Travel Safety Tips for Coronavirus (Covid-19) in Vietnam

What to know before reading Travel Safety Tips for Coronavirus in Vietnam?

Follow the link Coronavirus Live Updates in Vietnam to learn more about the number of confirmed cases, the number of recovered cases, disease areas and other information before continuing reading. Is it safe to travel to Vietnam after Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan and other countries?

What to bring with you on the trip to Vietnam?

The number of disposable medical face masks should be enough. I would like to recommend to bring at least 7 masks if you are in Vietnam for 7 days. You should choose the types of masks recommended by WHO. It is better to bring one more reusable fabric face mask. There is no clear information about the lack of masks in Vietnam. You will not spend time to reach reliable convenience stores or drugstores to buy good quality masks on your trip. The masks are recommended to wear when you are on the streets, on public transport vehicles, tours, at airports, railway stations. When you talk to your receptionist, you should not take off the mask.

Sanitizers are usually recommended to bring on trips to other countries. When Coronavirus has not been controlled well by the world, sanitizer is a must on any trip. You should not buy one or two antibacterial hand sanitizers which are portable and light.

Gloves are great things to bring and use on your trip. Disposable gloves are better in my opinion. You may not wear them all the time but you should put them on at public places, shopping centers, crowded tourist attractions.

You can bring your own blanket and pillow cover and towels.

Vitamin C or multivitamins help you to bolster your defenses in a country which weather is different from the weather in your living place.

How to be safe on tours in Vietnam?

To do lists

Must-do #1: wearing masks. Where and when should you wear masks? Please read more trusted information yourself because the recommendation has been changed every day. However, I would like to recommend to wear masks at public places, on buses, motorbikes, taxis, airplanes, at airports, bus stations, railway stations, parks, shopping centers, markets and tourist attractions. It is better to wear masks when you are in contact with the staff and other guests in your hotel.

Must-do #2: washing your hands for several times. You can wash your hands at restrooms. Automatic faucets and doors are recommended.

Must-do #3: live airports, railway stations, bus stations as soon as possible.

Must-do #4: stay away from the crowd.

Recommended things to do:

Buy and consumed packed foods and drinks instead of unpacked ones. For example, a packed cake is safer than unpacked cakes arranged on shelves at this time. Canned or bottled drinks are better choices.

Taxis are better than public buses although taxi fare is more expensive. I would like to recommend to ask the driver to wear a mask, tell the drivers to open the windows and turn off the air conditioner. You can leave your luggage in the trunk yourself.

Be careful when you are in minivans or buses on tours. Ask your tour guide and driver to wear masks.

Customize your plan. You can choose to visit less-known and non-touristic places instead of tourist attractions.

Change your clothes after going out or at the end of the tours. Use laundry services in your hotel. You should not put dirty clothes in bags and bring them home in order to save money. Tell the staff to wash your clothes and accessories as soon as possible.

It is better to pay online instead of USD or VND cash which can spread diseases.

Booking tours online and pay by credit cards, you do not need to walk around, stop at offices and book some tours or services.

Hot foods are good choices. A bowl of rice noodle soups (Pho, Hue beef noodle soup, Crab noodle soup), Hot congee, Hot pots, Soups are cooked and served with high temperature. These noodle soups are usually served with vegetables and herbs. Tell them to blanch the veggies for you. Pizzas, pasta, stir-fried dishes, grilled foods and foods which are served right after cooking.

Stay away from cold foods and finger foods. Banh mi or Vietnamese bread with vegetables, cold cuts, patee are not good choices. Salads, Rice noodles with grilled pork, Kebab rice noodles are not very safe. You can eat finger foods by chopsticks, forks, spoons and knives.

Ask for private portions of meals, for example, a plate of Steamed rice and main dishes for only you. You should use private dining wares. In Vietnam, they sometimes serve lots of dishes on the tables, the others use their chopsticks/spoons/forks to get foods from the plates/bowls. It is not safe to eat with other people in your group like that.

Consider

Should I swim in swimming pools or the sea? It is difficult to answer because we do not know if Coronavirus survives in seawater. We are not sure if the virus survives after the swimming pool sanitation.

Eating street foods. Although some food stalls offer safe and great foods, exploring delicious foods is one of the purposes of traveling Vietnam, you should choose the best street food eateries.

