Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City © Bitecxo
Half a Century of Diplomatic Ties between Switzerland and Vietnam
2021, Switzerland and Vietnam celebrate 50 years of bilateral diplomatic relations! On 11th October 1971, Switzerland became one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam. Today, CH-VN relations are strong, successful and mutually beneficial.
Read Ambassador Ivo Sieber’s article on the anniversary.
Due to the dynamic Covid-19 situation in Vietnam and the necessary protective measures, the Consulate General currently only receives clients with urgent matters at the counter and only by appointment. For all service requests and appointments, please contact the Consulate General by phone or email. In case of an emergency outside opening hours, you can contact the FDFA Helpline around the clock.
Please note that you will need two identification documents when visiting the Consulate General. One document (identity card, driver's license or other identification with photo and identity details of the owner) must be deposited in the lobby of the Bitexco Financial Tower to gain access to the office tower. The other document (passport) is to be presented at the Consulate General.
General Information
All Swiss citizens in Vietnam are called up to follow the instructions and recommendations of the Vietnamese authorities.
All persons in Vietnam are encouraged to submit an online health declaration and update it as needed: tokhaiyte.vn, tab "For foreign guests" or via smartphone app NCOVI. Print out this confirmation at the end of filling it out or save it on your mobile phone.
For general information related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) kindly consult the information and directives of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, local authorities (in Vietnamese only), their recommendations (in Vietnamese only), the online newspaper of the Vietnamese Government and the recommendations of the World Health Organisation WHO.
In Switzerland, the Federal Office of Public Health FHPO informs the public regarding COVID-19.
The Government of Liechtenstein informs regarding the COVID-19 situation in Liechtenstein.
The Travel Advice FDFA (in German, French and Italian) offers travellers basic information for travel preparation by informing on possible risks and certain precautions. They are to be considered as a complementary source of information.
Vaccination in Vietnam
The Vietnamese authorities defined the vaccination priorities for different groups with Decree 3355/DQ-BYT from 08.07.2021. According to the received information, everybody who wishes to be inoculated can register online or with the Covid app of the Ministry of Health (available in the Apple Store and on Google Play). The same app serves to deliver the electronic vaccination certificates and green/yellow passes after an inoculation.
For the time being, the app is are available in Vietnamese language (English version is said to be in development) and it is recommendable to ask Vietnamese speakers to assist in case of language barriers. Please note that the Consulate General of Switzerland in Ho Chi Minh City is conveying this information without liability and is not involved in the registration, attributing appointments, online tools or any other aspect of the Vietnamese vaccination strategy. Only the competent Vietnamese authorities are able to help with difficulties or to answer questions.
Authorities in Vietnam have confirmed that there will be no discrimination between Vietnamese nationals and foreigners during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. In order to push back the pandemic, the highest possible proportion of the total population, regardless of nationality, should receive the opportunity to be vaccinated.
- Coronavirus Infoline: +41 58 463 00 00 (daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Swiss time)
- Infoline for persons entering Switzerland: +41 58 464 44 88 (daily 6 am to 11 pm Swiss time)
- Infoline Covid-19 vaccination: +41 800 88 66 44 (daily 6 am to 11 pm Swiss time)
- FAQs
- Comirnaty® / BNT162b2 / Tozinameran (Pfizer/BioNTech)
- Spikevax® / mRNA-1273 / COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna)
- Vaxzevria® / AZD1222 / Covishield™ (AstraZeneca)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).
Vaccination and Covid Certificate in Switzerland
Vaccination for the Swiss community abroad
Swiss nationals abroad - with and without compulsory health insurance (basic insurance) in Switzerland - and their close family members living in the same household without Swiss citizenship (life partners, children, parents, parents-in-law) can be vaccinated in accordance with vaccination recommendations when staying in Switzerland. The implementation of the vaccination is regulated by the cantons. Information on whether and how interested persons can register for vaccination can be obtained from the cantonal offices.
There are no plans to supply the Swiss community abroad with vaccines from Switzerland.
Further information on COVID-19 vaccination can be found on the webpages of the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH: Coronavirus: Vaccination & Protect yourself and others: Vaccination and on the website of the Organization of the Swiss Abroad.
