The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a new travel warning for Vietnam, just weeks before it reopens to tourists.
The CDC categorized Vietnam as a “Level 4” destination, indicating that the country has a “very high” level of COVID-19 infection and advising Americans to “avoid” travelling there. The modification is the most recent addition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) travel advisory list, which is updated every week.
The warning comes just weeks before Vietnam opens its doors to tourists on March 15. The anticipated date is three months earlier than initially anticipated.
If more than 500 COVID-19 infections per 100,000 individuals have been reported in the last 28 days, the destination is classified as “Level 4” by the CDC.
Anyone travelling to a “Level 4” destination should be “vaccinated and up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before travel,” according to the CDC, but “Even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, you may still be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19.”
Over 130 destinations are currently classified as “Level 4,” including some of the most popular tourist destinations such as Mexico, Canada, Aruba, Spain, Italy, and France.
Vietnam is currently experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases, with more than 95,000 new infections reported every day.
When Vietnam reopens, international passengers will be required to be completely vaccinated within the previous six months and to test negative for COVID-19 both before leaving and upon arrival. Travelers will also be required to quarantine for the first day of their trip and have a travel medical insurance coverage for up to $10,000.
Travelers from the United States will need to obtain a visa to enter Vietnam.
Vietnam’s decision comes as a number of other nearby countries have begun to welcome Americans. Bali, a popular tourist destination, reopened to travellers last month, while the Philippines reopened to fully vaccinated visitors and Thailand restored quarantine-free travel.
The latest CDC warning comes just days after the agency loosened mask guidelines for a large swath of the United States.
– India’s new age travel digital media
