Frenchman Thomas and Thai girlfriend Araya had big plans for Vietnam. Their first visit to the country in August had impressed them so much that they wanted to return for a much longer trip. The first trip happened after they’d traveled from France to Bangkok to visit Araya's parents. As they socialized with Vietnamese people and learnt about different places in the country, they regretted not visiting Vietnam sooner. After the trip, Thomas researched more information about other travel destinations in Vietnam. Fond of motorbikes, he planned to enjoy exploring the northern mountains on one, apart from a leisure trip to Nha Trang, a resort town in central Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City for Araya. Vietnam’s beaches are a popular draw among foreigners, but those who want long holidays in the country face complicated visa rules and procedures. Photo acquired by VnExpress The plan was to spend the entire month of November exploring Vietnam, before Thomas starting a … [Read more...] about Vietnam visa hassles could deter long holidayers
Electronic diversity visa lottery
VISA sees strong increase in transactions in Vietnam
VISA sees strong increase in transactions in VietnamBy Hung Le Truong Minh Ha, head of client relationship management at Visa Vietnam and Laos, gestures at a digital payments seminar in HCMC on September 19 – PHOTO: LE HOANG HCMC – VISA, the leader in digital payments, on September 19 announced that it has experienced strong electronic spending growth in Vietnam, with the number of transactions on its network increasing by 45% compared with the previous year and payment volume up nearly 37% (from June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2018). In addition, figures released by the network show strong growth in ecommerce spending, with transactions increasing by 44%. Truong Minh Ha, head of client relationship management at Visa Vietnam and Laos, shared the information at a digital payments seminar in HCMC on September 19. According to the company, Vietnam is going through a period of strong economic change, with the country’s businesses and citizens becoming more involved … [Read more...] about VISA sees strong increase in transactions in Vietnam
Visa’s Everywhere Initiative for start-ups concludes
Nine Vietnamese start-ups on Wednesday took part in the finale of the “Visa’s Everywhere Initiative”, a global innovation programme that tasks up-and-coming businesses with solving some of the most challenging issues in payments and commerce. The nine represented a diverse cross-section of Viet Nam’s business scene, with interests in everything from recruiting services, to online marketplaces, to food delivery. They had to submit a solution for one of the following three challenges: How might start-ups leverage social media platforms to create seamless financial/banking experience for millennial segment? How might start-ups give consumers a digital pay-on-delivery solution that meets their needs far better than cash and how might start-ups innovate to expand the acceptance of electronic payments and provide value-added services to merchants? Of the nine, a winner was selected in each of three prize categories: best proposal, people’s choice award and … [Read more...] about Visa’s Everywhere Initiative for start-ups concludes
Nearly 2,000 minors split from parents at border in six weeks: US
Nearly 2,000 minors were separated from their parents or adult guardians who illegally crossed into the United States over a recent six-week period, officials said Friday, as debate raged over how to end the deeply controversial practice. President Donald Trump, facing mounting anger over his administration's "zero tolerance" border security policy, repeated he is incensed about the family separations but continued to blame opposition Democrats for the crisis, which critics say is one of his own making. And the president signalled the drama could drag on. After Trump initially seemed to say he was not keen on a Republican compromise bill that includes a fix to the separation issue as well as DACA protections for young migrants who arrived illegally as children, the White House walked back his remarks. According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, between April 19 and May 31, 1,995 children were separated from 1,940 adults who were being held by U.S. border patrol. Amid an … [Read more...] about Nearly 2,000 minors split from parents at border in six weeks: US
HSBC, Visa to expand debit card issuance
HSBC, Visa to expand debit card issuanceBy Binh Nguyen - The Saigon Times DailyHCMC - HSBC and the world’s largest retail electronic payments network, Visa, have announced their new regional agreements over programs to boost new debit card issuance in the Middle East and Asia Pacific, including Vietnam.The five-year regional agreements mark an expansion of HSBC’s current credit card issuing relationship with Visa and Visa’s efforts to combine its global brand and payments expertise with local marketplace knowledge to help clients develop their business.“Visa debit cards are a key element of our customer proposition in the Asia Pacific markets,” Conrado Engel, a regional director of HSBC, said in a statement sent to the Daily.Hans Morris, president of Visa Inc, said the new deal expanded their relationship in some of the fastest-growing areas. “Importantly, this agreement delivers on our strategy to expand Visa’s global debit product offerings … [Read more...] about HSBC, Visa to expand debit card issuance
