The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Bui Thanh Son, recently announced that his country is discussing visa agreements with several countries to facilitate travel.
Talks are ongoing with 15 countries regarding visa-free travel and 80 countries regarding the abolition of reciprocal visas for holders of diplomatic passports, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to Minister Thanh Son, 13 countries are currently unilaterally exempted from having to obtain visas to enter Vietnam. As previously reported by VisaGuide, this includes South Korea, Japan, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, Belarus, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy.
Vietnam’s Visa Policy Faces Criticism Amid Regional Visa Program Expansion
In addition, Deputy Hoang Van Cuong expressed concern about Vietnam’s visa policies. Despite visa-free negotiations with 15 countries, Vietnam grants visa-free entry to only 28 countries.
Meanwhile, neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand have significantly expanded their visa programs to attract more tourists. For example, Singapore offers visa-free entry to 164 countries, Malaysia to 162, the Philippines to 157, and Thailand to 64.
This presents intense competition for Vietnam. Should the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consider waiving visas for tourists from developed, high-income countries with low crime rates unilaterally?
Last month, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh instructed government agencies to focus on making it easier for tourists to visit the country. To boost tourism, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính said he is considering introducing visas on arrival and extending residency visas to 36 months, allowing multiple entries.
Vietnam E-Visa System Allows Longer Stays
In August 2023, Vietnam began issuing e-visas to people from any country. This change made visas longer, from 30 to 90 days, and allowed unlimited visits. Also, Vietnamese people who do not need a visa can stay longer, from 15 to 45 days. They can also apply for visas and extend their stay.
As of March 2024, the Vietnamese passport is ranked 138th globally, according to the VisaGuide Passport Index. This ranking allows Vietnamese citizens to travel to 28 countries worldwide without a visa. However, Vietnamese passport holders must apply for a visa in advance for the remaining countries.
Vietnamese passport holders can currently enjoy visa-free travel to 28 countries and territories. Nonetheless, for visa-free travel, it’s essential to have a valid passport, typically valid for at least six months beyond the departure date, and to obtain travel health insurance as mandated by the destination country.