Vietnam simplifies visa procedures to boost tourism development

International tourists experience the 2,400m long Alpine Coaster. (Photo: Hoang Hieu/VNA)

In recent times, Vietnam's entry visa policy has been increasingly liberalized, but compared to other countries in the region, the level of competition for entry visas in Vietnam is not really high.

Continuing research to advise on new visa policies that are more open and convenient for international tourists to Vietnam is a practical requirement to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam's tourism, accelerate tourism development, contribute to promoting economic growth of 8% or more, and make a positive contribution to the country's overall socio-economic development in the new context.

A series of groundbreaking visa policies

Regarding the content of tourism promotion from the policy of simplifying visa procedures, Mr. Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that Vietnam applies a bilateral visa exemption policy for 15 countries with different temporary stay periods including Brunei, Myanmar (14 days); Philippines (21 days); Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Belarus (30 days); Chile, Panama (90 days).

Vietnam is also applying a unilateral visa exemption policy for 12 countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia, Japan, and South Korea. Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP dated March 7, 2025 of the Government stipulates visa exemption for citizens of 12 countries until March 14, 2028, with a temporary stay of no more than 45 days from the date of entry, regardless of passport type or purpose of entry.

Regarding the visa exemption policy for foreign visitors to Phu Quoc, visitors with foreign passports are allowed to stay in Phu Quoc Island for no more than 30 days without a visa. Those who transit through an international gateway in Vietnam to visit Phu Quoc are exempted from visa requirements.

Regarding the e-visa policy, the Law amending a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry, effective from August 15, 2023, increases the duration of an e-visa from 30 days to no more than 90 days. The regulation stipulates that an e-visa is valid for one or multiple entries (previous regulations stated that the duration of an e-visa was no more than 30 days, and the e-visa was valid for one entry).

The Law also adds "territories" to the list of countries and territories that are eligible for e-visas (previously only "countries"). It also stipulates the authority to decide on the list of countries and territories that apply the e-visa policy.

International tourists visit Sa Pa. (Photo: Quoc Khanh/VNA)

Resolution 127/NQ-CP of the Government dated August 14, 2023 takes effect on the same day as Law No. 23, regulating the application of electronic visas to citizens of all countries and territories (compared to the previous application for only a list of 80 countries).

Short-term, conditional visa exemption policy, Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 15, 2025 on visa exemption under the Tourism Development Stimulus Program in 2025 for citizens of the Republic of Poland, the Czech Republic and the Swiss Confederation: Temporary stay of 45 days from the date of entry for tourism purposes under the program organized by Vietnamese international travel service businesses, regardless of passport type, on the basis of meeting all entry conditions as prescribed by Vietnamese law. The visa exemption policy when entering Vietnam for citizens of the above countries is implemented from March 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 under the framework of the Tourism Development Stimulus Program in 2025.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued a Plan to implement Resolution 11 of the Ministry and the Tourism Development Stimulus Program in 2025 (Decision No. 444-QD-BVHTTDL dated February 28, 2025).

According to Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Pham Van Thuy, visa policy is one of the most important tourism destination competitiveness tools today, especially in the context of countries promoting international tourism attraction after COVID-19. Vietnam's current e-visa is positively evaluated thanks to its expansion of application to all countries and territories, extension of stay to 90 days and convenient, completely online registration procedures, contributing to enhancing destination competitiveness and improving the entry experience for international visitors.

The application of the unilateral visa exemption policy along with a series of new visa policies effective from August 15, 2023, the pilot short-term visa exemption policy under the Tourism Development Stimulus Program for citizens of the three markets of Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic (effective from March 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025) creates a series of breakthrough visa policies that create favorable conditions for international tourists to travel to Vietnam. The propaganda and promotion of policies in promoting Vietnamese tourism abroad will have a better effect and achieve better results.

Promote the image of a "safe, friendly, quality, attractive" destination

In accordance with the direction and directive of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are assigned to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant ministries and branches to continue researching and proposing new preferential visa policies for countries and subjects (expanding the visa exemption list; preferential visa policies, facilitating subjects that need priority attraction in various fields).

Implementing the Prime Minister's direction on tourism development with the motto "Unique products - Professional services - Convenient and simple procedures - Competitive prices - Clean and beautiful environment - Safe, civilized and friendly destinations," the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) continues to orient Vietnam's tourism promotion in the direction of: Consolidating current markets while expanding new markets, market segments with high spending and potential; prioritizing tourism promotion in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe, Australia, the US, emerging markets such as India, creating momentum to spread to other markets.

The Ministry also proposed to pilot the establishment of tourism promotion offices in some key tourism markets. Positioning the national tourism brand in accordance with the Prime Minister's direction at the Conference on "Rapid and sustainable development of Vietnam tourism" in November 2023: "Vietnam - A safe, friendly, attractive, humane, hospitable, convenient destination," "warming tourists, satisfying hosts."

In the context of increasingly fierce competition for destinations, the Vietnamese tourism industry is orienting its promotion and advertising towards professionalization, market diversification, digitalization and strengthening inter-sectoral, inter-regional and international cooperation: repositioning the national tourism brand with the message "Vietnam - Timeless Charm" and new values such as green experiences, profound culture, unique cuisine and friendly people.

Focus on in-depth promotion in key and potential markets: Northeast Asia (China, Korea), Western Europe, Australia, the US, India; combine exploitation of market segments such as golf tourism, healthcare, MICE, and river tourism. Promote digital transformation in promotion, including application of AI, big data, promotion through global digital platforms (Google, Facebook, TikTok, OTA, international KOLs); deploy a digital ecosystem for national tourism promotion.

The Pacific World cruise ship brought about 1,700 tourists to Quang Ninh. (Photo: Duc Hieu/VNA)

Strengthen regional and international cooperation, prioritizing the Mekong sub-regional initiatives (GMS), ASEAN, CLV, ACMECS; closely coordinate with aviation, media and the private sector in joint communication campaigns. Diversify promotion forms: from international fairs, roadshows, to virtual reality experiences and digital tourism.

The 2025 tourism development stimulus program is one of the key solutions to grow the market, extend the length of stay and increase spending of international and domestic tourists. In particular, promotion and advertising activities will focus on organizing a synchronous domestic and international communication campaign, associated with the new version of the message "Vietnam - Go to love", promoting the image of a "safe, friendly, quality, attractive" destination.

Strengthening promotion in target markets with favorable visa policies according to the new visa reform roadmap, while coordinating with major airlines and travel agencies to stimulate demand to open preferential combo packages of flying-stay-experience. Implementing key international roadshows and fairs such as ITB Berlin, WTM London, along with a series of events introducing Vietnamese tourism (Roadshow) in Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia, India and North America.

Organize the National Tourism Year 2025 and a series of international tourism events in key localities to spread the regional stimulus effect. Integrate digital media and multi-platform communication in stimulus promotion activities, especially through international influencers, short video platforms (TikTok, YouTube Shorts) and cooperation campaigns with global online travel agencies (Booking, Agoda, Expedia...).

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/viet-nam-don-gian-hoa-thu-tuc-thi-thuc-de-day-nhanh-phat-trien-du-lich-3364885.html