The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in talks with 15 countries to scrap visa requirements for each other’s citizens, while discussions with 80 others are underway to exempt diplomatic passport holders.
During a recent session at the National Assembly, Ta Thi Yen, deputy head of the delegate affairs committee, highlighted Vietnam’s popularity as a tourist destination and the efforts made through visa exemption agreements to boost tourism.
Despite this, many countries still require visas for Vietnamese travelers, and obtaining visas from some nations can be quite challenging.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized ongoing efforts to streamline immigration procedures, including considering longer stay durations for foreigners visiting Vietnam.
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Currently, Vietnam is exempting visa requirements for citizens of 25 countries, including 13 entitled to unilateral exemption: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus.
Negotiations are ongoing with 15 countries for reciprocal exemptions and 80 others for diplomatic passport waivers.
Lawmaker Hoang Van Cuong pointed out that Vietnam lags behind neighboring countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, which exempt visas for over 150 countries to promote tourism. He questioned whether Vietnam should also consider exempting visas for developed, low-crime countries.
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In response, Minister Son stated that the ministry, along with other relevant agencies, is exploring options for visa waivers with various countries.
Since August 2023, Vietnam has introduced e-visas for all nationalities, extended maximum stays from 30 to 90 days, and allowed unlimited entries. Additionally, those benefiting from Vietnam’s unilateral visa exemption policy can now stay for 45 days, up from the previous 15.