On July 1, 2026, Vietnam's Ministry of Health stated that, as of July 1, 2026, the health declaration under Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP is not uniformly or permanently mandatory for all travelers entering, exiting, or transiting through Vietnam.
As of August 2026, therefore, not all travelers are required to submit a health declaration before traveling to Vietnam.
However, depending on future announcements from Vietnamese authorities, the health declaration could become mandatory, so it's worth keeping an eye on developments.
What Is the Health Declaration?
Overview of the Health Declaration
The health declaration is a system in which people entering, exiting, or transiting Vietnam declare their health status, aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of infectious diseases.
A new health declaration system under Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP took effect in Vietnam on July 1, 2026.
However,as of August 2026, foreign nationals entering Vietnam are not required to submit a health declaration in advance.
According to the Ministry of Health, whether to implement the health declaration is decided disease by disease, taking into account the global spread of infectious diseases and the risk of transmission into Vietnam, with the target group and implementation period set accordingly.
Why Was It Introduced?
The health declaration system is one of the border control measures aimed at reducing the risk of infectious diseases being brought in from overseas.
Vietnam also introduced health declarations during the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring both foreign nationals and Vietnamese citizens entering from abroad to submit one.
It's a system that allows the Ministry of Health to require health declarations from people entering, exiting, or transiting the country whenever it judges this necessary, such as during a global disease outbreak.
The Reality of the Health Declaration
As of August 2026, health declarations are not required of all travelers
As of August 2026, travelers visiting Vietnam from Japan for tourism are not required to submit a health declaration before their trip.
When the author entered Vietnam in late July 2026, no health declaration was requested either.
Since the requirements could change depending on future disease trends, be sure to check the latest information from the Vietnamese government or the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam before you travel.
No Dedicated Health Declaration Website Has Been Set Up Yet
As of August 2026, no website for health declarations has been set up.
If a health declaration becomes necessary in the future, Vietnam's Ministry of Health plans to officially announce the target group, the period, and the electronic declaration system to be used.
A Separate System from the "Pre-Arrival Information" Now in Place at Some Airports
Health Declaration vs. Pre-Arrival Information
| Procedure | Details | Status as of August 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) | Pre-registers personal and travel details for immigration | Trial run at some airports; registration is not mandatory |
| Health declaration | Declares health status, etc., for infectious disease control | As of August 2026, not uniformly required of all travelers |
The health declaration is a different system from the "Pre-Arrival Information (PAI)" that has been introduced at some airports in Vietnam since 2026.
Pre-Arrival Information is designed to speed up immigration screening by having travelers register passport and travel details in advance.
The health declaration, on the other hand, is a system for declaring health status and other information as needed, for the purpose of infectious disease control.
The names are similar but the purposes differ, so be careful not to confuse the two when preparing for your trip to Vietnam.
Reference Sites
- Vietnam Government News Portal | Health declaration not mandatory for all int'l travelers from July 1
(Updated July 1, 2026) - Embassy of Japan in Vietnam | On the Expansion of Airports Covered by the Trial Pre-Registration System for Foreign Nationals Entering Vietnam (Updated June 1, 2026)
Disclaimer and Notice
This article is based on information publicly available as of August 24, 2026. Details regarding the health declaration may be updated in the future.
Before traveling to Vietnam, please be sure to check the official websites of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam and the Vietnamese government.
