Take 2: Vietnam reopens with minimal restrictions for travelers
After much confusion surrounding Vietnam's reopening to international travelers on Tuesday, travelers are officially welcomed back to the Asian nation as of March 16, according to the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam.
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Entry protocols: Pre-departure COVID-19 test and visa
Tourists are once again allowed to enter Vietnam by presenting negative results of a negative COVID-19 test — either a PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel or a rapid test conducted within 24 hours.
Note that these tests must be "administered and certified by competent health authorities," per the Embassy, which also says the testing requirements apply to anyone 2 years of age and older entering the country via land, air, rail and sea.
According to the Embassy and other news outlets, an arrival test is the only entry requirement for visitors at this time. However, Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) provides guidance on their website stating that quarantine is required for incoming travelers.
"For passengers traveling by air, there is a testing and quarantine process before boarding," according to MOCST. "For passengers traveling by land, sea or rail, it takes longer to travel, so additional safety measures such as testing at the border gate."
As a result, tourists hoping to visit Vietnam in the immediate future should be prepared for either option.
We will update this post as soon as more concrete information from the government is released.
Per ABC News, Vietnam "reinstated visa exemptions and the issuance of visas on arrival similar to their pre-pandemic status," meaning Americans still need to obtain a visa to travel to the country.
Visa applications are available via the Vietnam Embassy in Washington, D.C., which states you can apply for a visa in person, by mail, online or by email. The Embassy did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Lastly, travelers should complete an online health form before departure, according to Vietnam Airlines.
There is no information to suggest there are any other on-the-ground COVID-19 restrictions in Vietnam at this time.
Bottom line
Although the Vietnamese government had previously proposed stronger entry requirements for travelers, including requiring proof of vaccination and travel insurance, those no longer appear on any official government websites.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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Why We Chose It
The Citi Premier’s 3 points per dollar spent across a wide range of popular categories is one of the more lucrative offerings in the world of points and miles. The Citi Premier comes with a $95 annual fee and is currently offering a solid sign up bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. It also has some valuable transfer partners to make the most of your rewards. Add in access to Citi Entertainment plus a $100 hotel credit for any single-stay hotel booking that exceeds $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through the Citi travel website, there are few reasons why the Citi Premier should not be in every traveler’s wallet.Pros
- Earns 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels.
- $100 annual hotel savings benefit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
- Points transfer to 16 airline programs, from JetBlue to Virgin Atlantic.
- World Elite Mastercard benefits, extended warranty, damage and theft protection.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Lacks travel protections that other travel rewards cards come with
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 80,000 Points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases