Vietnam clarifies that new health declaration is not mandatory for all travelers from July 1

The Ministry of Health says the border health declaration framework exists but will only be triggered depending on the epidemiological situation, not applied automatically

Travelers heading to Vietnam do not need to fill out a health declaration as a matter of course from July 1, 2026. Despite expectations that a new border health form would become a standard requirement from today, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health issued a clarification on June 30, 2026, making clear that the formality is not being applied universally or automatically, according to a notice published on the Vietnamese government electronic newspaper website.

The distinction is important for anyone planning a trip to Vietnam. While Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP does establish a legal framework for requiring health declarations at the border, the ministry has confirmed that whether travelers actually have to complete one will depend entirely on the disease landscape at any given time.

What triggers the requirement

The health declaration is designed as a contingency tool, not a permanent fixture. Vietnamese authorities will decide whether to switch it on based on which infectious diseases are active globally, how serious the threat is, and how likely they are to reach Vietnamese soil through cross-border travel.

Until the ministry determines that conditions warrant activation, travelers arriving in, departing from, or passing through Vietnam are not expected to complete any health form alongside their eVisa, visa exemption, or Vietnam Arrival Card.

Do not use the tokhaiyte.vn website

The Ministry of Health has specifically warned that tokhaiyte.vn is not the platform being used for border health declarations. Travelers should not attempt to submit any health information through that address.

An official electronic system is currently being built, and the ministry says it will be publicly announced only when the declaration is actually required. Until that happens, there is no portal to visit and no form to complete.

What happens if it does get activated

Should the health declaration be triggered, travelers will be able to complete it either electronically or on paper. The form prepared by Vietnamese authorities is bilingual, in Vietnamese and English, and must be submitted within seven days before crossing any Vietnamese border checkpoint in either direction.

The Ministry of Health has also reserved the right to issue additional instructions targeting specific points of entry if a particular health situation demands it.

The Vietnam Arrival Card is a completely separate process

The health declaration should not be confused with the Vietnam Arrival Card, also known as the Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) system. The two serve entirely different purposes and fall under different government ministries.

The Vietnam Arrival Card gathers passport data, visa status, and trip logistics from foreign visitors ahead of arrival. It is an immigration formality, not a health one, and continues to operate at airports where it has been deployed. Travelers arriving through those entry points should still complete the Vietnam Arrival Card on the official immigration portal before reaching passport control, regardless of whether a health declaration is active or not.