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.