Drinking craft beers. Drink canned and bottled beers without ice are safe. Craft beers are less safe. But I think it is rather safe to drink craft beers.

Which destinations are safe for Coronavirus in Vietnam?

Updates:

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Live Updates in Vietnam

Until 6th March 2020, there is no case has been reported aft 16th cases in Vietnam.

From 7th to 9th March, there are 14 new cases were confirmed, 12 of them flew on the same flight VN54 from the UK, landing at Noi Bai International Airport at 4:30 AM on 2nd March. Most of the 12 cases are on the same flight as Nguyen Hong Nhung – 17th case.

Until 9th March, Vietnam confirmed new patients who have been in hospitals in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Quang Nam, Lao Cai, Hue, Da Nang.

Until 10th March, a new patient (case 34) confirmed in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province.

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Live Updates in Vietnam

The following information is updated until 8th February:

North Vietnam

All answers for recently asked questions about Coronavirus in Vietnam are not easy to answers. Until 8th February 2020, there are 13 people tested positive for the virus. They are living in Vinh Phuc (8 people), Ho Chi Minh City (3 people), Khanh Hoa (1 person), Thanh Hoa (1 person).

The main reason why it has the largest number of Coronavirus patients is that there are 8 workers of Nihon Plast who were in Wuhan, returned to Vietnam on 17th January 2020. 6 of them tested positive for Coronavirus and one of the infected people transmitted the virus to her mother and younger sister. The 8th person tested positive for Coronavirus on 8th January 2020. (Source: vnexpress.net). One more person tested positive for the virus in Vinh Phuc in 9th February.

Hanoi capital – one of the top tourist destinations in Vietnam is about 60 km from Vinh Phuc Province. However, Hanoi is still safe until now.

Sapa in Lao Cai is next to the border with China. The government ordered tourism companies to stop taking Chinese tourists to the province via Lao Cai International Border Gate on 27th January 2020. (Source: tuoitre.vn).

Halong Bay in Quang Ninh is about 170 km from Mong Cai Border Checkpoint and has welcomed a large number of Chinese tourists. Quang Ninh government order to control people crossing Mong Cai, Bac Phong Sinh, Hoanh Mo Border Checkpoint and many sanctions to protect the province from Coronavirus.

Central Vietnam

Nha Trang, Hoi An, Da Nang are three top destinations in the country. They attracted a large number of Chinese tourists during the lunar New Year festival.

Central Vietnam is safe for Cororavirus, except for Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. A receptionist was transmitted by the first two people tested positive for Conronavirus. From 17th February 2020, it was confirmed that there is no new case in Nha Trang after 30 days from the first and the only case in the city. So that Nha Trang is safe now.

According to Da Nang Tourism Department, there were 4,700 guests on World Dream Cruise stopped in Da Nang and Khanh Hoa on 21st and 22nd January 2020. There is one Chinese tourist in the cruise tested positive for Coronavirus. It is more than 14 days from 22nd January so that we do not need to worry about that. (Source: zing.vn).

South Vietnam

The two first cases have traveled from Hanoi to Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Long An from 13th to 17th January 2020. They are treated in Cho Ray Hospital. Until now, they have not transmitted the virus to more people.

A Vietnamese American tested positive for the virus in Ho Chi Minh City on 2nd Feb 2020. He was a transit passenger in Wuhan Tianhe International Airport on flight 660 of China Southern Airlines on 15th January 2020, then lived in a hotel in Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. On 27th January, he had a cough. On 31st January, he was brought to the Tropical Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City. The hotel and the neighboring area had been disinfected, the staff and other guests have been isolated.

Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest city in Vietnam, with the biggest international airport in the country. It welcomes not only tourists but also businessmen from other countries every day. The government has done so much in order to stop the new Coronavirus from spreading any further.

Mekong Delta region, consisting of Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, An Giang, Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Dong Thap are safe until now.

I hope that the Travel Safety Tips for Coronavirus in Vietnam is helpful to you. All advice and tips are not the answers to your questions about the new virus. You will decide when to travel to Vietnam and what to do on your trip. Happy travel 😉

Note: The number, bans, and sanctions are updated until 8th January 2020.