Vietnam, Japan to allow resumption of short-term business trips

Vietnam will be the third country to which the Japanese government has allowed short-term visitors to travel back-and-forth, following Singapore and the Republic of Korea.

The Japanese government plans to exempt these travellers from the 14-day quarantine if they meet the following requirements: They are tested for the SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 prior to departure and upon arrival; provide their itinerary in advance; and only travel to work-related locations.

The two sides are also considering agreeing to a summit meeting when Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga makes his first overseas trip to Vietnam in mid-October.

As of 2019, there were 1,943 Japanese companies operating in Vietnam, double what it was 10 years ago. There were also about 40,000 business travellers from Vietnam in 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation.

Vietnam has succeeded in curbing the spread of COVID-19 infections in recent times, which has led the Japanese government to make its latest decision.

Business travel for medium- to long-term residents, such as corporate expatriates, resumed in July.