For individual inquiries, interested persons may contact the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH directly:
Further information on COVID-19 vaccination can be found on the webpages of the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH: Coronavirus: Vaccination & Protect yourself and others: Vaccination and on the website of the Organization of the Swiss Abroad.
Swiss Covid certificate for persons vaccinated abroad
Holders of an "EU Digital COVID Certificate" or a certificate compatible with the "EU Digital COVID Certificate" do not need to apply for a Swiss Covid certificate. These certificates are recognized in Switzerland. Those who do not have a corresponding certificate can apply for a Swiss Covid certificate if he/she has been fully vaccinated abroad with a vaccine that is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). These are the following vaccines:
The prerequisite for this is that the person lives in Switzerland, is staying in Switzerland or intends to enter Switzerland. The vaccination carried out abroad and the stay in Switzerland must be sufficiently documented and the person must be able to identify him-/herself. Detailed information can be found on the website "Coronavirus: where and how to get a COVID certificate and how long it is valid". For vaccines on the "WHO Emergency Use List", a Swiss Covid certificate may be issued. Detailed information can be found on the website "Coronavirus: where and how to get a COVID certificate and how long it is valid" and in the Covid-19 Certificate Regulations.
- Switzerland suspends the entry of foreigners from non-EU/EFTA countries and the United Kingdom for short stays of up to 90 days (with few exceptions) until further notice. Airport transfer is permitted without restrictions. For details please refer to the webpage of the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration SEM.
- Information on visas to Switzerland in Vietnam you can find on our visa page.
- In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are special rules for people entering Switzerland. Depending on the type of travel, you might have to fill out an entry form, show proof of a negative test and/or go into quarantine. The detailed information on entry requirements for Swiss and foreign travellers can be found on the corresponding website of the Federal Office of Public Health.
- On the official website of CDC Vietnam you can find a list of all testing options.
- To see what rules apply to your own particular situation when entering Switzerland, consult the online Travelcheck.
Entry Regulations Switzerland
Entry Regulations Vietnam
Vietnam has suspended entry for foreigners until further notice.
Airlines are requested not to transport any passengers without a special permission of the Vietnamese authorities into Vietnam for the time being.
Persons authorized to enter Vietnam with a special permission will be subject to a strict health check and in most cases a compulsory 14 day quarantine. A shortened quarantine period of 7 days is usually granted for those who are fully vaccinated. The cost for food and lodging will have to be borne by the person concerned.
Investors, experts, skilled workers and managers are allowed to enter Vietnam under certain conditions. These conditions and regulations vary from province to province. Therefore, the employer/sponsor has to contact the People's Committee of the relevant province or city for detailed instructions about the necessary procedures.
Swiss Non-Resident Travellers in Vietnam
In view of the extraordinary circumstances, we highly recommend non-resident Swiss citizens in Vietnam to register on Travel Admin and keep the information updated at all times. This will allow the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City to contact them when needed.
On 1 September 2021 the Immigration Department announced a new policy that provides an automatic extension of temporary stay for foreigners in certain qualifying groups with plans to depart Vietnam.
Swiss and Liechtenstein citizens who need certification according to the new policy can contact the Consulate General of Switzerland in Ho Chi Minh City.
Return to Switzerland or Liechtenstein
Swiss and Liechtenstein nationals and foreigners with a valid residence permit for Switzerland, who have registered on Travel Admin, will be informed by the Swiss Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City by email, if special travel possibilities to Switzerland become known at short notice.
At the moment, the following airlines are still offering possible flight connections out of Vietnam to Europe. This information is not exhaustive and may change at any time. Accordingly the Swiss Consulate General cannot assume any liability in relation to this information and advises travellers always to check with the respective airlines or travel agencies:
Swiss International Air Lines / Lufthansa is offering flight connections via Hong Kong to Europe in cooperation with Cathay Pacific. The Group's office in Vietnam can be contacted at lufthansa.vn@dlh.de
Important information on the entry requirements of Switzerland for all travelers of Swiss or foreign nationality can be found in the rubric "COVID-19 Pandemic - Entry Regulations Switzerland".
What does the FDFA advise?
Many Swiss nationals travelling abroad ask the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA for recommendations and advice on their return journey: questions and answers.
Information on the Covid vaccination for Swiss citizens living abroad can be found on the website of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad OSA at www.swisscommunity.org.
