Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Vietnam is the most popular destination in Southeast Asia among the South Korean tourists, with more than 4.3 million arrivals in 2019, an increase of nearly four folds from 2015.
Boasting My Khe beach, Da Nang has been voted as one of the two most popular summer tourist destinations by the Korean tourists.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic that started in early 2020 spoiled the passion of tourists from all over the world, including those from South Korea, who hoped to visit and enjoy scenic beauties in Vietnam.
With extraordinary efforts from both countries, Vietnam and South Korea have basically restored production and social life activities, bringing life back in the new normal state. Vietnam is one of the six top countries in the world to have achieved the vaccination coverage of 90 percent of adults and 75 percent of population.
In November last year, the Vietnamese Government allowed five provinces and city to pilot the welcome of foreign tourists, namely Da Nang, Quang Nam, KienGiang, KhanhHoa, and QuangNinh.
From March 15, Vietnam decided to totally open its door to foreign tourists and to resume its policy of visa exemption for citizens from 13 countries, including South Korea.
Many regular and charter flights from Incheon, Busan and Daegu to Vietnam and back have been resumed.
Hanatour Vietnam director Ryu Jae Sang described the Vietnamese Government’s recent decision as a positive sign for Korean tourism companies to accelerate their preparations for the resumption of tourism, adding that his company has sold out its tour for the Korean Children’s Festival (May 1) to many destinations in Vietnam.
Modetour’s Southeast Asian department chief Lee Woo Yeon raised his questions on what kind of tests Korean tourists have to take, rapid or PCR, and whether they get support from local administrations in case they contract the disease and are isolated and treated in their accommodation facilities.
Addressing Lee’s worry, Da Nang Tourism Department Director Truong Thi Hong Hanh made it clear that foreign visitors entering Vietnam need to ensure immigration conditions as prescribed; currently the system of tourism services in Da Nang has been reactivated to rejuvenate products with the reopening of more than 70 percent of the service sites, hotels, transportations, tours, etc.
Da Nang beaches and recreation service facilities have been decorated and ready to welcome foreign tourists.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on March 16 officially issued a plan on the resumption of tourism activities in the new normal context.
Entering Vietnam, visitors from 13 countries, including South Korea, with a stay of up to 15 days will be exempted from visa requirement, regardless of their passport types and entry purposes.
The only requirement for them is that they must meet all the conditions prescribed in Vietnam’s laws.
Tourists will only need to show their negative result to the SARS-CoV-2 tests (except children under 2 years of age) before their aviation departure within 72 hours if they use the RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method, or 24 hours if they use the rapid test method for SARS-CoV-2 and certified by test performing countries’ relevant authorities.
Vietnam’s tourism has, over the recent past, reaped various successes with high honors by the World Travel Award (WTA) such as the 2019 Asia top destination, the 2019 Asia top food destination, and the 2019 Asia top culture destination.
Meanwhile, Hoi An ancient city has also won the title of the 2019 Asia top culture city destination.
WTA founder Graham E. Cooker said Vietnam is making greater and greater contributions to the global tourism in a direction to sustainability, and that Vietnamese firms are investing to make better and better infrastructure, higher quality resorts and hotel services, thanks to concerted training by tourism companies.
Tourist sites in Vietnam have made every preparation needed in terms of infrastructure such as services at recreation and accommodation facilities, tour, food, etc., and are now ready to welcome back foreign visitors, including those from South Korea, to explore its “timeless charm” as the 2022 summer tourism season is inching in.
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