The first international tourists to arrive in Vietnam under the pilot program

The flight VN417 brings the first international tourists to arrive in Vietnam under the pilot program with holding vaccine passports since the COVID-19 outbreak in March last year. This event opened the good news for the Vietnam tourism industry after many difficult months because of the pandemic.

Pilot flight to bring international tourists to Vietnam

According to information of vtv.vn, Mr. Brunner Peter, a Swiss tourist, was one of the first international tourists on flight VN417. He said he had to wait for many months to come to Vietnam. As soon as Vietnam reopened to welcome guests, he registered to be the first to come. He want to come back to visit his relatives and rest here.

Passengers on flight VN417 are different nationalities including South Korea, US, UK, etc. The majority of tourists in this group will follow a closed tour itinerary to Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. 

The other 4 localities that are allowed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to pilot welcoming international tourists in phase 1 consist of Phu Quoc Island (Kien Giang), Khanh Hoa, Da Nang and Quang Ninh. Currently, these localities have also cooperated with airlines and tour operators to have specific plans to serve international tourists which are expected to be only a few days after Quang Nam.

The localities have completed the preparation and are ready to welcome visitors

Da Nang International Airport has also set up 9 PC-COVID scanning checkpoints to control medical declarations. Temporary isolation areas at the airport and operating headquarters have also been arranged to ready support all passengers. Da Nang City has completed the second injection for nearly 11,000 workers in the tourism industry. Currently, the city's Department of Tourism has received many requests from travel businesses to plan to welcome visitors.

"Currently, there are a number of Korean travel businesses, or businesses exploiting the Russian tourist market, which are also working with the Department to plan to serve tourists," said Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism.

16 flights bringing a total of more than 4,000 tourists from Korea and Thailand will arrive in Khanh Hoa Province from this month to early next year. The first group of tourists is expected to land on November 25. This is the plan sent by a travel business to Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism.

The department informed that the preparations have been completed and Cam Ranh long beach will be the chosen place to serve tourists according to the closed program.

"Firstly, the accommodations here are both safe and able to meet the needs of tourists. Besides, this area is also separate and far away from the community," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Thanh - Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Tourism.

Phu Quoc Island City (Kien Giang province) is also expected to welcome the first group of tourists coming from Korea on November 20. To prepare for the reopening plan, Phu Quoc vaccinated for labors in the tourism industry and also inhabitants over 18 years old on the island.

Launching promotions, attracting international visitors

After the Government of Vietnam agreed with pilot plan to reopen for international tourists in 5 provinces and cities across the country, travel agents and accommodation establishments in the localities have prepared new products, focusing on all-inclusive service experiences. The tour programs must ensure safe and comfortable, to make tourists enjoy and discover the beauty of the places they come.

Besides, Vietnam Airlines has officially received the license to operate regular non-stop commercial flights between Vietnam and the US. And on November 28, the first flight will take off, which will make it easier for American tourists to come to Vietnam, helping the tourism industry recover gradually after the pandemic.