Vietnam tourism prepares for "golden" opportunity to attract international visitors

Create more favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens and foreigners

Article 1 of the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam has amended 15 articles and clauses of the 2019 Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens with the following basic contents: Supplementing information on "place of birth" on exit and entry documents; regulating the form of submitting documents in the electronic environment for procedures to request the issuance of ordinary passports, reporting the loss of ordinary passports, restoring the validity of ordinary passports and stipulating that the Ministry of Public Security is responsible for presiding over and coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to guide the implementation of regulations on exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens in the electronic environment.

The policies of the Law have created more favorable conditions for foreigners to enter, exit, transit and reside in Vietnam.

The law removes the requirement that a passport must have a remaining validity of 6 months or more to be eligible for exit, to facilitate citizens when leaving the country. The law unifies the agency in charge of negotiating and signing international treaties and agreements related to the re-admission of Vietnamese citizens who are not granted residence by foreign countries.

Extend temporary stay to 45 days for citizens of 13 countries

On August 14, the Government issued Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP amending Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated March 15, 2022 on visa exemption for citizens of some countries.

Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP stipulates visa exemption for citizens of the following countries: Federal Republic of Germany, French Republic, Italian Republic, Kingdom of Spain, 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 Republic of Belarus with a temporary stay of 45 days from the date of entry, regardless of passport type or purpose of entry, on the basis of meeting all entry conditions as prescribed by Vietnamese law.

Thus, compared with Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated March 15, 2022, the temporary residence period for citizens of the above countries will be increased from 15 days to 45 days.

Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP takes effect from August 15, 2023.

Previously, the National Assembly passed the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam. Accordingly, the temporary residence period for citizens of countries unilaterally exempted from visas by Vietnam is extended to 45 days, an increase of 30 days compared to the period prescribed in the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam in 2014. )

Accordingly, the Ministry of Public Security shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense to propose the signing of international treaties and international agreements related to the reception of Vietnamese citizens who are not permitted to reside abroad; coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to propose the signing of international treaties related to the exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens...

Article 2 of the Law amends 10 articles and clauses of the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam with the following basic contents: Increasing the duration of electronic visas to no more than 90 days, valid for single or multiple entries, and regulating the calculation of visa duration by day for visas with a duration of less than 1 year to ensure consistency; increasing the temporary residence duration to 45 days for citizens of countries that are unilaterally exempted from visas by Vietnam and are considered for visa issuance and temporary residence extension according to other provisions of the Law.

The Law also adds the responsibility of accommodation establishments in declaring temporary residence for foreigners, amends regulations on the form of temporary residence declaration; adds regulations that foreigners are responsible for presenting their passports or valid international travel documents, documents related to residence in Vietnam to accommodation establishments to declare temporary residence according to regulations...

Major events of the tourism industry

Most people involved in tourism activities affirm that the Law on Amendments and Supplements to a Number of Articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam officially coming into effect is a major event for the tourism industry.

The Law’s policies such as increasing the duration of e-visas to 90 days, increasing the duration of temporary stay to 45 days for citizens of countries unilaterally exempted from visas by Vietnam… create much more favorable conditions for businesses in attracting international visitors - the group of visitors that bring in high tourism revenue. Tourists also have many advantages in terms of administrative procedures, time, and itinerary when traveling to Vietnam.

Mr. Phung Quang Thang, Director of Vietnam Sustainable Tourism Investment Joint Stock Company, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Travel Association, said that the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam will take effect from August 15, just in time for businesses to kick off the 2023 international tourism season.

Because of careful preparation, businesses can immediately launch new products, especially resort tours for the elderly, medical tourism, and inter-route tours, not only domestically but also connecting with countries in the region.

This year's tourist season, international visitors can apply for a visa directly without going through an intermediary, can come to Vietnam, travel to some countries in the region, then return to Vietnam and do not have to apply for a visa to re-enter as before. On the business side, there are also many advantages such as not having to apply for multiple entry visas for visitors, leading to reduced costs, easier to convince customers, thereby increasing the attractiveness of the destination, of tourism products, and being able to compete better with countries in the region.

Sharing the same view, Ms. Doan Thi Thanh Tra, Marketing Communications Director, Saigontourist Travel Service Company also said that, seizing the opportunities from the relaxation of visa policies, from the end of 2022 until now, when participating in a series of programs, events, and fairs domestically and abroad, the unit has worked with partners to have new products, in line with the new policy, expanding the market segment.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, emphasized that the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam have come into effect, creating a breakthrough policy in creating more favorable conditions for foreigners to enter Vietnam. At the same time, it helps to raise the level and create competitiveness for Vietnamese tourism.

In addition, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh also said that in order for Vietnam's tourism to develop rapidly and sustainably, especially international tourism, many other conditions and synchronous solutions are needed, from tourism products, human resources, advertising, promotion, application of information technology to ensuring facilities, convenient transportation, and ensuring security and safety for tourists.

Issuing e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories from August 15, 2023

The Government has just issued Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP on the application of electronic visas for citizens of countries and territories; international border gates allow foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas.

Accordingly, the Government has decided to issue e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories. The resolution also announced a list of international border gates that allow foreigners to enter and exit with e-visas.

List of air ports, including: Noi Bai Airport Port; Tan Son Nhat Airport Port; Cam Ranh Airport Port; Da Nang Airport Port; Cat Bi Airport Port; Can Tho Airport Port; Phu Quoc Airport Port; Phu Bai Airport Port; Van Don Airport Port; Tho Xuan Airport Port; Dong Hoi Airport Port; Phu Cat Airport Port; Lien Khuong Airport Port.

List of land border gates: Tay Trang international border gate, Dien Bien province; Mong Cai international border gate, Quang Ninh province; Huu Nghi international border gate, Lang Son province; Lao Cai international border gate, Lao Cai province; Na Meo international border gate, Thanh Hoa province; Nam Can international border gate, Nghe An province; Cau Treo international border gate, Ha Tinh province; Cha Lo international border gate, Quang Binh province; La Lay international border gate, Quang Tri province; Lao Bao international border gate, Quang Tri province; Bo Y international border gate, Kon Tum province; Moc Bai international border gate, Tay Ninh province; Xa Mat international border gate, Tay Ninh province; Tinh Bien international border gate, An Giang province; Vinh Xuong international road and waterway border gate, An Giang province; Ha Tien international border gate, Kien Giang province.

List of seaports: Hon Gai Port, Quang Ninh Province; Cam Pha Port, Quang Ninh Province; Hai Phong Port, Hai Phong City; Nghi Son Port, Thanh Hoa Province; Vung Ang Port, Ha Tinh Province; Chan May Port, Thua Thien - Hue Province; Da Nang Port, Da Nang City; Nha Trang Port, Khanh Hoa Province; Quy Nhon Port, Binh Dinh Province; Dung Quat Port, Quang Ngai Province; Vung Tau Port, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province; Ho Chi Minh City Port; Duong Dong Port, Kien Giang Province. The Government assigns the Prime Minister to direct competent agencies to take necessary measures to ensure sovereignty, national security, and social order and safety during the implementation of the Resolution. This Resolution takes effect from August 15, 2023, replacing Resolution No. 79/NQ-CP dated May 25, 2020 and Resolution No. 60/NQ-CP dated April 27, 2022.

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