Vietnam to ease visas

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will propose more visa exemptions to the authorities for visitors from certain markets in North America, Europe, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Australia, while extending the visa-free duration for other markets to attract more foreign travellers to Vietnam.
The proposal was forwarded to VNAT after a meeting between representatives of local tourism and trade agencies, tour operators, transport companies, big hotels and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) in Hanoi, 10 July.
At the meeting, experts said visa exemptions were limited and needed to be widened to include more countries to boost tourism.
The meeting noted that even the visa-on-arrival facility was complicated and required travellers to complete some advance paperwork to ensure it worked properly.
It is also likely that Vietnam will increase the visa-free stay from 15 to 30 days for citizens from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Russia, Japan and South Korea.
VNAT has also urged the government to streamline visa-on-arrival procedures and introduce electronic visas.
Similar changes were also suggested by the Tourism Working Group under the Vietnam Business Forum at a mid-term dialogue between the government and the business community in Hanoi last month.
Vietnam already allows nationals of 17 countries to enter the country without a visa. The length of stay differs.
Citizens of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Kyrgyzstan get a visa-free stay of up to 30 days. Citizens of the Philippines get 21 days. Citizens of Brunei and Myanmar get 14 days.
Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Japan, and South Korea get 15 days.
All travellers can visit Phu Quoc for 30 days without a visa, but they must, either enter through the island’s seaport, or through its airport after transiting through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City’s international airports.

Sourced: ttrweekly