The Vietnamese government has approved a two-year extension of the pilot e-visa issuance program for foreigners visiting the country. The policy was launched on February 1, 2017, allowing citizens from 40 countries to apply for electronic visas. These countries included major tourism markets of China, Japan, South Korea, the U.S, the U.K, Germany and Sweden. Last year, visitors from six countries, Australia, India, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the U.A.E were added to the list. The e-visa application scheme was scheduled to expire next February, but has been extended now. As of August 31 this year, more than 241,000 foreign tourists have entered Vietnam with e-visas, according to Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). The policy allows foreigners to apply for a 30-day, single-entry e-visa for holidays or business trips by paying a $25 application fee online. Applicants are required to complete a form available on two separate websites (one in … [Read more...] about Vietnam extends e-visa policy for foreign tourists until 2021
Vietnam 5 year visa exemption
Extended visa exemption to increase Western European guests
(VEN) - The 15-day visa exemption policy for visitors from the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy was extended by three years commencing July 1. This is expected to increase the number of high-spending, long-stay visitors to Vietnam. Vietnam has become an increasingly attractive destination for Western European visitors Western European market development According to Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, the open-door visa policy aligned with enhanced tourism promotion has contributed to maintaining Vietnam’s growth rate of foreign visitors at nearly 30 percent annually. Minister Dung noted that the government would consider proposals from the Vietnam Tourism Association concerning the extension of the period of stay in Vietnam from 15 to 30 days and the expansion of exemptions for more countries. Western Europe is a desirable tourist market with its stable economy and high-spending, long-stay visitors. According to Hoang Nhan Chinh, Secretary … [Read more...] about Extended visa exemption to increase Western European guests
Government agrees to extend visa exemption for Western Europe citizens
According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO), more than 5.54 million foreign tourists travelled to Vietnam in the first four months of this year, a 29.5 percent year-on-year increase. In 2015, 720,000 Western Europe tourists came to Vietnam while last year saw 1.5 million visitors thanks to open visa policy and tourism promotional programs, said Minister-Chairman of the Government Officie Mai Tien Dung. The HCM City Tourism Association has earlier sent a proposal on extending visa exemption for Western Europe tourists to the Government. According to proposal, the removal of visa requirements for citizens from the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Spain will have a valid period extended to June 30, 2023, as the current policy is due to expire on June 30 this year. The association also noted that countries of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, Austria, Netherlands and Belgium are also expected to receive visa-free access to Vietnam. Another suggestion for duration … [Read more...] about Government agrees to extend visa exemption for Western Europe citizens
VN continues visa exemptions for five European countries
The decision was approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the regular Government meeting on May 3. The information was revealed by the Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung at the regular press conference of the Vietnam Government yesterday. Accordingly, citizens from the five aforementioned countries will continue to enjoy visa exemptions to enter Vietnam up to 2020 after the expiration of the visa-free policy in June this year. The PM said that Viet Nam should continue to expand its visa-exemption policy as the country has unilaterally offered visa exemptions for citizens from only 24 countries, including nine ASEAN countries. Earlier last month, the Viet Nam Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) proposed the Government to increase the length of exempted stay for tourists to 30 days instead of granting 15-day visa. It also recommended to increase the number of visa exempt countries and in particular to add Canada, … [Read more...] about VN continues visa exemptions for five European countries
Vietnam continues waiving visas for five Western European countries
Photo for illustration The renewed visa exemptions take effect from July 1st, 2018, and be valid for three years, after the pilot policy ends on June 30th, 2018. In 2015, 720,000 Western European tourists visited Vietnam, the figure increased to 855,000 in 2016 and 1.5 million in 2017, Minister Dung said. “The result came from not only open visa policy, but also effective tourism promotion activities.” He said the Government is considering petitions of the Vietnam Tourism Association to increase stay duration from 15 to 30 days or expand the list of countries with visa exemptions. The National Assembly has allowed the Government to pilot e-visas to help tourists worldwide apply for visas, contributing to attracting more tourists to Vietnam, he added. /. BTA … [Read more...] about Vietnam continues waiving visas for five Western European countries
Vietnam continues visa exemptions for five European countries
