Con Dao Islands off southern Vietnam coast.
Photo by VnExpress/Ngo Tran Hai An

Con Dao, Quang Binh and Thanh Hoa are among a handful of localities preparing to open their doors to fully vaccinated domestic tourists from mid-October.

On Oct. 15-16, Con Dao Island in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau plans to welcome first visitors on charter flights from Ho Chi Minh City after more than three months of tourism closure.

Each flight will carry a maximum 45 passengers joining a seven-night tour package at the five-star Six Senses Con Dao, the only five-star beach resort in the Con Dao archipelago.

Tourists must be fully vaccinated, with the second dose administered at least 14 days before arrival or furnish a certificate showing they had contracted and recovered from Covid. They need to show a negative Covid certificate using the PCR method within 72 hours before departure.

Tourists would only be allowed to join activities inside the resort and would be tested every three to six days to ensure safety.

The Grand Ho Tram Strip tourism complex, Melia Ho Tram beach resort and Binh Chau Hot Spring Resort in Xuyen Moc District would also reopen their doors to domestic tourists arriving by road from later this week.

Authorities in Quang Binh Province, home to UNESCO-protected Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and the world's largest cave Son Doong, also allowed travel agencies to receive domestic tourists from areas not under lockdown starting from the middle of this month.

They would only be allowed to join tour packages with no more than 20 people and comply with pandemic prevention measures.

Currently, there is one daily return flight from HCMC to Quang Binh.

Authorities in Thanh Hoa Province have given the greenlight for FLC Sam Son Beach & Golf Resort and Pu Luong Tourist Area to welcome back fully immunized domestic tourists this month but the exact date has not been revealed.

There is one daily flight from HCMC to Thanh Hoa and another from Thanh Hoa to Lam Dong Province, home to Da Lat.

Authorities in the northern province of Quang Ninh, home to Ha Long Bay, plan to welcome back inter-provincial tourists to Tuan Chau International Tourist Area and Yen Tu tourist site from next month.

Authorities in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong may also allow domestic tourists to Da Lat and Bao Loc from next month.

In addition to vaccination requirements, visitors are required to book a package tour with a designated travel agency and have medical and travel insurance.

Earlier this month, Hoa Binh Province and Sa Pa, a famous resort town in Lao Cai Province, reopened to fully immunized domestic tourists.