Vietnam may resume a visa free regime for less than 15 days to foreign visitors

According to the preliminary report on pilot implementation of welcoming international tourists to Vietnam in phase 1 (from November 2021), by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the total number of local tourists welcomed is 1,179 guests (as of December 6).

The reception of international tourists to Vietnam is ensured with anti-epidemic measures as prescribed, ensuring the quality of services provided. As a result, international tourists have positive reactions when discovering attractive destinations and are assured of Vietnam’s safety measures to prevent and control the epidemic.

The Vietnam Tourist Visa application process is the same as the general visa application process. The Vietnam visa application process is not that complicated compared to some other countries. One of the best things about the Vietnam visa application process is that you don’t need to make an appointment. According to the Vietnam News Agency, visas for foreigners residing in Vietnam will be issued online through the national government service portal.

However, there are several problems with visa procedures for international tourists. it is imperative that you familiarize yourself with the process and gather all the necessary information before starting the application process. The Vietnam Immigration Department at the Embassy will advise you of the types of documents that will be required.

Moreover, according to current regulations, businesses welcoming international tourists must send a written request for approval of foreigners on entry to the Immigration Department for consideration.

This policy makes it difficult to attract international visitors from key markets that were previously used visa-free such as Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the UK because tourists will hesitate about the procedure when deciding to choose a destination.

In the coming time, in order to continue piloting international tourist arrivals to ensure safety and efficiency, the Ministry proposed the Prime Minister consider restoring the visa-free regime of fewer than 15 days for visitors coming to Vietnam from several markets implementing this policy before Vietnam closed in March 2020.

It is hoped that vaccines will help the country return to normal very soon, and Vietnam is expected to ease restrictions on the entry of vaccinated travelers without quarantine over time.