Starting on March 1, the Vietnamese government will allow Polish, Czech, and Swiss citizens to enter the country visa-free, a move that aims to attract more tourists in 2025.
In addition to nationals of these three European countries, foreigners traveling to the country with the Vietnam international tour operators will also be allowed to visit the Southeast Asian country without a visa. However, they must make sure that all requirements to enter the country are met, VisaGuide.World reports.
The ongoing visa policy will be effective until December 31, 2025, and allows tourists from the three European countries to stay in Vietnam for a period of up to 45 days.
Vietnam Determined to Increase Tourist Numbers in 2025
In a press conference, the Vietnam Tourism Association announced what the main goals are to reach for 2025. A total of 22 million international tourists are expected to visit Vietnam in 2025, generating between 130 and 980 trillion VND, which is equivalent to €5.3 to €40.8 billion.
Tourism development requires the cooperation and connection of all sectors. In promotion work, it is necessary to do a good job of updating information on the global map and, at the same time, actively promote the position and brand of Vietnamese tourism globally.
The visa waiver program is also part of these efforts, as it aims to promote Vietnam as a tourism destination and attract travelers from around the world. On top of Poland, Switzerland and Czechia, Vietnam has lifted visa requirements for nationals of Japan, South Korea, Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
More Than 17.5 Million Tourists Visited Vietnam in 2024
According to Pham Van Thuy, the Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, over 17.5 million international tourists visited the country in 2024. In addition, about 110 million domestic visitors were recorded during this period.
Data from the same source revealed that China is one of the top source markets for tourists, followed by the US, Japan, Malaysia, and Australia.
In addition, the interest of European tourists in Vietnam has increased in the past year. Most tourists in 2024 came from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
Vietnam expects to see positive changes in tourist arrivals, especially after introducing the stimulus tourism program with five key goals: improve infrastructure, organize compelling events and offer good promotional deals, develop new tourism products, improve the quality of their services, invest in green tourism, and increase international cooperation.