Vietnam will expand its health declaration regime from July 1, 2026, requiring all travellers entering, exiting, or transiting through the country to submit a health declaration as part of new disease-prevention regulations. The measure, introduced under Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP and linked to Vietnam's new Law on Disease Prevention, comes as the country continues to record strong international tourism growth and seeks to strengthen border health security without reversing its broader tourism liberalisation agenda.
For travel management companies (TMCs), airlines, tour operators and destination marketing organisations (DMOs), the change adds a new compliance requirement for travellers while reinforcing Vietnam's position as one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing inbound destinations.
What Are the Requirements?
Beginning July 1, 2026, all inbound, outbound and transit passengers will be required to complete a health declaration within seven days before travel through a Vietnamese border checkpoint. The declaration may be submitted electronically or on paper and will initially be available in Vietnamese and English.
Under the new regulations:
Travellers entering, leaving or transiting Vietnam must complete a health declaration. Authorities may request proof of vaccination or other disease-prevention measures when deemed necessary.
Health quarantine officers will conduct monitoring and may perform epidemiological interviews or document checks if travellers show signs of infectious disease. Additional health-screening measures may be activated during periods of heightened disease risk.
The move follows Vietnam's recent digitalisation efforts, including the launch of an online pre-arrival declaration system at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport earlier this year.
What Is Vietnam's Visa Criteria?
Despite the tighter health controls, Vietnam remains one of the most accessible destinations in Southeast Asia from a visa perspective.
The country's flagship e-visa program allows travellers from eligible markets to obtain visas valid for up to 90 days with single or multiple entries. Applications are processed online through the national e-visa platform.
Vietnam has also expanded visa-free travel significantly: Citizens of 13 key tourism markets—including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus—can enter visa-free for up to 45 days. Additional European markets including Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and others have benefited from expanded visa-waiver programs introduced since 2025.
ASEAN travellers continue to enjoy varying levels of visa-free access, supporting strong regional traffic flows. The combination of a 90-day e-visa and broader visa exemptions has been a key driver behind Vietnam's tourism recovery and growing appeal among long-haul travellers.
What Remain Its Main Source Markets and How Has the West Asia Conflict Impacted This?
Vietnam's international tourism recovery continues to be driven primarily by Northeast Asia, with China and South Korea remaining its two largest source markets. South Korea has consistently ranked as Vietnam's leading inbound market in recent years, supported by extensive air connectivity and strong leisure, business and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel demand. China has rebounded strongly following the restoration of outbound travel, reclaiming its position as one of Vietnam's most important visitor markets.
Other major source markets include Taiwan, Japan and the United States, all of which benefit from strong airline networks and growing demand for leisure and business travel. Within Southeast Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia continue to generate significant visitor volumes due to proximity and visa facilitation measures.
Europe has emerged as a key growth region following Vietnam's expanded visa-waiver policies. Important European source markets include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia and the Nordic countries, with arrivals from Western Europe benefiting from longer visa-free stays and increasing airline capacity. According to Vietnam's tourism authorities, the country's top international source markets in 2025 and early 2026 were broadly:
- South Korea
- China
- Taiwan
- United States
- Japan
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- India
- Singapore
- Cambodia
Northeast Asia accounts for the largest share of arrivals, while Europe and North America tend to generate higher-spending, longer-stay visitors. Meanwhile, India has emerged as one of Vietnam's fastest-growing outbound source markets, supported by expanded direct air services and increasing leisure demand.
As Vietnam heads into the 2026 summer season, tourism growth is expected to be underpinned primarily by continued strength from South Korea and China, alongside accelerating arrivals from Europe as travellers take advantage of the country's liberalised visa policies.
On one hand, Vietnam has limited direct dependence on Middle Eastern source markets compared with destinations such as Thailand or the UAE. Consequently, the immediate demand impact is expected to be modest. However, the conflict has affected aviation through higher operational costs, route adjustments and concerns around airspace management, particularly for carriers connecting Europe and Asia through Gulf hubs.
Should fuel prices remain elevated or airlines continue rerouting around conflict zones, Vietnam could see higher airfares from Europe and certain long-haul markets during the summer season. Vietnam remains competitive due to its relatively low on-ground travel costs and favorable visa policies. While Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) arrivals remain a niche segment, premium leisure and MICE travel from the UAE and Saudi Arabia have shown gradual growth in recent years.
Vietnam's latest health declaration requirement reflects a broader strategy of balancing public-health preparedness with tourism growth. While travellers will face an additional pre-travel step from July 1, the country's liberal visa policies, expanding air connectivity and strong demand from Northeast Asia and Europe suggest that inbound tourism growth is likely to remain resilient through the 2026 summer season.
