The Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc Wednesday said that any discrimination against foreigners would be punished, Vietnam News has reported.
The directive came after
several reports in the media of hotels and restaurants across the country
refusing to serve foreign residents, and discrimination against them due to
coronavirus fears.
Cases of discrimination appear
to have been on the rise after a large number of Vietnam’s new Covid-19 cases
seem to have arrived from Europe, particularly people travelling to the country
from London. The WHO has declared Europe as the epicenter of the virus.
The Prime Minister said that all
People’s Committees had to ensure that foreign tourists in their areas did not
suffer from discrimination, to closely follow the Law on Tourism on committing
no discrimination against foreign tourists, and ensure that Vietnam was
friendly and hospital and safe for tourists.
He said that complex cases should
be referred to higher authorities for a ruling.
He also ordered the Ministry of
Culture, Sports and Tourism to ensure the prevention of Covid-19 in line with
instructions from health authorities and measures to support foreigners to
protect themselves from the virus, such as the mandatory wearing of masks in
public areas.
The Foreign Ministry must
devise guidelines and work with foreign embassies to prevent any “regretful
incidents” and maintain the positive image of the country.
