Quarantine Period Shortened to '1 Week'... Talks to Resume Business Trips to Vietnam via 'Vaccine Track'

First Case of Entry via 'Vaccine Track'... Regularization Talks with Vietnamese Government Planned

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] A case has emerged where a Korean businessperson made a special entry into Vietnam through the ‘Vaccine Track,’ which reduces the quarantine period from the original two weeks to one week for those who have completed vaccination. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) plans to continuously negotiate with the Vietnamese government to regularize the 'Vaccine Track.'

On the 19th, KCCI announced that for the first time, a business delegation that had completed vaccination entered Vietnam on the condition of a shortened quarantine period. This delegation consisted of 84 essential personnel from 50 invested companies, all of whom had completed COVID-19 vaccination and obtained entry approval from the Vietnamese government.

Upon entering Vietnam, the delegation submitted vaccination certificates and, once a negative PCR test was confirmed, the facility quarantine period was shortened from the original 14 days to 7 days. After release from facility quarantine, travelers must undergo a 7-day health monitoring period.

Due to the continued spread of COVID-19, Vietnam had previously required 28 days of facility quarantine, including self-quarantine, for entry from abroad. The ‘Vaccine Track’ differs from previous special entry procedures by reducing the quarantine period, thereby lowering the burden on business travelers in terms of quarantine costs and activity restrictions.

With Korean businesspeople finding it difficult to enter Vietnam due to COVID-19, KCCI found a breakthrough in ‘vaccination.’ The KCCI Vietnam office, through persistent persuasion of local private networks, prompted Vietnamese authorities to introduce the ‘Vaccine Track,’ which shortens the quarantine period for vaccinated individuals. The Korean Embassy in Vietnam also provided unwavering support by sending multiple official requests to the local government regarding the Vaccine Track.

Accordingly, on the 4th, the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s Office officially confirmed the criteria for shortening the quarantine period for those who have completed vaccination and instructed relevant ministries to review it. As the first case, the business delegation organized by KCCI was able to receive entry approval.

Companies on business trips have faced many difficulties due to the absence of technicians at production sites in Vietnam, but they say the ‘Vaccine Track’ has provided relief.

As the global supply chain shifts accelerate toward ASEAN, demand for stable entry and exit to major production bases such as Vietnam for Korean companies is increasing. Business representatives unanimously agreed that procedures for vaccination and preparation of entry approval documents to reduce quarantine periods must be clearly established.

Meanwhile, with the Vietnamese government banning foreign entry since March 22 of last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19, KCCI has supported special entry for businesspeople in cooperation with related ministries such as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The number of special entry users has reached a total of 4,453 essential personnel and family members from 2,091 companies to date. Starting with the first visit on April 29 last year, a total of 23 trips have been conducted, and no business travelers have tested positive for COVID-19 so far.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.