HCMC – Khanh Hoa Province will welcome back the first Russian tourists on December 26 after nearly two years of shutting its doors to international travelers to prevent the spread of the Covid pandemic, said a local tourism official.
Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, said that the department was working with several relevant units and Anex Tour to receive the first Russian travelers.
“This is the first group of Russian tourists to return to the province after inbound tourism was interrupted due to the pandemic in March last year,” she said.
From now until March 2022, two flights will transport over 300 Russian visitors each to the central coastal province each week.
The Russian tourists will stay at hotels and resorts in Cam Lam District, including Selectum Noa Resort Cam Ranh and Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa, and take tours to multiple tourist sites permitted to serve international tourists in the province.
Before the Covid pandemic emerged in Vietnam, China and Russia were Khanh Hoa’s two largest source markets. Russian tourists mainly traveled to the province on chartered flights and enjoyed a multi-day stay at seaside resorts.
Besides Anex Tour, some other tour operators are also planning to welcome back Russian tourists.
Hoang Thi Phong Thu, chairman of Pegas Misr Vietnam Travel, said that the company expected quarantine restrictions on international tourists to be relaxed to make it easier for welcoming back international visitors.
“The firm is planning to take Russian travelers back to the province in the first quarter of next year,” Thu said.
From January 1, 2022, fully vaccinated people and those who have recovered from Covid-19 entering Vietnam will only need to self-quarantine at their residences for three days instead of staying at centralized quarantine centers for seven days, according to a recent decision of the Ministry of Health.
However, the regulation is applied for passengers on board commercial flights, while international visitors on board chartered flights must await more guidance.
Khanh Hoa, Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang, Danang, Quang Ninh and Quang Nam have been allowed to resume inbound travel. To date, Khanh Hoa, Phu Quoc and Quang Nam have seen international travelers returning.
On January 7, Quang Ninh Province will receive the first foreign visitors from South Korea.
