said.
  
  
• Similar police checks were reported from Hanoi, Da Nang and Hai Phong, where temperatures were measured. Authorities imposed a 14-day curfew on patients visiting Bach Mai Hospital in Hanei. Ho Chi Minh City was halted after no new cases were registered in the past two weeks. All visitors entering and leaving Ho Chi Minh City will be screened for COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health.
  
  
• The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade has called on the government to resume rice exports, but to limit the quantity to 800,000 tonnes in April. The government approved the plan at a meeting of the National Council of Trade and Industry in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, according to a statement.
  
  
• Vingroup, Vietnam's largest conglomerate, plans to produce around 55,000 ventilators a month to combat COVID-19. Ho Chi Minh City has suspended all non-urgent construction projects in order to comply with the country's social segregation rules. Vinfast and Nissan Vietnam have ceased operations to minimize the impact of CO VID-19. Vietnam has donated 550,000 masks to five European countries to help other countries fight the pandemic.
  
  
• Authorities have postponed the opening and closing of schools, hospitals and other public facilities affected by COVID-19 until the end of the week.
  
  
• The Hanoi authorities said they would tighten the rules for social detachment and punish people who are outside for non-essential reasons. Car and motorcycle traffic in Hanois was also temporarily suspended. The Vietnamese Ministry of Labour is looking for 8,500 foreign experts to come to the country for important national projects.
  
  
• The Vietnamese Immigration Department will allow those who have visas - free tourist visas, including those without visas - to leave the country to extend their stay by making an application to the authorities. The policy, which is valid from March 30 to April 30, will also be quarantined in Hanoi until the end of the month, according to a ministry statement.
  
  
• A list of documents needed for the renewal can be found on the government's website here. Foreigners entering for work or other purposes may contact their embassy sponsors for further information in accordance with the law. The government is considering extending COVID 19 for those affected, but the measure is aimed at the number of beneficiaries over the next three months.
  
  
• Vietnam's prime minister has announced an increase in the stimulus package to revive the country's economy from $1.27 billion to $6.36 billion. Vietnam has introduced strict social segregation rules in all countries to curb the spread of COVID 19. Vietnam-based Hyundai assemblyman TC Motor has closed its plant in Ho Chi Minh City until at least April 15.
  
  
• Measures include restrictions on people leaving their homes for food and medicine, and restrictions on the use of public transport. It is also forbidden to collect more than two persons while keeping a distance of two meters outdoors.
  
  
• In accordance with this order, the use of public transport in Ho Chi Minh City was significantly reduced to one round trip per day, and two trips per day were also limited. Factories, businesses, and service providers producing or supplying essential goods will remain open, but will have to follow strict health guidelines.
  
  
• Public transport in Ho Chi Minh City will be discontinued, while transport in the region itself will be reduced to a minimum for basic services.
  
  
• Border crossings between Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos were temporarily closed on 1 April, with the exception of the border crossing between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, Vietnam.
  
  
• The US has provided a total of $274 million in humanitarian aid to 64 countries affected by COVID-19, including Vietnam, which would receive $3 million in aid. Japan has pledged to help Vietnam deal with the pandemic by providing $1.86 million to international organizations. Vietnam imported 200,000 test children from South Korea to conduct mass tests. On 30 March, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam's National People's Congress (NCP) declared CO VID-19 a national epidemic and called on authorities at all levels to focus their efforts to contain the pandemic.
  
  
• Toyota Motor Vietnam became the last foreign automaker to cease vehicle production on March 30. Vietnam's prime minister has called an emergency meeting of the National People's Congress (NCP) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to ensure that a "lockout scenario" is prepared.
  
  
• These include problems related to the pricing of food and medical care, as well as the closure of hospitals and other medical facilities. Vietnam would have to temporarily close all utilities, food, pharmacies, and medical supplies, ban gatherings of more than 20 people, and close schools, hospitals, health facilities, public transportation, and government offices nationwide. Utilities and grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, medical clinics and public hospitals would also close temporarily.
  
  
• The authorities have made it compulsory for travellers to state their medical status on domestic flights and public transport. The government has also banned the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices in public places such as schools, hospitals, health facilities, public transport and government offices. Medical equipment, medical equipment and materials, as well as medical personnel, were also restricted.
  
  
• On March 25, the Hanoi authorities ordered the closure of all medical facilities in the city, except those that are still open, such as hospitals, hospitals and medical clinics.
  
  
• Vietnamese airlines suspended all international flights on March 25, and Samsung and LG sent 430 engineers to support operations in Vietnam with charter flights. However, as part of an agreement with the government, 180 Samsung Display employees were allowed to leave the company. Samsung's Galaxy Note smartphones face production delays because of restrictions imposed by South Korea.
  
