THE Vietnam Ministry of Public Securityon the orders of the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhhas proposed a change to Vietnam's immigration laws. Under this proposal, holders of electronic visas would be able to stay for up to three months. 90 daysthree times longer than the current 30-day period, granted to nationals of 80 countries.
The Ministry of Public Security is also proposing to extend the visa-free period to 30 days for nationals of visa-exempt countries, compared with the current 15 days. The list includes mainly European countries such as Germany, Denmark, Norway, France, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Italy and the UK, as well as the Republic of Korea and Japan.
The validity of tourist visas remains unchanged at three months. The Ministry of Public Security has indicated that the government will decide on the list of countries and territories whose citizens can benefit from electronic visas, as well as the border crossings that allow foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas.
The Ministry of Public Security said the aim of easing visa policies is to attract more foreign tourists to Vietnam, amid fierce competition with countries in the region, particularly after the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.
The bill is due to be debated at the fifth and sixth plenary sessions of the 15th legislature of the National Assembly in May and October this year.
Tourism makes a significant contribution to the country's economy. In 2019, the tourism sector generated over $30 billion in revenue and employed more than 2.5 million people, or around 5% of the country's active population.
Vietnam has a rich cultural and natural heritage, offering a variety of popular tourist sites such as the Halong Baythe historic cities of Hanoi And Ho Chi Minh Citythe beaches of Nha Trang and of Phรบ Quแปcthe mountains of Sa Paamong others. The country is also known for its local cuisine, culture and festivals.
The Vietnamese government sees tourism as a key driver of economic growth, and is striving to develop the sector by improving infrastructure, promoting tourist destinations, expanding the range of tourism services and simplifying administrative formalities for foreign travelers.
The easing of visa policies and extension of visa-free stay for foreign visitors, as proposed by the Ministry of Public Security, can help boost Vietnam's competitiveness as a tourist destination, making the country more accessible and offering greater flexibility for international travelers.
Vietnam lifted all its Covid-19 restrictions on March 15.
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