Two great countries for foodies and travelers on a budget are moving to open for visitors.
Vietnam this week announced plans to fully reopen its borders to foreign visitors “ideally at the end of March and no later than the end of April.”
“We may be facing a further rise of omicron and possibly other new variants,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said recently. “However, with higher rates of vaccination along with other measures, we will be able to reopen the country safely, for the sake of economic recovery and development.”
Sunset in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The Points Guy website says visitors will need to either be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a recent recovery from COVID-19. They also will need to present a negative PCR test taken within the last 72 hours before arrival, as well as proof of £37,000 (about $50,000) medical insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment.
The Nikkei Asia website reports that Malaysia is set to open its borders to all vaccinated travelers next month, with no quarantine restrictions.
“The national recovery council will advise Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to ‘completely’ reopen the border as early as March 1 to help spur the economy, former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the council’s chairman, told reporters. The final decision must be made by the cabinet,” the website said.
I’ve been to both countries and thoroughly enjoyed each of them. In Vietnam a few years ago my wife and I visited Hanoi, which was terrific, and beautiful Halong Bay, a popular area for tourists. We also spent several days in Georgetown, Malaysia a couple years back and loved it. The temples were beautiful, the food was sensational, and the city was filled with cool art.