  
• Ford Motor Company will temporarily suspend production in Vietnam on March 26, and Vietnam will suspend rice exports by March 31 to ensure national food security.
  
  
• International airlines have been asked to stop transporting Vietnamese abroad to avoid overcrowding in quarantine facilities. Vietnam has suspended the entry of foreigners to limit the spread of COVID-19, and the measures apply to diplomats and officials, according to Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Phu Trong Trung.
  
  
• Passengers on public transport are required to fill in health declaration forms, and the Ministry of Health has advised anyone arriving after 1 March to isolate themselves in their homes, even if they have not been quarantined in the central zone for the past two weeks. This includes travel to and from the capital city of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, as well as to the provinces of Quang Ninh and Phnom Penh.
  
  
• The government has also called on religious organisations to cancel religious festivals, activities and conferences that attract large crowds as a precaution. Vietnam and Cambodia closed their borders by 20 March to prevent the spread of the epidemic, but these measures do not apply to official diplomatic passports.
  
  
• Vietnam Airlines will suspend international flights from 25 March to 30 April, and the Vietnamese military has extended quarantine for 60,000 people in countries affected by the virus. Thousands of Vietnamese have returned to the affected countries, according to the health ministry.
  
  
• Faced with these new arrivals, authorities in Hanoi have asked residents to stay at home, and the government will also use student accommodation if necessary to meet demand. Vietnam plans to establish a temporary quarantine zone for companies affected by COVID-19 (read more about this article here).
  
  
• In addition, travelers from the United States, Europe and ASEAN countries must undergo a medical check and a 14-day quarantine upon entering Vietnam. Almost 7,000 passengers have landed at Vietnamese airports since 18 March, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation of Vietnam (ICAO).
  
  
• The travellers come from Europe and ASEAN countries, but there are also travellers from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, mainly locals returning to the country. Vietnam will officially export 1.5 million tonnes of oil and gas and 2.2 million tonnes of coal to Ukraine and Finland.
  
  
• Other European countries have also shown interest, such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
  
  
• On 15 March at 12 noon, Vietnam suspended visas and refused entry to travellers from the UK and 26 Schengen countries, including travellers who have visited or crossed the country in the last 14 days. Furthermore, all requirements have been suspended and anyone currently in possession of a visa to enter Vietnam will have to undergo screening and may be quarantined upon entry. On 16 March, Vietnamese railway authorities banned all passengers and employees from all countries of the European Union (EU) from entering Vietnam.
  
  
• Tourist activities in Quang Ninh province have also been suspended, and Vietnam has mandated the wearing of face masks. The Vietnam Grand Prix in Hanoi, scheduled for 5 April, has been postponed due to the epidemic. Health officials announced changes to mass closures and announced they would enforce a small lockdown that would apply to households near confirmed patients.
  
  
• On 11 March, the World Health Organization declared a global epidemic, which, according to the WHO, is the largest pandemic in human-to-human infectious disease transmission history. By comparison, H1N1 swine flu triggered the last pandemics in 2009, but this time it is much more severe and widespread.
  
  
• On 9 March, the authorities banned all travel to and from the islands of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. They have also excluded tourists from a number of tourist attractions on Phuket Island, one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Vietnamese tourists entering the islands must complete a health declaration and register with the WHO.
  
  
• Vietnam has launched a mobile app that allows Vietnamese to declare their health, and the government has asked citizens to update their "health status" through the app.
  
  
• Health authorities will require all passengers entering Vietnam from abroad to complete a health declaration form by March 7. In March, the Vietnamese government is expected to reveal a list of companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak, as well as details of their operations.
  
  
• According to a Nielsen survey, the mouthwash rate in Vietnam is 78%, and it produces more than 80% of the world's toothpaste and toothpaste. The immediate demand for noodles has increased by 67 percent due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
  
  
• On 1 March, flights to and from South Korea will no longer be allowed to land at Hanoi International Airport, Vietnam's main international airport, and will instead be diverted to Ho Chi Minh City Airport, where passengers will be processed and quarantined. Ethnic Vietnamese in South Korea and Italy are granted visas to travel to Vietnam, but not to other parts of the world.
  
  
• In addition, all persons entering from South Korea will be isolated for 14 days. On 29 February, Vietnam suspended all flights to and from Hanoi International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City Airport, as well as all international flights between the two countries.
  
  
• Bamboo Airways had already suspended all flights to and from South Korea on 26 February, and flights from Hanoi International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City Airport were also suspended on 29 February.
  
