Entering Vietnam in 2026 — are health declarations and quarantine still required, as during COVID-19? The short answer: there is NO longer a blanket mandatory health declaration for all arrivals. Border health quarantine continues, but as routine surveillance by the quarantine authority — not as an obligation for every passenger to self-declare.
1. The current legal framework: Disease Prevention Law 114/2025 + Decree 165/2026
All references to health declarations and border health quarantine must use the current framework: the Disease Prevention Law 114/2025/QH15 (passed 10/12/2025, effective 01/7/2026), which wholly replaces the 2007 Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (03/2007/QH12); and Decree 165/2026/ND-CP (issued 15/5/2026, effective 01/7/2026) detailing implementation. Never cite the 2007 law or Decree 89/2018/ND-CP as current authority (the parent law of Decree 89/2018 expired on 01/7/2026; the decree’s post-01/7/2026 validity is unverified).
2. Health declarations apply only by episode, by disease, by directive
Clause 2, Article 22 of Decree 165/2026/ND-CP provides that the Minister of Health guides the subjects and timing of health declarations at border gates for each infectious disease, based on the epidemic situation and entry risk at each point in time. In other words, health declaration is not a standing duty of every passenger — it applies only when directed, per disease and per period. COVID-19 health declarations at border gates were suspended from 00:00 on 27/4/2022 (Official Letter 2118/BYT-DP of 26/4/2022 from the Ministry of Health).
3. The “mandatory health declaration via tokhaiyte.vn from 01/7/2026” rumour is FALSE
The Ministry of Health has officially denied this rumour. Document 1065/PB-BTN of 25/6/2026 from the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health) states that the provisions of Decree 165/2026 “must not be understood as applying mandatorily and routinely to all persons entering, exiting or transiting at all times”; the Ministry does not use the tokhaiyte.vn website for health declarations. Where a declaration is required (under Decree 165/2026), it is made within 07 days before entry, exit or transit, electronically or on paper in the Ministry’s bilingual Vietnamese–English form — this article cites no specific article number (full text not yet cross-checked).
4. Border health quarantine continues — as routine surveillance
Under Decree 165/2026/ND-CP, border-gate quarantine officers monitor passenger health by direct observation and body-temperature screening; only when abnormal signs are detected do they conduct medical examinations, interviews, epidemiological data collection and control measures. This is a professional activity of the quarantine authority — it does not mean every passenger must self-declare, and there is no routine mandatory quarantine for healthy arrivals. Keep the two concepts strictly separate: health declaration (a passenger duty, only when directed) versus border health quarantine (routine surveillance by the quarantine authority). Do not conflate them — and do not write “there is no more health quarantine”.
5. Entry may still be refused on health grounds
Article 21 of the Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam (consolidated document 62/VBHN-VPQH) still permits refusal of entry: persons with mental illness or infectious diseases endangering public health (Clause 4); for epidemic prevention and control reasons (Clause 7, decided by the Minister of Health).
6. Documentary entry conditions still fully apply
Despite the end of blanket mandatory health declarations, entrants must still meet all documentary conditions under 62/VBHN-VPQH: a passport or other valid international travel document, a valid visa (except visa-exempt cases), and not falling within the cases of refused entry.
FAQs
Do I need a health-declaration app to enter in 2026?
No. There is no blanket mandatory health declaration, and the Ministry of Health confirms it does not use tokhaiyte.vn.
Will I be temperature-screened at the border gate?
Possibly — that is the border health quarantine authority’s routine surveillance; deeper medical checks happen only when abnormal signs are detected.
What is the fine for violating health-declaration rules?
This article states no penalty — the sanctioning instrument following the 2025 Disease Prevention Law has not been verified.
Need help with visa or residence procedures for foreign investors in Vietnam? Reach FLAT Law Firm via the Contact page.
The information above is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice.
Transparency note: This article was drafted by FLAT Law Firm\u2019s AI content production system and reviewed by the internal review board (AI Legal Council QA). It has not been reviewed by a human lawyer.
