"Vietnam has temporarily recognized vaccination certificates from 78 countries and territories," foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang confirmed at a press briefing.

A passenger at the Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi, October 2021.

The ministry earlier had named 72 countries and territories in the acceptance list. The six new countries announced Thursday are Canada, Iran, Iraq, Maldives, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Hang noted that Vietnamese authorities have acted urgently to complete software solutions to quickly issue the vaccine passports form according to international standards, with the quarantine period for certificate holders reduced to seven days.

On countries that recognize Vietnam's vaccine passport, Hang said Australia joined the group, which also includes the U.S., the U.K., Japan and Belarus.

Canada has agreed in principle, while members of the ASEAN bloc and the European Union, China and South Korea are still in the process of reviewing and waiting for Vietnam to come up with a consistent vaccine passport template, she said.

Responding to the question about the high demand among Vietnamese living abroad to visit Vietnam at the time of Tet, the Lunar New Year festival, Hang said the demand could be partly met if the government approves the suggestion of the Ministry of Transport to allow international flights to resume on nine routes from December 15.

The foreign ministry is continuing to cooperate with related parties to repatriate Vietnamese citizens from different locations in the world, based on their need, pandemic development and Vietnam's quarantine capacity, she added.

So far, nearly 200,000 Vietnamese have been brought back from 60 countries and territories on 800 repatriation flights.

Vietnam accepts vaccine passports from 72 countries, territories

Vietnam is temporarily accepting the vaccination certificates, otherwise known as “vaccine passports”, from 72 countries and territories worldwide recommended to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via representatives.

Vietnam recognises vaccination certificates, passports from 72 countries, territories

Vietnam has temporarily recognised vaccination certificates and vaccine passports by 72 countries and territories in line with the Government’s Resolution No.128/NQ-CP on safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of Covid-19 pandemic, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang.

Vietnam considers mutual recognition of vaccine passports with select countries

Vietnam is considering mutual recognition of vaccine passports with countries in Southeast Asia, China, Japan, South Korea, the EU and the U.S., the Government Office announced Sunday.

Van Don airport welcomes over 300 passengers from France with “vaccine passport”

Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on September 23 welcomed an international flight carrying 301 passengers from France, who are eligible for the pilot “vaccine passport” programme of the Ministry of Health.

"Digital health passport" key to unlocking border

Vietnam Airlines’ Flight VN310 between Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport and Tokyo’s Narita airport has been the first of the national flag carrier to pilot the application of the IATA Travel Pass.

Source: VnExpress