Vietnam will renew visa exemptions for a three-year period for the citizens of five Western European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Vietnam welcomed approximately 1.5 million Western European visitors in 2017 - Illustrative image The decision was approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the regular Government meeting on May 3. Accordingly, citizens from the five aforementioned countries will continue to enjoy visa exemptions to enter Vietnam up to 2020 after the expiration of the visa-free policy in June this year. The PM said that Vietnam should continue to expand its visa-exemption policy as the country has unilaterally offered visa exemptions for citizens from only 24 countries, including nine ASEAN countries. According to Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, the open-door visa policy aligned with enhanced tourism promotion has contributed to maintaining Vietnam's growth rate of foreign visitors at nearly 30 … [Read more...] about Vietnam continues visa exemptions for five European countries
Vietnam to extend visa exemption for Western citizens
Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung yesterday evening said that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed to proposals to continue extending the visa exemption policy for three more years, from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020, for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Currently, the policy will expire in a year. The 2015 start of the policy set off a swift rise in the number of tourists from these five countries. Illustration photo: theguardian.com Under the new policy, the duration of stay will remain 15 days from the date they receive the entry permit. A resolution on the move is expected to be enacted this week. Earlier, the ministries of Defence, Public Security, Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) sent proposals to the prime minister to continue extending the visa exemption policy for citizens from these five nations. This will be the third time the … [Read more...] about Vietnam to extend visa exemption for Western citizens
Vietnam extends visa exemption for Europeans for another three years
Visitors from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom will continue to receive visa exemptions for the next three years in Vietnam, officials said at a government press conference on Thursday. Vietnam first offered visa waivers for citizens from the five European countries in July 2015, and in the past the policy has been updated annually and would have expired at the end of June. However, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has yet to sign off on requests from tourism agencies to extend the visa-free duration from 15 to 30 days. Western Europeans are big spenders, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, and shell out on average $1,316 per trip. In 2015, Vietnam welcomed 720,000 western European tourists. The number increased 19 percent in 2016 and doubled to 1.5 million in 2017. Visitors from these countries increased by 5.5-16.8 percent in the first four months of this year, accounting for 6.6 percent of all foreign arrivals to Vietnam, according to … [Read more...] about Vietnam extends visa exemption for Europeans for another three years
Vietnam extends visa exemption for Europeans with surprising three-year term
By Vy An  May 4, 2018 | 01:37 pm GMT+7 Foreign tourists enjoy the beach in Ha Long in northern Vietnam in April 2018. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Cuong The policy is usually renewed annually, and would have expired at the end of June. Visitors from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom will continue to receive visa exemptions for the next three years in Vietnam. Vietnam first offered visa waivers for citizens from the five European countries in July 2015, and in the past the policy has been updated annually and would have expired at the end of June. However, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has yet to sign off on requests from tourism agencies to extend the visa-free duration from 15 to 30 days. Western Europeans are big spenders, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, and shell out on average $1,316 per trip. In 2015, Vietnam welcomed 720,000 western European tourists. The number increased 19 percent in 2016 and doubled … [Read more...] about Vietnam extends visa exemption for Europeans with surprising three-year term
EuroCham urges Vietnam to relax visa requirements
EuroCham urges Vietnam to relax visa requirementsDao Loan HCMC – The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) has proposed the Vietnamese Government relax visa requirements including visa exemptions for more countries, visa on arrival and specific visa rules for those tourists re-entering the nation in less than 30 days. At a dialogue meeting on mechanisms, policies and administrative procedures related to business operation and activities of European firms in Vietnam, held in Hanoi on January 22, EuroCham called for a visa waiver for visitors from the countries which have signed free trade agreements with Vietnam. The visa requirements should also be eased for Vietnam’s investment partners and target tourism markets like India and Australia, according to EuroCham. Vietnam should also extend the visa waiver to passport holders of five Western European countries to five years from the current one year and lengthen the visa-free stay from 15 days to 30 days. In … [Read more...] about EuroCham urges Vietnam to relax visa requirements