Vietnam cuts visa wait

HANOI : Foreign travellers can now complete the visa application process for Vietnam at http://visa.mofa.gov.vn doing away with the need to get forms from the nearest Vietnamese representative agencies around the world.
The website is in four languages (Vietnamese, English, German, and French) and was launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 14 March.
Vietnamese who travel on a foreign passports (mostly US citizens) can also use the service.
It is part of a serious upgrade of the ministry’s services related to tourists that included improvements to its database, more accurate monitoring and a website to process visas.
The visa applications are scrutinised by the MOFA’s network, as well as other government agencies involved in security before the application is approved.
World Bank grants have supported the project.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Pham Binh Minh said it showed the MOFA’s resolve to employ IT to streamline visa processes.
“The convenience of an online visa will help to attract more foreign individuals and businesses to visit the country, contributing to our economic development beyond tourism.”
World Bank country director for Vietnam, Victoria Kwakwa, said the online visa application system will help shorten the visa issuing duration to just two working days.
In 2013, international tourist arrivals to Vietnam reached 7,572,352 growing 10.6% from 2012.

Sourced: ttrweekly