Vietnam to expand list of countries with visa-free entry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will submit a Government proposal to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, including expanding the list of countries with free-visa entry to Vietnam.

As of 2023, citizens of 25 countries can travel to Vietnam without having to apply for a visa, with visitors allowed to stay between 14 and 30 days on average.

The Government has also proposed increasing the duration of an e-visa from no more than 30 days to no more than 90 days; issuing e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories; and increasing the duration of temporary residence certification at the border gate for people subject to unilateral visa exemption from 15 days to 45 days.

During a national tourism conference held in March, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked relevant ministries, agencies, and localities to urgently amend and complete policies on entry and exit procedures for international visitors by increasing the number of countries exempted from visas and extending the stay of visitors in the country. He also asked the designated agencies to create favourable conditions for domestic and international airlines seeking to open routes and directly connect Vietnam with key and potential tourism markets worldwide.

Vietnam was the first country in Southeast Asia to reopen its borders following the COVID-19 pandemic, although the recovery rate of the tourism industry is the lowest throughout the region. According to experts, the visa policy is one of the bottlenecks that hampers tourism recovery in Vietnam. At a seminar on tourism development in Ho Chi Minh City held early this year, experts suggested that Vietnam should revise its inefficient visa policy or it will lose out to regional neighbours in attracting foreign travelers.

The National Assembly will hold its fifth session in Hanoi from May 22 to June 23.