Dear Agent
We hope this letter finds you well.
We appreciate there is a lot of media about the Coronavirus epidemic – COVID -19 sending elements of fear into the minds of potential travelers to Vietnam.
We also appreciate that you and your travelers may have concerns. We would like to respond to those in regard to Vietnam, and its safety for travelers.
To address the most recent news concerning a community of 10,000 people being quarantined to their village in Son Loi, approximately 60kms north of Hanoi;
This recent quarantine measure in Son Loi is an example of Vietnam’s quick and decisive approach to mitigating risk. The community reported a 50-year-old man in Son Loi Commune, Binh Xuyen District in Vinh Phuc Province. He is the father of a 23-year-old patient among eight Vietnamese workers sent to Wuhan for training last November and confirmed positive for the virus in January. To stamp out any further spread, the government acted promptly by zoning off, and quarantining the affected region in total.
This approach, along with the following key actions has meant that in a population of approximately 96.2 million people, Vietnam has reported only 16 cases. Thankfully with good medical care, 7 of the patients have recovered and been released after receiving treatment.
Please see some of the current Vietnam government strategies in place to mitigate risk and manage the spread of the virus.
- Closure of overland border crossings between China and Vietnam. Travelers in more remote border crossings into Vietnam are being denied entry if they possess any China visa history in their passport.
- Vietnam stopped issuing visas for Chinese tourists on January 30 as a temporary measure. Flights to and from mainland China are suspended indefinitely.
- Foreign visitors who have visited China (including transit) 14 days prior to arrival will also be denied entry into Vietnam.
- Epidemic prevention training has been implemented for flight crews.
- 14 day quarantine of all travelers from affected areas in China
- Increased disease screening at International points of entry
- 4 hospitals designated by the ministry of health to handle potential cases
- Increased prevention measures adopted at all health care facilities
- 45 Quick Response Medical teams to set up and manage hospitals nationwide to handle cases if they appear.
- Cancellation of many festivals in Vietnam
- Temporary closure of public schools in 63 provinces
- Zone off and quarantine of affected areas in Vinh Phuc Province for 20 days
It is important to keep things in perspective and note that while the Virus has appeared worldwide:- In regard to Vietnam: * The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 appeared in Vietnam on Jan. 23, 2020. Of the confirmed infections in Vietnam to date, 13 are Vietnamese, two are Chinese and one is American.
The confirmed infections were found in the northern province of Vinh Phuc (11), in Ho Chi Minh City (3), Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province (1), and Thanh Hoa (1).
ITS Vietnam is taking its own steps to manage traveller safety. All our office and ground staff have been fully trained and are versed in all the recommended safety measures. In addition, we are checking all eateries on our tours to ensure they are well informed and pay close attention to the cooking process and ingredients used.
We recognise that while the virus continues to plague our world, in Vietnam we are doing our very best to ensure traveller safety and protect our borders.
Please see below the links that may provide you more in-depth information for your customers.
https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnam-business-operations-and-the-coronavirus-updates.html/
https://vietnam.travel/things-to-do/information-travellers-novel-coronavirus-vietnam
We are here to answer any queries you have, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to seeing you in Vietnam very soon.
Kind regards
Thuy Tran
CEO ITS Vietnam