Vietnam Requires Health Declaration for Arrivals from 1 July
Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has confirmed that a mandatory digital health declaration form will apply to all travellers entering, exiting, or transiting through Vietnamese airports from 1 July 2026. The requirement represents the most significant change to Vietnam’s entry process in recent years and applies regardless of nationality, vaccination status, or length of stay.
The form must be submitted no more than seven days before the date of travel. Travellers arriving in Hanoi (Noi Bai International), Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat and the new Long Thanh International Airport), Da Nang, and other major international airports will also be subject to temperature checks and health screenings on arrival. The declaration collects basic health information including recent travel history, any active symptoms, and contact details for tracing purposes.
How it differs from the existing digital arrival card
The health declaration is a separate requirement from the digital arrival card that Vietnam introduced earlier in 2026 as a replacement for the paper disembarkation form. Travellers must complete both. The arrival card covers immigration and customs data; the health declaration addresses public health oversight. Failing to submit either document may result in boarding denial at origin airports or delays at Vietnamese immigration counters.
The form is expected to be available through the same official immigration portal used for the digital arrival card - prearrival.immigration.gov.vn - with a mobile app option for submission. We recommend consulting the Vietnam visa and entry guide closer to your travel date for the direct portal link and step-by-step instructions once the system opens.
Airlines are expected to begin checking for health declaration QR codes at check-in from 1 July, similar to how some carriers verified COVID-era travel documentation. Passengers who have not completed the form before reaching the airport may be turned away from the gate.
Practical notes for travellers
Travellers on long-haul connections via Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or other transit hubs should note that the seven-day submission window is calculated from the scheduled entry date into Vietnam, not from the first departure airport. If you are spending two days in a transit hub before your Vietnam leg, you can complete the form up to seven days before your Vietnam arrival date - you do not need to wait until you board your connecting flight.
Those with pre-existing health conditions or who have recently travelled through regions flagged by Vietnamese authorities may be directed to secondary health screening on arrival, which can add 20–40 minutes to the immigration process. Arriving on early-morning long-haul flights, which tend to clear immigration more quickly, is a practical way to minimise potential delays.
Temperature scanners at Vietnamese airports are calibrated at 37.5°C as the threshold for secondary screening. Normal travel-related dehydration or fatigue will not trigger this, but travellers running a fever should be aware they may face additional checks and potential referral to airport health facilities.
We cover recommended vaccinations and current health advisories in our health and vaccinations guide for Vietnam.
Context
Vietnam is targeting 25 million international arrivals in 2026, and the new health declaration reflects the government’s effort to maintain public health monitoring during a period of record inbound tourism. A dengue fever surge is currently active across southern and central Vietnam, and the health declaration system also helps authorities track and respond to disease clusters associated with international travel. For visitors looking to protect themselves against medical costs and trip disruption, Vietnam travel insurance provides cover for illness, hospitalisation, and emergency repatriation. The country’s Da Nang International Fireworks Festival runs through July, and the peak summer travel window brings high volumes through all major gateways - completing the form in advance will help avoid queues at arrival.