According to the latest update on September 15, 2021, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has issued Official Letter No. 3072/UBND-VX to direct pandemic prevention measures as well as implement a roadmap to return to a new normal state in the upcoming months.  Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City extends lockdown till the end of September 30, 2021 to thoroughly control the pandemic, QR-based COVID Green Cards are to be piloted in some ‘green areas’ and some activities are allowed to resume in the city.

Extend lockdown till the end of September 30, 2021

Ho Chi Minh City continues social distancing and pandemic prevention measures in the city in the spirit of Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020 of the Prime Minister (Directive 16), Plan No. 2715/KH-BCD dated August 15, 2021 of the City Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control (Plan 2715) and Directive No. 11/CT-UBND dated August 22, 2021 of the Chairman of the City People’s Committee from 00:00 on September 16, 2021 till the end of September 30, 2021 with many strict, drastic and thorough measures to control and prevent the Covid-19 pandemic in each specific area.

Pilot the QR-based COVID Green Cards in Green Areas

Activities in some areas where the pandemic is basically under control such as District 7, Cu Chi and Can Gio, export processing zones, industrial parks in such districts and the Hi-Tech Park will be eased to the greatest extend.  In particular:

• Residents in such areas can go grocery shopping once a week at both supermarkets and traditional markets;
• Pilot implementation of COVID Green Card with a personal QR code;
• Enterprises in export processing zones and industrial parks and the Hi-Tech Park can carry out production plans under the guidance of the Management Board of export processing zones, industrial parks and the Hi-Tech Park based on the methods stated in Plan 2715, i.e., (i) ‘3 on site’ or ‘3 on site by team’ models; (ii) ‘1 route – 2 destinations’ or the expanded ‘1 route – 2 locations’ models (enterprises organize concentrated accommodation at many different locations and arrange public transportation from the place of concentrated residence place to the workplace); (iii) operating under the motto ‘4 green’ (green workers, green roads, green production areas, green places to live) or (iv) a combination of the (i), (ii) and (iii) methods.

Loosen Social Distancing Regulations and Supplement Allowed Activities

The other regions are still under Directive 16 orders, but some regulations have been loosened.  For example, shippers are allowed to travel inter-district from 6am to 9pm everyday but must take Covid-19 test once every two days; construction and traffic works are allowed to be constructed under the consideration and decision of the City People’s Committee; citizens in the ‘green areas’ may exercise in the internal parks. Prominently, enterprises, businesses (having a business registration license) are allowed to operate from 6am to 9pm daily, specifically:

• Postal and telecommunications services; computer stores, stationary stores; take-away catering services; supporting agricultural production, veterinary facilities; maintenance and repair of construction works, transportation, machinery and provision of components and parts serving such activities; food production.
• Operational conditions: Enterprises must register with the local People’s Committee to issue road permits; Employees who come directly to the workplace must be vaccinated with at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine and tested every five days.
• Delivery staffs of such enterprises shall be allowed to travel within district/Thu Duc City from 6am to 9pm per day and must take Covid-19 test once every two days.

The regulatory framework of Vietnam is subject to daily changes. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Government’s regulations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, our experienced lawyers are always at letran@corporatecounsels.vn.