Chinese SMEs in Vietnam seek easier entry rules for managers, skilled staff

Vietnam allowed the entry of Chinese experts, executives and skilled workers after the country initially controlled the COVID-19 pandemic, and now Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam expect entry conditions to be eased.

At least 1,000 Chinese managers, skilled technicians and experts have returned to Vietnam, mainly to northern parts such as Hanoi, Haiphong and Bac Giang, a business representative said.

“The returned Chinese are required to take nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 at Nanning, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, before entering Vietnam. If they get negative test results, they are allowed to set out from two designated ports – Youyiguan Border

Port and Dongxing Port -- that connect the two countries, and take a bus to Vietnam,” said Li Wei, head of the Business Association of China in Haiphong, a major industrial port city in Vietnam.

Once arriving at hotels to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantines, the Chinese need to take their body temperatures twice per day as well as nucleic acid tests twice during the two weeks, Li noted.

However, Chinese SMEs are finding it longer and harder to arrange entry.Li Guilan, director of the Da Nang office at logistics and trading enterprise Hualong Trading Import & Export, has applied for entry passes for two senior executives.

“The examination and approval work takes a long time. I hope Vietnam can ease the border entry process while managing virus prevention and control work effectively,” Li told the Global Times, expecting the two executives to arrive at Da Nang before July 10.

On Thursday, the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the country is in talks with China, South Korea and Japan to resume international travel, provided that the pandemic stops spreading.