Post by : Meena Ariff

Vietnam has recently introduced new visa policies to welcome more tourists from around the world. But tourism leaders and experts say the country needs even easier and more open visa rules to become more competitive and grow its tourism sector in the next few years.

Phùng Quang Thắng, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents, said the visa policy is very important for any country to attract tourists, especially now when countries are trying hard to bring back international visitors after the pandemic.

Vietnam’s electronic visa (e-visa) policy is liked by many tourists. Now, people from all countries can apply for an e-visa, stay up to 90 days, and apply online easily. This has improved Vietnam’s image and made visiting the country simpler for foreigners.

Phạm Văn Thủy, Deputy Head of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, said new visa policies starting from August 2023 were a big step forward. Vietnam is also testing short-term visa waivers for people from Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic until December 31, 2025. Thủy believes promoting these visa policies abroad will help attract more visitors.

Right now, Vietnam has visa-free agreements with 15 countries for different periods, like Brunei and Myanmar (14 days), the Philippines (21 days),

Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Belarus (30 days), and Chile and Panama (90 days).

Vietnam also allows citizens from 12 countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia, Japan, and South Korea to visit without a visa for up to 45 days until 2028.

A special rule is for Phú Quốc Island, where people from other countries can stay for up to 30 days without a visa, even if they transit through another international port in Vietnam first.

From January to May 2025, Vietnam welcomed 9.2 million international tourists, which is 21.3% more than last year. Earnings from hotels and restaurants reached about US$13.4 billion. Many provinces reported a rise in international tourists this year.

However, tourism leaders say Vietnam’s visa policies are still not as good as other countries in ASEAN. For example, Malaysia allows people from 166 countries to visit without a visa, Indonesia 169, Singapore 158, the Philippines 157, Thailand 93, and China 38.

Many of these countries are also making their visa rules easier. Thailand and China have permanent visa waivers for each other’s citizens. Thailand lets Indian and Kazakhstani visitors stay up to 30 days without a visa and Russian citizens up to 90 days. Thailand has also expanded visa-on-arrival for people from more countries. China now gives group visas at entry ports and allows 240-hour visa-free transit for visitors from 54 countries.

Thủy said Vietnam must urgently research and create easier visa rules to meet its economic growth goals and help national development in today’s fast-changing world.

Promoting Tourism in Key Markets

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is working to make Vietnam’s tourism better by creating unique travel products, good services, simple rules, fair prices, clean and safe environments, and friendly destinations. They want to keep their old markets strong and also enter new ones.

Vietnam is focusing on markets like East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia, the US, and India. They plan to set up tourism promotion offices in these important countries to reach more people.

The tourism branding strategy will continue with the slogan “Vietnam – Timeless Charm” and add ideas like green travel, deep culture, delicious food, and friendly people. Promotions will focus on China, South Korea, Western Europe, Australia, the US, and India. Vietnam also wants to grow special areas like golf tourism, wellness, business meetings (MICE), and river cruises.

The tourism sector is using more technology like artificial intelligence and big data to promote Vietnam globally. They are working with platforms like Google, Facebook, TikTok, and travel websites such as Booking.com, Agoda, and Expedia. They also plan to partner with airlines and the private sector for big campaigns.

In 2025, Vietnam will use its Tourism Stimulus Programme to expand markets, make tourists stay longer, and spend more. The campaigns will use the slogan “Vietnam – Travel to Love” to show that the country is safe, friendly, high-quality, and an attractive place to visit.

Vietnam will join big international tourism events like ITB Berlin and WTM London and organise roadshows in East Asia, Europe, Australia, India, and North America to promote its tourism.

The tourism sector will also use digital media, short videos on TikTok and YouTube Shorts, and influencers to reach more people worldwide and bring them to Vietnam for their next holiday.


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