Vietnam's New Mandatory Health Declaration: What Singaporean Travellers Need to Know Before 1 July 2026
In addition to the recently announced pre-arrival card.
Just a while back, Vietnam announced an e-arrival card for visitors. From 1st July 2026 onwards, all inbound, outbound, and transit travellers passing through the country's border gates have to fill in a mandatory health declaration. Here's everything you need to know before your next trip, and exactly what you have to do.
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Vietnam's new health declaration requirement
Under the new decree, every traveller entering, leaving, or transiting through Vietnam must complete a health declaration form before passing through any border checkpoint.
The regulation forms part of Vietnam's broader Law on Disease Prevention, which aims to strengthen the country's disease surveillance capabilities amid increasing international travel and trade activity.
When does it take effect?
The rule officially kicks in on 1 July 2026. If your trip falls on or after this date, you'll need to factor in the health declaration as part of your travel preparations.
Image credit: Da Nang International Airport
How to complete the health declaration
Vietnam's health declaration can be submitted in two ways:
- Electronically online or the Vietnam Health Declaration mobile application.
- On paper using a unified national template provided at border gates, but this is sometimes not available.
Step-by-step guide for online submission
1. Download the Vietnam Health Declaration app on your mobile device.
2. Select the "For domestic move declaration" tab (note: an international entry tab may also be available depending on your travel type).
3. Complete the form within 24 hours before your scheduled departure time.
4. Once submitted, you'll receive a QR code. Save a screenshot on your phone, or if you really want to, print it out.
5. Present the QR code at the border checkpoint upon arrival or departure.
The forms will be available in both Vietnamese and English. Additional languages may be introduced at specific checkpoints depending on disease control needs.
Will proof of vaccination be required?
Authorities may request proof of Covid vaccination or evidence of disease prevention measures when necessary. While this isn't a blanket requirement at the moment, it might be wise to keep your vaccination records accessible, particularly if there's an active outbreak or heightened alert at the time of your travel.
What happens at the border gate?
Once you arrive at a Vietnamese border checkpoint, health quarantine officers will monitor travellers through surveillance systems and screening equipment. This includes direct or indirect observation and body temperature checks.
If officers detect abnormal symptoms or potential health risks, they may:
- Inspect your travel documents
- Conduct interviews and collect epidemiological information
- Review any preventive measures you've previously undertaken
- Subject you to further medical checks
The government has stated that on-site medical inspection procedures will take no longer than two hours per case. For the vast majority of healthy travellers, the process should be seamless and add minimal time to your immigration experience.
Image credit: Vietnam Government News
Does this apply to transit passengers too?
Yes. Even if you're simply transiting through a Vietnamese airport without leaving the terminal, the health declaration requirement applies. Singaporean travellers connecting through Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi en route to other destinations should plan accordingly.
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Summary of what you need to know
To summarise, here's what you need to do before your next trip to Vietnam:
1. Download the Vietnam Health Declaration app before your trip.
2. Submit your form within 24 hours before departure.
3. Save or print your QR code.
4. Keep vaccination records handy, just in case.
With the recent uptick in disease prevention measures, it's important to keep yourself safe from disease exposure while traveling. Also, keep an eye on the latest travel news to the country you're headed to before you depart.
About Author
Her motto is "experience everything at least once". An adrenaline junkie at heart, she is always down for spontaneous adventure, especially to exotic destinations. She finds the most meaningful aspect of travel is cultural immersion, and talking to locals is an underrated travel hack.