Explanation of benefits and privileges from SMART Visa
These benefits include (1) Visa validity up to 4 years (instead of the usual 1 year); (2) No requirement of work permit; (3) Extension of reporting of stay to Immigration Bureau – from every 90-day to every year; (4) The right of legal dependents (spouse and children) of the SMART Visa holder to live and work in Thailand equivalent to SMART visa holder (only SMART T type allows dependents of SMART Visa holder to work in Thailand).At a press conference, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok on 25 January 2018, all relevant agencies gave an explanation on the SMART Visa. These agencies include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labor, the Board of Investment of Thailand, and the Immigration Bureau.The Thai government hopes that the SMART Visa will encourage foreign talents and investors to invest in the 10 targeted industries in Thailand and will also enhance knowledge transfer and increase the competitiveness of Thailand in … [Read more...] about Explanation of benefits and privileges from SMART Visa
First foreigners get electronic visa
First foreigners get electronic visaDao Loan HCMC - A number of foreign passport holders have obtained an electronic visa since it was launched on February 1, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Nguyen Quy Phuong, head of the Travel Department at VNAT, said at least 40 of 60 foreign applicants had received e-visa on the first three days of this month. The number of e-visa getters is increasing as the immigration agency is processing more applications. “The Ministry of Public Security is quickly processing visa applications by foreign passport holders,” Phuong told the Daily last Saturday. The pilot e-visa policy applies to residents of 40 countries for two years starting from February 1. As usual, foreigners can get visa within three working days after they submit all required documents but some have obtained it in just one working day. Phuong acknowledged that the slow operation of the website … [Read more...] about First foreigners get electronic visa
More than 96,000 foreigners granted e-visa in past nine months Most Recent News
NDO – As many as 96,478 foreigners requested and received e-visas in the past nine months (since February 1), including 93,266 that accessed the application system by themselves and 3,212 that completed the procedures through domestic agencies and organisations. The information was released at a press conference held by the Immigration Department, under the Ministry of Public Security, in Hanoi, on December 12, to evaluate the results of a nine-month trial period of granting e-visas for foreigners, as well as to announce that more countries have been added to the e-visa programme. According to Major General Le Xuan Vien, Director of the Immigration Department, over the past nine months, the programme of granting e-visas for foreigners has been appreciated by both domestic and international travellers, as well as attracting the interest of citizens from the US and Europe. He also noted that the issuance of e-visas has attracted a larger number of foreigners to visit Vietnam, to … [Read more...] about More than 96,000 foreigners granted e-visa in past nine months Most Recent News
Over one million Visa cards issued in Vietnam
Over one million Visa cards issued in VietnamBy Mong Binh - The Saigon Times DailyThe number of just over one million Visa cards was announced by Peter Maher, Visa general manager for Southeast Asia, and Truong Minh Ha, Visa country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos at a meeting in HCMC on Ha told reporters before the meeting the number of Visa cards issued in Vietnam had experienced a 900% increase over the five years, from the small base of 100,000 in 2005 to more than one million today. “Issuing one million Visa cards is an amazing milestone to achieve in such a short period of time,” she said.Ha said Visa was committed together with its bank partners to grow electronic payments in Vietnam and would continue to promote the benefits of payment cards to consumers and merchants as a safer, more efficient and better means to pay and be paid.Maher credited the whopping growth to the Government’s push for reform and opening the market, especially to foreign banks … [Read more...] about Over one million Visa cards issued in Vietnam
More than 96,000 foreigners granted e-visa in past nine months
NDO – As many as 96,478 foreigners requested and received e-visas in the past nine months (since February 1), including 93,266 that accessed the application system by themselves and 3,212 that completed the procedures through domestic agencies and organisations.The information was released at a press conference held by the Immigration Department, under the Ministry of Public Security, in Hanoi, on December 12, to evaluate the results of a nine-month trial period of granting e-visas for foreigners, as well as to announce that more countries have been added to the e-visa programme.According to Major General Le Xuan Vien, Director of the Immigration Department, over the past nine months, the programme of granting e-visas for foreigners has been appreciated by both domestic and international travellers, as well as attracting the interest of citizens from the US and Europe.He also noted that the issuance of e-visas has attracted a larger number of foreigners to visit Vietnam, to … [Read more...] about More than 96,000 foreigners granted e-visa in past nine months