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Brits can no longer get new visas to travel to Vietnam unless through government-approved tour companies amid fears over coronavirus, the Vietnamese embassy in the UK has said.
A spokesperson for the embassy said: “Because of covid -19 outbreak in some countries in Europe, the Embassy of Vietnam in London for the time being will not accept requests for visa processing until further notice.”
The embassy added that people who want to go to Vietnam have to go through tour operators, who will confirm the arrangements with the Vietnamese government.
Once travellers have a letter of approval, they can then apply for a visa through the embassy.
Coronavirus-hit tourist sites in Asia and Oceania – in pictures
1/14
Click through the gallery to see the decline in tourists at some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations …
Getty
2/14 Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China
Dates: September 20, 2019 (top) and March 6, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
3/14 Sensō-ji Temple in Tokyo’s Asakusa district, Japan
Dates: April 16, 2019 (top) and March 9, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
4/14 Jakarta History Museum, Indonesia
Dates: August 18, 2018 (top) and on March 7, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
5/14 Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea
Dates: May 3, 2017 (top) and March 6, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
6/14 The Old Quarter of Hanoi, Vietnam
Dates: November 24, 2015 (top) and March 7, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
7/14 Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
Dates: December 26, 2015 (top) and March 7, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
8/14 The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand
Dates: January 29, 2020 (top) and March 2, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
9/14 Sydney Opera House, Australia
Dates: December 30, 2017 (top) and March 8, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
10/14 Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Dates: March 16, 2019 (top) and March 5, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
11/14 The Huangpu River in Shanghai, China
Dates: May 1, 2019 (top) and March 8, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
12/14 Denpasar in Bali, Indonesia
Dates: January 26, 2020 (top) and March 8, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
13/14 Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand
Dates: July 9, 2019 (top) and March 6, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
14/14 Merlion Park, Singapore
Dates: August 13, 2019 (top) and March 6, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
1/14
Click through the gallery to see the decline in tourists at some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations …
Getty
2/14 Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China
Dates: September 20, 2019 (top) and March 6, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
3/14 Sensō-ji Temple in Tokyo’s Asakusa district, Japan
Dates: April 16, 2019 (top) and March 9, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
4/14 Jakarta History Museum, Indonesia
Dates: August 18, 2018 (top) and on March 7, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
5/14 Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea
Dates: May 3, 2017 (top) and March 6, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
6/14 The Old Quarter of Hanoi, Vietnam
Dates: November 24, 2015 (top) and March 7, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
7/14 Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
Dates: December 26, 2015 (top) and March 7, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
8/14 The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand
Dates: January 29, 2020 (top) and March 2, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
9/14 Sydney Opera House, Australia
Dates: December 30, 2017 (top) and March 8, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
10/14 Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Dates: March 16, 2019 (top) and March 5, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
11/14 The Huangpu River in Shanghai, China
Dates: May 1, 2019 (top) and March 8, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
12/14 Denpasar in Bali, Indonesia
Dates: January 26, 2020 (top) and March 8, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
13/14 Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand
Dates: July 9, 2019 (top) and March 6, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
14/14 Merlion Park, Singapore
Dates: August 13, 2019 (top) and March 6, 2020 (below).
AFP via Getty Images
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was aware of the issue and would provide further clarification later.
Vietnam removed visa waivers from British citizens and people from seven other European countries on Monday. This will come into force on March 12.
The country had already stopped visa-free travel from South Korea and Italy.
Vietnam currently has 30 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Thirteen of these came from a flight from London to Hanoi in early March. Seven were British citizens.
The UK has over 300 confirmed cases, and six people have died.
