Table 1

Timelines of early border control measures in 2020 leading to the success of COVID-19 control in Vietnam

3 January 2020Strengthening of border control measures
23 January 2020Strengthening of border control measures, especially at the border with China; isolation of suspected cases
23 January 2020Vietnam cancelled all flights to Wuhan.
25 January 2020Health declaration was made mandatory for passengers arriving from China.
29 January 2020Suspending flights to and from affected areas in China
1 February 2020Suspending flights to and from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau
24 February 2020Health declaration was made mandatory for passengers arriving from Korea
28 February 2020Suspending visa-free policy for Korean citizens
1 March 2020Health declaration was made mandatory for passengers arriving from China, Korea, Italy and Iran. Suspected cases with fever, shortness of breath or cough were subjected to isolation.
6 March 2020Health declaration was made mandatory for all passengers arriving in Vietnam.
22 March 202014-day quarantine at centralised facilities was made mandatory for all arriving travellers.
21–23 March 2020Suspending flights to and from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, UK and Japan
27 March 2020Health-status update was made mandatory to all individuals entering Vietnam from 8 March onward to aid surveillance.
1 April 2020Closing of main and auxiliary border gates
August 2020Repatriation flights arranged for Vietnamese people stuck abroad and entry allowed for highly skilled workers