In July 2020, Vietnam confirmed its first domestic community transmission of COVID-19 in approximately three months in the central tourist city of Da Nang.
While the source of infection remained unclear, dozens of Chinese nationals had reportedly been apprehended for illegal entry around Da Nang during July, prompting the government to strengthen border controls.
This article records Vietnam’s response after 99 consecutive days without a new domestically transmitted case and the possible impact on plans to resume travel with Japan.

2020-07-29
On July 25, 2020, Vietnam confirmed a case of domestic community transmission of COVID-19 in Da Nang, the first such case in approximately three months.
Vietnam had maintained 99 consecutive days without a new domestically transmitted infection, excluding cases among arrivals from abroad.
With the source of the new outbreak unclear and illegal entrants from China being discovered, the government ordered tighter control of its borders.
The following is from a Nikkei article published on July 29, 2020 under the headline “Vietnam Tightens Border Controls with China After First Community Infection in Three Months.”
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2020-07-29
The source of infection remained unknown, but Chinese nationals who had entered the country illegally had been found, and the government was increasingly alarmed.
“We need to tighten border controls.”
The following is from today’s Nikkei article titled “Vietnam Tightens Border Controls with China After First Community Infection in Three Months.”
HANOI — Tomoya Onishi
Vietnam is strengthening border controls with China and other neighboring countries.
The move follows confirmation on July 25 of the country’s first domestically transmitted COVID-19 infection in approximately three months, in the central tourist city of Da Nang.
The source of infection remained unknown, but Chinese nationals who had entered the country illegally had been discovered, heightening the government’s sense of urgency.
“We need to tighten border controls.”
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his concern at a government meeting on July 25.
He instructed the Ministry of National Defence to work with the Ministry of Public Security and other agencies to guard the borders more strictly than before.
He also ordered that anyone discovered entering the country illegally should be treated as a potential COVID-19 case and placed under strict quarantine.
According to state media, Vietnam had recorded zero new domestically transmitted infections for 99 consecutive days through July 24, excluding cases among people arriving from overseas.
By the morning of July 28, however, a total of 15 infections had been confirmed in Da Nang and surrounding cities.
The virus was reported to be a new and more infectious strain differing from those previously circulating domestically.
Vietnam shares borders with China, Laos, and Cambodia.
To prevent the spread of infection, foreign nationals entering the country were required to undergo 14 days of quarantine in hotels or designated facilities.
Since the beginning of July, dozens of Chinese nationals who had entered Vietnam illegally had been apprehended around Da Nang.
They were believed to have been attempting to evade quarantine requirements.
They apparently crossed the land border with China illegally, although some may have entered by sea or through Cambodia or Laos.
Vietnam had already been increasing its concern over China’s assertive stance in disputes such as territorial issues in the South China Sea.
Stronger border controls were therefore also seen as a way to expose illegal entry and place pressure on China.
Within Vietnam, concern was growing over the possible spread of community transmission.
From July 28, Da Nang temporarily suspended domestic passenger flights and stopped accepting tourists.
Residents were asked to refrain from nonessential outings, while entertainment facilities, bars, and similar businesses were ordered to close.
Some local governments asked residents who had recently stayed in Da Nang to isolate voluntarily.
In Hanoi, residents were urged to wear masks in public places, and mask use rapidly became widespread again.
Because Vietnam had gone so long without community transmission, even a small number of cases produced a heightened sense of alarm.
When COVID-19 spread in China in February, Vietnam moved quickly to temporarily close its border with China.
As a result of a series of strict epidemic-control measures, it was able to limit its period of stay-at-home restrictions to approximately three weeks in April.
At the time, cumulative infections remained at around 430 and no deaths had been recorded.
Vietnam Airlines had resumed all of its domestic routes by around May, while domestic economic activity was recovering steadily.
Discussions with Japan were continuing over the resumption of cross-border travel.
Following the first community transmission in three months, however, Vietnam might decide that it needed to give priority once again to domestic COVID-19 control, potentially delaying the resumption of travel.