Tourism authorities in Phu Yen have decided to reopen the south-central Vietnamese province's doors to fully-vaccinated tourists following months of strict restrictions meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Last Sunday, Nguyen Thi Hong Thai, director of the Phu Yen Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, announced a pilot plan to welcome back tourists to the province this month under COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The province is currently considered a low-risk area, according to national criteria.

The plan calls for the province to welcome both Vietnamese citizens and expats on organized tours from Ho Chi Minh City.

Phu Yen residents or people on working trips from outside the province can either sign up for an organized tour or self-register with tourism services that comply with COVID-19 safety regulations.

Under the plan, visitors to the province must have a green pass, in either digital or paper form, which shows they have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine from legitimate state agencies, with the final shot taken no less than 14 days and no more than 12 months prior to their entry into the province.

Visitors to Phu Yen who do not have a green pass must have proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 within six months of their arrival to the province.

Travelers arriving in Phu Yen must comply with the 5K recommendations, namely 'Khau trang' (face mask donning) - 'Khu khuan' (disinfection) - 'Khoang cach' (distance) - 'Khong tu tap' (no gathering) - 'Khai bao y te' (health declaration), and other pandemic prevention and control measures required by the national and provincial authorities.

Travelers that show symptoms of COVID-19 must undergo testing, while those identified as direct or indirect contacts coming from restricted or high-risk areas must be quarantined.

The plan is to be applied to Tuy Hoa City, Song Cau Town, Dong Hoa Town, and Tuy An District where accommodation services, travel agencies, tourist sites, and units that provide tour services are required to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Business premises and tourist sites that adhere to COVID-19 prevention regulations and are able to welcome tourists include Ganh Da Dia (Da Dia Rapids), Bai Mon Beach – Dai Lanh Cape, Stelia Beach Resort, Zannier Bai San Ho Hotel, Sao Viet Resort, Sao Mai Resort, Rosa Alba Resort, Sala Tuy Hoa Beach Hotel, Sai Gon Phu Yen Hotel, Kaya Hotel, Hung Vuong hotel, Cong Doan Hotel, Royal Khanh Hotel, Joy House Hostel, and others.

According to director Thai, the plan for Phu Yen to receive tourists was designed following a 'travel bubble' tourism event on October 22 where ideas were floated about connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Yen.

Several travel agencies in Ho Chi Minh City have already contacted the south-central province to initiate tour packages from the city to Binh Dinh and Phu Yen.

From November 6 to 8, a tourism survey team from Tay Ninh Province also traveled to Phu Yen to develop a cooperative scheme appropriate for ‘new normal’ conditions.

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