Health Alert – U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City – COVID-19 Update (May 7, 2021)
Location: Vietnam
Due to heightened risk of COVID-19 in Vietnam, the Vietnamese Government is increasing restrictions on movement and calling for increased vigilance. Starting May 5, the Government of Vietnam instituted a 21-day quarantine period. Please see this link for additional information on how this impacts persons currently in quarantine.
Please note quarantine periods may be extended without prior notice. U.S. citizens considering travel to or within Vietnam, especially from locations the Vietnamese government has designated or determined to be an “outbreak area,” may be subject to testing, quarantine, and lockdowns, sometimes with little or no advance notice. The U.S. Mission in Vietnam may not intervene in these policies in any way.
Since April 27, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has confirmed 121 new cases of community transmission in Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Ha Nam, Bac Ninh, Da Nang, Thai Binh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Nam, Dong Nai, Quang Ngai, Lang Son, and Yen Bai, prompting the isolation of specific areas, large-scale contact tracing, and closure of businesses.
Vietnamese authorities are urging people to follow COVID-19 prevention measures; especially mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing guidelines. Cities in Vietnam have been asked to limit mass gatherings and quarantine facilities to strengthen medical surveillance.
The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City encourage U.S. citizens to abide by all Government of Vietnam directives. U.S. citizens should refrain from gathering in large groups and monitor local news and government restrictions to avoid travel disruptions. U.S. citizens are reminded that they are subject to Vietnamese laws and regulations while in Vietnam and that Government of Vietnam regulations regarding quarantine and travel restrictions in all parts of Vietnam can change with little notice.
We recommend U.S. citizens check the Embassy’s COVID-19 page daily for information and register or update their information with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).