Covid-19 Information for Irish Citizens
News
29 April 2020
Information for Irish Citizens in Vietnam (updated 17 September 2020)
GENERAL
- Supporting Irish citizens remains our number one priority.
- The Irish Embassy in Hanoi is operating normal office hours, 9AM – 12PM and 1PM – 4:30PM by appointment. Please sanitize your hands, practice social distancing and always wear a facemask in the Embassy.
- We strongly encourage all citizens to register with the embassy on the Citizens Register
- Irish citizens should follow our Travel Advice. We are monitoring the situation closely and update our advice regularly.
- Make sure to follow us on social media for the latest updates:
https://www.facebook.com/irishembassyinvietnam/
https://twitter.com/irlembvietnam
- If you need to contact the Embassy please do so at the following link - https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/vietnam/contact-us/
AVOID ALL NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL
- The Government of Ireland advises against all non-essential to Vietnam.
- If you are a tourist, you should seek to return to the Ireland as soon as possible by commercial means.
- If you are residing in Vietnam without stable employment, a long-term visa, family, health insurance or savings, you should be thinking about returning to Ireland.
- Vietnam has temporarily suspended the issuing of visas and the entry of foreign nationals into Vietnam. The Embassy has no information on when this suspension will be lifted.
- There are a very small number of exceptions foreign experts and high skilled workers, which are decided on a case-by-case basis. Applications for permission to travel are led by Vietnamese employers who must work directly with provincial government offices. If you are permitted to travel please note you will be required to complete 14 days quarantine during which you will be tested for COVID-19 up to five times. From 1 September 2020 you will be responsible for all costs associated with same. Please contact your employer in Vietnam or your nearest Vietnamese Embassy for more information.
COVID-19 IN VIETNAM
- From 25 July 2020, a new outbreak was detected in Da Nang and Quang Nam provinces. Additional cases were subsequently detected which are linked to Da Nang in a large number of provinces, including in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. Following a partial lockdown in Da Nang and Quang Nam provinces the authorities managed to limit the spread and the additional restrictions were lifted from 27 August in Quang Nam and 7 September in Da Nang.
- If you are travelling from these provinces to HCMC it may be necessary to have a COVID19 test on your arrival. Please complete a health declaration at https://tokhaiyte.vn/ and notify your accommodation provider or employer of your travel plans.
- If you are in Da Nang and unsure if you need to self isolate following your onward travel in Vietnam, you will find the information you need by contacting Da Nang Tourist Support on 0919 247 009 or Da Nang Support Centre on 02363550111. You can also check the Da Nang Department of Tourism website for information.
- Authorities accross Vietnam have increased social distancing measures following this most recent outbreak.
- Irish citizens are asked to wear a mask in public places and follow the instructions of local authorities in their containment efforts.
- It is important to respect Vietnam's efforts in containing COVID19. The Embassy is not able to intervene in having any restrictions waived, shortened, or amended.
- If you need the support of the Embassy, you can contact us at https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/vietnam/contact-us/.
- While the situation relating to COVID19 appears calm in Vietnam at this time, the country remains on high alert and Irish citizens should prepare for the possibility of additional restrictions, lockdowns and quarantine should further outbreaks occur.
ADVICE FOR IRISH CITIZENS RESIDENT IN VIETNAM
- If you are financially secure and resident here in Vietnam, we are not advising you to return to Ireland at this time.
- You should comply with the social distancing and domestic restrictions put in place by local authorities during the pandemic.
- Irish citizens who choose to remain in Vietnam should note that mandatory quarantine is part of the Vietnamese government response to Covid-19. Should you have serious concerns about undertaking quarantine in Vietnam, you should consider returning to Ireland.
- The Embassy remains full operational and is here to assist you as best we can. If you need and advice or assistance please contact us at https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/vietnam/contact-us/.
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
- There are a growing number of airlines allowing people to book flights from Vietnam online where you can find a route back to Ireland. These airlines include Korean Air via Seoul to London, Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to London, Qatar via Doha to Dublin and Emirates via Dubai to Dublin. There are numerous flight options from London to Dublin. You should check directly with the airline or your travel agent to ensure that flights are guaranteed to fly and that conditions in relation to flight changes or cancellations are favorable.
- For transit, please ensure that you have purchased a through ticket and that your transit time is less than 24 hours. You are not permitted to enter transit countries. For the latest information on airport restrictions please see: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm
- From 1 August 2020 transit through Dubai is only possible with a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued no more than 96 hours before arrival in Dubai.
- Due to COVID19, flights are still prone to changes with little notice. Please check with your airline or travel agent for the most up to date information on flights, travel, transit and visa requirements. The Embassy cannot take any responsibility for changes made to airline schedules.
VISAS
- The Embassy, has worked together with the Delegation of the European Union, and engaged with the authorities in Vietnam to seek flexibility in order to enable EU citizens who are tourists in Vietnam to extend visas and/or obtain exit visas.
- Irish citizens who are tourists and have been unable to leave Vietnam for good reason (due to quarantine/self-isolation or flight cancellations) as a consequence of COVID-19 may qualify for an automatic visa extension depending on the date you entered. Please follow this link for more information https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/vietnam/news-and-events/news-archive/vietnam---visa-extension--exit-visa.html
- Citizens who are in Vietnam on business, employment or other forms of immigration status will need to discuss their options with their employer or immigration agent as normal.
- If you want to stay long term in Vietnam, you should only do so legally and with the correct visa. It is unlawful to work in Vietnam while on a visit visa.
QUARANTINE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING
- Contact tracing and mandatory quarantine is a major part of Vietnam’s COVID-19 response. Quarantine facilities in Vietnam are basic.
- If you meet someone who is positive with coronavirus, you must expect to undergo quarantine in a government centre. It lasts for a minimum of 14 days and in some cases longer.
- These are mandatory requirements from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. The Embassy is limited to the support it can offer citizens who find themselves in quarantine. We are unable to have these requirements changed or shortened.
- Irish citizens choosing to stay in Vietnam must be prepared to comply with Vietnamese public health rules.
RETURNING TO IRELAND
- If you are returning to Ireland from any country, you will need to restrict your movements for 14 days. This includes Irish citizens returning home. Restricting your movements means staying indoors and completely avoiding contact with other people. During this time you are permitted to go outside for exercise but should ensure that you keep 2 metres distance from other people.
- You will need to complete a ‘Public Health Passenger Locator Form’ before you arrive in Ireland and hand it to Border Management Staff on arrival. You may be contacted during the 14 days after you arrive in Ireland to check that you are self-isolating. You can download the form: https://www2.hse.ie/file-library/coronavirus/covid-19-passenger-locator-form.pdf
- Further advice for people who have recently returned from abroad from the Health Service Executive: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html