  
• The center removed Vietnam from the COVID-19 list of risk targets, citing Vietnam's comprehensive response to the epidemic. The CDC is sending a delegation to improve medical cooperation between the US and Vietnam and is also planning to establish a CDC regional office in the country.
  
  
• Vietnam and China have agreed to reopen more border crossings to ease restrictions and normalize trade. However, a backlog remains and only one of Vietnam's three main border crossings with China has been reopened; the other crossings remain closed.
  
  
• The province has not notified COVID (19 cases) since 4 February, but on 26 February the province was declared free.
  
  
• The Vietnamese Ministry of Labour announced that it would no longer issue new work permits to foreigners in the areas affected by COVID (19). Russian tourists continue to visit tourist destinations in Nha Trang, with only a slight decrease compared to the same period last year.
  
  
• On 1 February, the Vietnamese Civil Aviation Authority suspended all flights to and from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan from Vietnam and the United States. On 2 February, however, the authorities lifted the bans on Hongong, Macau and Taiwan (19).
  
  
• All flights to and from mainland China, including transit flights, will remain suspended. According to the World Health Organization, the novel coronavirus has been renamed COVID-19. Co - Vi is where d - disease stands for "coronaviruses," and according to the WHO, 300 companies in Vietnam have been shut down, while others have scaled back their activities in the wake of the outbreak.
  
  
• The Ministry of Finance (mof) has published a list of medical supplies, including those exempt from tax until the end of the epidemic, and medical equipment.
  
  
• At the International Conference on Coronavirus in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Trent spoke about the far-reaching economic impact of the epidemic.
  
  
• The full summary can be found here: Vietnam has adopted Decision 173 (QD - TTg) declaring a coronavirus epidemic and declaring the virus a global health emergency. The government has instructed the Ministry of Health to monitor and detect infected people at an early stage, as well as to monitor border crossings, airports and seaports, especially for passengers coming from affected areas.
  
  
• Passenger train services between Vietnam and China have been suspended until further notice, but freight trains between the two countries continue to operate. The Labor Department has also urged companies to keep control of Chinese and foreign workers visiting areas affected by the virus. Foreign visitors visiting mainland China on their way to or from Vietnam, including in transit, were also denied entry to Vietnam. Chinese tourists for whom Vietnam has issued visas, as well as those who have been in Vietnam for medical purposes for the past two weeks.
  
  
• Officials in Ho Chi Minh City have called on building authorities to step up preventive measures in apartment buildings. They have begun checking the body temperature of people entering buildings and will also have to quarantine health checks for two weeks. Vietnam's airports have been told to deploy extra staff and coordinate with local health authorities before using their facilities.

Impact and Summary

Vietnam is currently reporting 352 cases of coronavirus infections and we are concerned that there will be more cases. Travellers to areas affected by the epidemic will undergo additional checks and screenings.

As already mentioned, 329 patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, but Vietnam has quarantined several suspected cases of the virus as a precaution. According to the Ministry of Health, the suspected cases are people who have returned from the epidemic area or who have had direct contact with returnees from epidemic areas and are showing symptoms.

The symptoms of the virus are like any respiratory disease and begin gradually with fever, cough and shortness of breath. In severe cases, however, it can lead to respiratory arrest and death, as well as respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

There is currently no vaccine and patients are being treated for their symptoms, but recent developments suggest that some travellers were infected but did not notice that the virus appeared to have had no effect on them. The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has also reported that the mortality rate for this virus is between 1.5% and 2%, compared with a mortality rate of 3% for other respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and pneumonia.

Businesses operating in Vietnam must prepare for an escalation of the coronavirus in Vietnam and be prepared for the authorities to take measures to enforce it without much notice. Employees with coughs, flu or similar symptoms should not return to offices or factories, and it is recommended that companies within Vietnam find out where their employees are and discuss regional and national travel advice. In view of these rapidly evolving developments, a more rapid response to the outbreak of this virus in the United States and other countries is possible.

In order to prepare for doing business in Vietnam, it is advisable to read the article here, as it contains advice for companies operating in China and is necessary in case the outbreak spreads to their Vietnam. Regarding ASEAN, we provide updates and pointers in this article as well as for Vietnam and beyond.

We will continue to provide updates as they become available, but caution is urgently needed. Before your trip to Vietnam can continue, we recommend that you take precautions and follow the advice of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health.

Basic precautions one can take to reduce their risk to the coronavirus as advised by the World Health Organization (WHO) are:

• Wash hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub;
• Cover nose and mouth with tissues or inside of elbow when coughing or sneezing;
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms;
• Thoroughly cook meat and eggs; and
• Avoid unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals

We will continue to provide updates as they become available.