Under the new rules, all inbound, outbound, and transit travelers will be required to complete health declarations before passing through Vietnamese border gates. The regulation will officially take effect on July 1, 2026.

According to Decree 165/2026/ND-CP, travelers may submit health declarations electronically or through paper forms issued under a unified national template. Authorities may also request proof of vaccination or evidence of disease prevention measures when necessary.

One of the most significant changes is the requirement that health declarations must be completed within seven days before entry, exit, or transit through Vietnam. The declaration forms will be available in both Vietnamese and English, while additional languages may be introduced depending on disease control needs at specific border checkpoints.

The decree also outlines detailed health quarantine procedures at border gates. Health quarantine officers will conduct direct or indirect observation of travelers and monitor body temperature and health conditions through surveillance systems and screening equipment to identify suspected infectious disease cases.

If abnormal symptoms or potential health risks are detected, quarantine officers may inspect travel documents, conduct interviews, collect epidemiological information, and review preventive measures previously applied by travelers. Individuals suspected of carrying infectious diseases may undergo further medical checks and health control measures in accordance with Vietnamese law.

The government stated that the maximum time allowed for on-site medical inspection procedures will not exceed two hours per case.

In addition to passengers, Vietnam’s health quarantine regulations will also apply to vehicles entering or leaving the country, imported and exported goods, human remains, ashes, biological samples, tissues, and human body parts transported across Vietnamese borders.

Article 20 of the Law on Disease Prevention specifies that health quarantine measures are mandatory at border checkpoints for all individuals, means of transport, goods, and biological materials crossing Vietnam’s borders.

The new regulation is expected to strengthen Vietnam’s disease surveillance system and improve the country’s ability to prevent cross-border transmission of infectious diseases amid growing international travel and trade activity.

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