Vietnam Introduces Medical Declarations from July 1: What Changes for Tourists and Transit Passengers

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
27.07.2026 23:42

Vietnam Introduces Medical Declarations from July 1: What Changes for Tourists and Transit Passengers

From July 1, 2026, Vietnam is transitioning to new sanitary control rules at the border: travelers entering the country, leaving it, or transiting through it may require a medical declaration, completed within seven days prior to crossing the border. For tourists, this does not mean the destination is closing or a new visa is required, but it adds an important preparatory step before the flight, especially for those flying through Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Da Nang.

The innovation is linked to the Government of Vietnam Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP and a broader system of infectious disease prevention. The Vietnamese government portal reported that the declaration applies to passengers crossing the Vietnamese border, and the form must be provided by the Ministry of Health. The document will be bilingual, in Vietnamese and English, and in the event of disease outbreaks, the Ministry of Health may provide additional instructions for specific checkpoints.

For the tourism market, this is a significant change not because Vietnam is becoming a difficult destination. On the contrary, the country remains one of the most competitive routes in Southeast Asia: the beaches of Da Nang and Nha Trang, city trips to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, gastronomic tours, cruises in Halong Bay, and combined routes with Thailand, Cambodia, or Singapore. However, the new medical step may affect the time spent at control, connections, group tours, corporate trips, and multi-entry routes.

What Exactly Changes from July 1

The main change is that before entering, leaving, or transiting through Vietnam, a traveler must be prepared to submit a medical declaration. According to explanations from the government portal, it must be filled out within seven days before crossing the border. Specialized legal and immigration reviews clarify that the declaration may be submitted electronically or on paper using the form established by the Ministry of Health.

The declaration may ask for personal data, transport information, itinerary, travel history, and symptoms related to infectious diseases. The Vietnamese legal publication Vietnam Law Magazine also notes that, if necessary, passengers may be asked to provide proof of vaccination or other evidence of preventive measures. This wording is important: it does not mean an automatic requirement for all tourists to have an additional vaccine, but it leaves the authorities the ability to activate additional checks depending on the epidemic situation.

FCDO, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, updated its Vietnam travel advice page on June 26 specifically because of the new information regarding the medical declaration. In the entry requirements section, the British side warns that from July 1, those traveling to Vietnam or transiting through the country may be required to fill out a declaration, which may include proof of vaccinations. Such an update from an authoritative consular source makes the topic practical not only for Britons, but for all foreign tourists planning a route through Vietnam.

Is This a New Visa and Can Tourists Travel to Vietnam

A medical declaration is not a tourist visa, an entry permit, or a paid authorization like an ETA. It belongs to sanitary control, not to migration permission. Therefore, travelers need to separate two blocks of preparation: separately check the visa regime, passport, e-visa, or visa-free period, and separately complete the medical declaration if it is required for a specific trip.

This is especially important for tourists using the 45-day visa-free regime for certain citizens or the 90-day electronic visa. British recommendations remind that the passport must meet requirements, and the departure date after the entry stamp must be verified immediately at the border. The new medical procedure does not cancel these rules. It simply adds another documentary element that may be checked alongside the passport, boarding documents, and visa.

As of June 29, the US Department of State maintains Level 1 for Vietnam, meaning it advises following normal precautions. In a fresh update from June 24, the warning level has not changed, but the State Department reminds about petty theft in tourist areas and the risk of unexploded ordnance in some regions. Thus, the new declaration is not a signal of a sharp deterioration in the security situation, but rather a part of administrative preparation for the trip.

What This Means for Passengers at SGN, HAN, and DAD Airports

The change may be most noticeable in the country's main international airports. For southern Vietnam, the key hub remains Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City. It is often used by tourists traveling to the Mekong, Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City city hotels, or for domestic transfers. If a trip begins or ends at SGN, it is worth checking the flight status in advance via the Tan Son Nhat online board, and also allowing extra time for control in the first days after the launch of the new rules.

For the north of the country, an important point will be Noi Bai Airport (HAN) in Hanoi. Passengers planning a trip to the capital, Sapa, Ninh Binh, or Halong Bay often combine an international flight, transfer, and an early departure from the city in one day. After July 1, it is better not to make such connections too tight. Before heading to the airport, the Noi Bai online board will be helpful, and for late arrivals or early departures, it is worth considering a hotel near HAN airport or a transfer from Hanoi airport in advance.

Da Nang also has separate significance, as Da Nang Airport (DAD) serves not only city trips but also beach holidays, Hoi An, and routes through central Vietnam. If a tourist flies during the high season or arrives as part of a group, the new declaration may affect the speed of completing formalities. For DAD, the Da Nang online board is also available, and for evening flights, it is worth choosing a taxi or transfer from Da Nang airport in advance to avoid wasting time after control.

What Transit Passengers Should Pay Attention To

A separate risk concerns transit. The government wording covers not only entry and exit but also transit through Vietnam. This means that passengers with connections in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City should not automatically assume that the new rule does not affect them. Those with separate tickets, those transferring from an international flight to a domestic one, those collecting baggage, changing terminals, or passing through immigration control should be especially careful.

British recommendations specifically remind that when transferring from an international flight to a domestic one in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, a passenger must pass immigration control and effectively enter Vietnam, even if the final destination of the route is outside the country. In such a situation, the medical declaration may not be a formality, but a part of the real border process. Therefore, for complex routes, it is worth contacting the airline or tour operator to clarify whether a declaration is required for your specific type of connection.

Practical Checklist Before the Trip

  • Check official instructions from the Vietnamese embassy or airline regarding the medical declaration form, especially if the electronic portal is still being updated.
  • Fill out the declaration within seven days before entry, exit, or transit, and not several weeks in advance.
  • Save an electronic confirmation or a paper copy if such a form is available or required.
  • Check if additional medical documents are needed if you arrive from a country or region where there is an outbreak of an infectious disease.
  • Do not confuse the medical declaration with a visa: passport, e-visa, visa-free period, and departure date stamp remain separate requirements.
  • Plan more time at the airport in the first days after July 1, when staff and passengers adapt to the new procedure.
  • For connections with domestic flights, leave a buffer, as additional control may affect the time between international arrival and the next departure.

Why This Is Important for the Tourism Market

Vietnam actively competes for tourists with Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, therefore any new rule at the border affects not only the passenger but also tour operators, hotels, airlines, and receiving companies. For organized groups, the main question is who will control the filling of declarations: the tourist independently, the agent before departure, or the group representative. For individual travelers, the key risk is simpler: not finding out about the rule before arriving at the airport and losing time on site.

On the other hand, the new system can make border medical control more predictable. If the form is clear, bilingual, and available online, the traveler can fulfill the requirement before leaving home. The quality of the launch will be of greatest importance: the availability of an official link, consistent instructions from airlines, clear rules for transit, and the absence of contradictory requirements in different airports.

Conclusion

Vietnam's new rule should not stop tourist trips, but it should be viewed as a mandatory part of the pre-flight check. The best strategy for a traveler is simple: a few days before the flight, check official instructions, fill out the declaration within the required timeframe, save the confirmation, allow sufficient time at the airport, and do not plan connections without a buffer. For a country that is rapidly growing its international tourism, this is a test of how convenient the new sanitary control will be for passengers, and for tourists, a reminder that even popular and open destinations can add new administrative steps just before the start of the high season.