Vietnam to close borders with Laos and Cambodia

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered the borders with Laos and Cambodia to be closed and a halt to public transport nationwide from April 1.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered the borders with Laos and Cambodia to be closed and a halt to public transport nationwide from April 1.

  

Lao Bao Border Gate

The decision was included in Directive 16 about urgent measures to prevent Covid-19 outbreak issued on March 31. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also ordered strict social distancing measures to be applied nation-wide from April 1.

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Vietnam is rising and the risk of community spread is very high. It is predicted that the virus will continue spreading at a higher rate. As a result, the PM has asked the Ministry of Transport and people's committees at all provinces and cities to halt all public transports in the area to prevent people from travelling.

From April 1, border gates at Vietnam-Laos and Vietnam-Cambodia will be closed to travellers. People that arrive in Vietnam via the border will be quarantined for 14 days.

The Ministry of Finance was asked to deal with problems in exporting face masks. Firms were asked to not promote or carry out Covid-19 related insurance packages.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and local authorities must ensure food stockpile and other necessities for the public.