The Prime Minster of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, has announced that his country will soon remove the visa requirements for passport holders of Belgium.
This announcement was made during the Belgian state visit to Vietnam. However, the Vietnamese authorities did not reveal when the move would enter into force, VisaGuide.World reports.
As PM Pham explained, once the visa exemption becomes effective, Belgian nationals will be permitted visa-free entry to Vietnam for stays of up to 45 days.
The decision of Vietnam to drop visas for nationals of Belgium was welcomed by the latter’s Deputy Prime Minister, Maxime Prévot. He said that this is one of the main achievements of the Belgian state visit to Vietnam.
Prévot further notes that Belgium has been skiing Vietnam to permit visa-free entry for its nationals for some time now as the visa requirements have been presenting an obstacle for Belgian tourists and businesspeople.
On the other hand, as Prévot revealed, Vietnam has not requested reciprocity. Nonetheless, he emphasized that Belgian authorities would pay attention to certain requests that Vietnam might have, whether at the European or international level.
Vietnam Already Permits Visa-Free Entry for 11 EU/Schengen Countries
Vietnam already permits entry without visas for nationals of 11 EU/Schengen countries – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechia, and Poland.
Nationals of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Sweden are eligible to enter Vietnam visa-free until March 14, 2028.
On the other hand, nationals of Switzerland, Czechia, and Poland, are eligible for visa-free entry to the country until the end of this year.
Considering that Vietnam wants to attract more EU visitors, the measure could be extended for these three countries and additional ones might be added to the list of nations whose citizens do not need a visa for entry to Vietnam.
Vietnam Expects to See 22 Million International Tourists This Year
The Vietnamese authorities have said that the country is determined to increase its tourist numbers in 2025.
The Vietnam Tourism Association announced the main goals at the beginning of this year, stressing that 22 million international tourists are expected to visit the country, generating up to 980 trillion VND (around $38 billion).
These tourism targets were made following a very successful year in 2024 when more than 17.5 million international tourists visited Vietnam. China is the top source market for tourists, followed by the US, Japan, Malaysia, and Australia.