News of Vietnam Visa and Airport services

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Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong has always been one of the most significant comprehensive partners of Vietnam. Vietnam has previously advocated for more lenient visa policies with various partners, including Hong Kong, aiming to enhance trade, travel, and interpersonal exchanges. These measures are anticipated to foster a more amicable relationship and cooperation between Vietnam and its partnering countries.

In response, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has announced that Vietnamese citizens will be granted Multiple entry visas valid for up to 2 years, with a duration of stay for 14 days each entry. This policy has changed drastically as Hong Kong only allowed Vietnamese to apply for a single entry visa previously.

To be eligible for the policy, Vietnamese visitors must meet one of the following criteria: having traveled internationally a minimum of three times; visiting at least two different countries within the last three years; or having engaged in employment or training in Hong Kong within the past two years.

Hong Kong is also initiating a comprehensive program to attract skilled immigrants, which includes opening opportunities for individuals from Vietnam, Laos, and Nepal to pursue education and employment at its eight public universities.

In March of this year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board declared its intention to distribute 80,000 round-trip air tickets to residents in Southeast Asian nations, with 8,800 tickets allocated for residents of Vietnam. This endeavor is a component of a sponsored campaign by the Airport Authority Hong Kong, aimed at welcoming global tourists back after a period of over three years of Covid-19 restrictions.

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Photo: Collected

For the past few years, China and South Korea are always among top outbound destinations that have attracted many Vietnamese people to travel, especially for short-term visit purposes. In the latest statistics of the Korean Tourism Organization, Vietnam has ranked 5th worldwide and the leading spot in Southeast Asia for the number of tourists to the Republic of Korea (RoK) in 2023.

Therefore, the news of both China and RoK loosening their visa policy for several countries, including Vietnam, has brought considerable joy and excitement among Vietnamese people.

Specifically, China will cut visa fees by 25% for travelers from countries such as Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, from December 11, 2023, to December 31, 2024. The visa fee for Vietnamese citizens entering this country starts from US$45 - for a single entry visa. The world’s second-largest economy hopes that this new policy will help to boost China’s tourism and economy growth in general, which still has been detrimentally affected post Covid-19 pandemic.

As for RoK, tourist groups from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia will not be charged eVisa fees starting from 2024. Together with the visa waiver policy of Jeju island for Vietnamese passport holders who travel by charter flights or under tourist groups, RoK aims to attract 20 million international tourists and create US$24.5 billion in tourism revenue in 2024. 

To facilitate seamless travel for tourists, the Korean Government and Ministry of Science and ICT will develop an application designed to assist foreign visitors in making reservations for public transportation. Additionally, efforts will be made to enhance the English services provided by navigation apps.

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Photo: Hương Giang

Following the meeting between Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung and Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia on October 19, 2023, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia have agreed to promote bilateral tourism in a bid of making the two countries more accessible to their respective visitors and tourists. 

Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud expressed her support and Saudi Arabia’s goodwill by promising to review their eVisa policy towards citizens of this Southeast Asia nation. Up to now, Vietnam passport holders cannot send visa applications via Saudi Arabia’s eVisa portal but visit Embassies/Consulates or visa agencies in person to obtain a visa, which is often slow, confusing, and time-consuming. 

Additionally, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia also planned to operate direct flights between two countries in the near future.

During the meeting, the Minister asked for the joint of Saudi Arabia to educate each other about tourist taste and standards and laws regulating the hospitality field such as accommodation facilities and tourism investment, etc. In response, Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud said that in the near future, the Kingdom's Ministry of Tourism will work with domestic travel and tourism companies to research and develop inbound packages to suit the tastes of Vietnamese citizens.

Vietnam has focused on implementing Project "Strengthening international cooperation to build and develop Vietnam's Halal industry until 2030", issued and approved by the Prime Minister, with Saudi Arabia as an important market and partner in every sector, especially tourism. 

In the upcoming years, Halal industry in general and Halal tourism in particular will be a crucial market for Vietnam. Namely, Halal tourism provides services that cater to the needs of Muslim travelers, includes Halal-friendly accommodations, Halal food options, and considerations for prayer facilities. 

Signing ceremony of "Action Program in the field of tourism" between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia (Photo: Huong Giang)

To conclude the meeting, the two leaders unanimously signed the "Action Program in the field of tourism", opening more doors for the next meetings.

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Photo: Nhật Thịnh

Starting from August 15, 2023, Vietnam officially implemented its new visa exemption policy, which has allowed foreigners from 13 eligible countries to stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days, 30 days longer than the old scheme. 

Article 1 of Resolution No.128/NQ-CP Amendments to the Government's Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated March 15, 2022 on Visa waiver for nationals,

"Visa waiver will be applicable to nationals of  the Federal Republic of Germany, The French Republic, Italian Republic, Kingdom of Spain, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Russian Federation, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kingdom of Denmark, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Norway, Republic of Finland, and the Republic of Belarus with a maximum temporary residence period of 45 days from the date of entry, no matter what visa types they currently hold or their purposes of entry, on the basis of eligibility for entry in accordance with Vietnamese laws."

Vietnam’s tourism industry and other related segments have benefited abundantly from this policy, especially when the Republic of Korea - one of the visa-free countries of this Southeast Asia nation, was reported to be the largest source of tourist arrivals with over 2.5 million travelers in the first nine months of 2023. 

In the most recent suggestion, The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has emphasized the need to loosen Vietnam visa requirements, namely aiming at granting visa waiver to short-term visits of any nationality. Short-term visits refer to unextended trips for tourist, business, transit, etc, which often permit foreigners to stay in Vietnam from 1 month to 3 months. 

Besides, in an effort to boost the upscale tourism market, the Ministry also mulls over a pilot project issuing three-year and five-year visa at ports of entry.

According to experts, Vietnam has to take a big step to attract more inbound tourism by opening up its border, following other ASEAN countries such as Indonesia with 169 countries, and Singapore with 150 countries favored by their visa-free policy.

In addition, the eVisa issuance procedures of Vietnam are required to be simplified, said the Ministry. Although the eVisa portal has been in effect for more than 4 months, foreigners and even travel agents still find the current system difficult and confusing.

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