The Minister of International Affairs of Vietnam, Bui Thanh Son, just lately introduced that his nation is discussing visa agreements with a number of international locations to facilitate journey.

Talks are ongoing with 15 international locations concerning visa-free journey and 80 international locations concerning the abolition of reciprocal visas for holders of diplomatic passports, VisaGuide.World experiences.

In line with Minister Thanh Son, 13 international locations are at the moment unilaterally exempted from having to acquire visas to enter Vietnam. As beforehand reported by VisaGuide, this contains South Korea, Japan, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, Belarus, Germany, the UK, Spain, and Italy.

Vietnam’s Visa Coverage Faces Criticism Amid Regional Visa Program Growth

As well as, Deputy Hoang Van Cuong expressed concern about Vietnam’s visa insurance policies. Regardless of visa-free negotiations with 15 international locations, Vietnam grants visa-free entry to solely 28 international locations.

In the meantime, neighbouring international locations comparable to Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand have considerably expanded their visa applications to draw extra vacationers. For instance, Singapore provides visa-free entry to 164 international locations, Malaysia to 162, the Philippines to 157, and Thailand to 64.

This presents intense competitors for Vietnam. Ought to the Ministry of International Affairs contemplate waiving visas for vacationers from developed, high-income international locations with low crime charges unilaterally?

Final month, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh instructed authorities businesses to deal with making it simpler for vacationers to go to the nation. To spice up tourism, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính mentioned he’s contemplating introducing visas on arrival and lengthening residency visas to 36 months, permitting a number of entries.

Vietnam E-Visa System Permits Longer Stays

In August 2023, Vietnam started issuing e-visas to folks from any nation. This variation made visas longer, from 30 to 90 days, and allowed limitless visits. Additionally, Vietnamese individuals who don’t want a visa can keep longer, from 15 to 45 days. They will additionally apply for visas and prolong their keep.

As of March 2024, the Vietnamese passport is ranked 138th globally, in accordance with the VisaGuide Passport Index. This rating permits Vietnamese residents to journey to twenty-eight international locations worldwide with out a visa. Nonetheless, Vietnamese passport holders should apply for a visa prematurely for the remaining international locations.

Vietnamese passport holders can at the moment get pleasure from visa-free journey to twenty-eight international locations and territories. Nonetheless, for visa-free journey, it’s important to have a sound passport, sometimes legitimate for not less than six months past the departure date, and to acquire journey medical health insurance as mandated by the vacation spot nation.