Vietnam is preparing to introduce a new health framework for international travelers.
Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP, published by the Vietnamese government, sets out several provisions under the Law on Disease Prevention and details health quarantine procedures at border checkpoints. The decree is due to take effect on July 1, 2026.
According to information published by the Vietnamese government portal, travelers entering, leaving or transiting through Vietnam will have to use the health declaration form attached to the decree. The declaration must be completed within seven days before entering, leaving or transiting through a Vietnamese border checkpoint.
A declaration available online or on paper
The decree states that the health declaration may be completed electronically or in paper form. The form must be available in Vietnamese and English, with the possibility of adding other languages depending on the global health situation and the needs identified at certain entry points.
At this stage, however, Vietnamese authorities have not announced a dedicated official link for the new health declaration.
The recently launched “Pre-Arrival Information” portal, introduced for Vietnam’s digital arrival declaration, does not currently include any health-related questions. It could, however, be updated soon to incorporate the new declaration.
Travelers will therefore need to wait for further instructions from Vietnamese authorities, particularly the Ministry of Health, to learn which submission channels will be used, whether online forms will be made available and what practical requirements will apply depending on the point of entry.
Stronger health checks at border checkpoints
The decree also provides for health monitoring of travelers at border checkpoints. Health quarantine officers may observe passengers’ health condition, check their body temperature and detect possible signs of communicable diseases.
In cases of suspected illness, authorities may carry out a more detailed screening. This may include an interview, the collection of epidemiological information, a review of preventive measures already taken or, if necessary, additional medical checks. The decree sets a maximum time of two hours per person for this more detailed screening.
Travelers may also be asked to provide proof of vaccination or other preventive measures if Vietnam’s Ministry of Health requires it in a specific health context.
A measure tied to the prevention of communicable diseases
The new procedure is part of Vietnam’s system for preventing and controlling communicable diseases. The decree specifies that the Ministry of Health may adjust health declaration requirements based on changes in the global epidemiological situation and the risk of diseases being introduced into Vietnam.
The Vietnamese government portal also states that, in the event of an infectious disease outbreak, the Ministry of Health will issue additional instructions on health declarations to be completed at border checkpoints.
The announcement comes as several Asian countries strengthen health surveillance measures at their borders, particularly in response to the risk of importing emerging or re-emerging diseases. For travelers, the new requirement could become another formality to check before departure, alongside the electronic visa (e-Visa), visa exemption or digital arrival card already being rolled out in Vietnam.
