On December 24, 2021, the Ministry of Health issued Official Letter No. 10943/BYT-MT providing medical guidance on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 for people allowed to enter Vietnam for short-term work (under 14 days). Accordingly, those who are allowed to enter Vietnam to work for a short time will “not have to undergo medical isolation” but must strictly and fully comply with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, the scheme, approved plan, no contact with the community, ensuring safety for short-term entry and those in contact, no cross-contamination during work and no infection in the community. In case an immigrant plans to work and operate in many localities, it is necessary to have a clear plan for moving and be approved by the relevant locality specifically as follows:

• Before entry must have:

– A negative test result for SARS-CoV-2 before entry.
– A valid certificate of international health insurance or a commitment to pay the patient’s treatment costs. Inviting units and organizations in case the entry is infected with COVID-19.
– If you have received a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, you need to have documents certifying as prescribed.

• At the place of entry must:

– Present a certificate of negative SARS-CoV-2 test result.
– Present a certificate of vaccination or certificate of recovery from the COVID-19 (if any).
– Strictly comply with 5K regulations, install and use the medical declaration application (PC-COVID) during your stay in Vietnam.
– To be transported to the place of residence and moved according to the plan, the work plan under regulations.

• At the place of residence:

– Separate accommodation must be arranged for people on entry at the place of residence for convenient monitoring and management.
– Arrange a separate room/area to take samples for SARS-COV-2 testing at the accommodation to collect samples for all people on entry (sampling rooms/area must be arranged separately, convenient for travel; In case it is not possible to arrange a separate room/area, samples can be taken at the guest room on arrival).
– Organization of sampling, testing SARS-COV-2 (RT-PCR technique with/RT-LAMP) at the place of stay for all entry:
+ For cases that have injected enough doses of vaccine or had recovered from COVID-19: (i) staying for less than 3 days: testing once on the first day; (ii) stay for 03 days or more: test 02 times on the first day and the third day.
+ For other cases: test 3 times on the first day, day 3, and day 7.
+ If the test result is positive for SARS-CoV-2, follow the instructions.

In addition, the person entering, the person in close contact with the person on the entry, the organization inviting the person on the entry must meet the requirements for means of transportation, at work, in meetings, and to sign under regulations.

This Decree takes effect from December 24, 2021.