A visa is not only an entry ticket, but also a message about the openness and hospitality of a country. The decision to exempt visas for citizens of 15 countries is not simply a policy, but a strong declaration of Vietnam: Ready to welcome the world, open the door to integration and affirm its position on the global tourism map.
Strategic thinking: Not just welcoming guests, but welcoming the future
According to Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP dated March 7, 2025 of the Government, citizens from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland will be exempted from visas when entering Vietnam. Previously, the Government also issued Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 15, 2025, exempting visas for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland under the 2025 tourism stimulus program. This is not only a foreign policy decision, but also a lever to help the Vietnamese tourism industry increase its competitiveness.
Assessing the impact of this policy, Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) emphasized: "The flexible visa policy is an important tool to increase the attractiveness of the destination, helping Vietnam compete better with countries in the region. This is a positive signal, demonstrating Vietnam's hospitality and openness to the world."
With a flexible orientation and diversified visa policies, Vietnam not only opens up tourism, but also proactively attracts talents, investors and high-class tourists - those who can create long-term value for the economy.
Mr. Ha Van Sieu assessed that Vietnam's visa strategy is not limited to "to exempt or not to exempt" but more importantly, how we welcome each important group of visitors. This policy is designed to optimize the benefits from the flow of international visitors, ensuring that Vietnam becomes a destination not only for sightseeing, but also for investment, innovation and development.
Vietnam pays special attention to attracting international scientists and experts who can contribute to the country's development, especially in the context of Resolution 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo focusing on science and technology.
"Vietnam needs to have a real red carpet policy, not only with invitations but also with convenience in procedures, so that they can come, work and contribute long-term," Mr. Sieu emphasized.
Foreign investors, especially those participating in FDI capital flows, are also strongly prioritized. An attractive investment environment requires not only tax incentives or good infrastructure but also visa flexibility. Mr. Sieu pointed out that we need to create conditions for an investor to be able to own a 5-year or 10-year visa conveniently, instead of having to renew it continuously. When they feel welcomed, they will be willing to commit to long-term investment.
In addition, Vietnam is targeting the 'elite' group of tourists, those with high incomes who are willing to spend on high-end services. This group of tourists is not only a regular group but also has the potential to become investors, resort real estate owners or business partners. Favorable visa policies help Vietnam not only welcome visitors but also retain them, creating long-term values for the economy.
Mr. Ha Van Sieu emphasized that, in the context of global integration, visa policy must be seen as a strategic tool for Vietnam to rise strongly: "We do not only open our doors to welcome tourists, but more importantly, welcome people who can contribute to the development of the country. A scientist choosing Vietnam as a place to research, an investor choosing Vietnam as a place to invest capital, an elite businessman choosing Vietnam as a place to experience, that is the true success of a smart visa policy".
The results of the visa exemption policy are clear, for example, the visa exemption policy for Polish citizens under the 2025 Tourism Stimulus Program, stipulated in Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 15, 2025 of the Prime Minister, not only demonstrates Vietnam's openness but also opens up new opportunities for tourism and economic cooperation between the two countries. According to information from the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland, at the meeting between Vietnamese Ambassador to Poland Ha Hoang Hai and the Polish National Airlines Group (LOT), Ambassador Ha Hoang Hai said that in just the first two months of 2025, more than 21,000 Polish visitors came to Vietnam - an impressive number, signaling strong growth potential in the coming time.
To continue to attract tourists, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to organize a tourism promotion program in Poland in June. In addition, the demand for air services between the two countries is increasing, not only serving tourism but also creating momentum for trade, investment and economic cooperation.
LOT Board Chairman Michal Fijol highly appreciated the role of the Vietnamese Embassy in promoting bilateral cooperation. LOT is currently operating charter flights to bring Polish tourists to famous destinations such as Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang. With great potential from this market, the Polish airline also expressed its desire to soon restore direct flights to Vietnam. This is not only a positive signal for the tourism industry but also contributes to creating momentum for the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries to develop further.
When the open mechanism requires the subject to be worthy
In fact, countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have long used visa exemption policies as a competitive advantage in the tourism industry. However, what makes them sustainable is not only the visa policy, but also the professional service system, diverse tourism products and sophisticated promotional campaigns that hit the psychology of tourists.
For Vietnam, visa exemption is a step in the right direction, but it is only the tip of the iceberg. The core issue remains: What do we have to keep tourists coming back? Try to put yourself in the shoes of a tourist from Europe. When they land at a Vietnamese airport, what will make them feel that this is a good decision? A quick entry procedure? A convenient transportation system? A destination with professional service and an experience worth every penny?
If visa exemption is a friendly welcome, service quality is the key to retention. Tourism infrastructure, professional service, unique tourism products… all need to be upgraded in parallel with visa policy. In addition, promotion and advertising work also needs to be stepped up. When opening up to welcome visitors from European, Japanese, Korean markets… Vietnam must have a methodical communication strategy to attract the right group of potential customers.
Mr. Ha Van Sieu emphasized: "We cannot just rely on visa policies and ignore the actual experiences of tourists. A crowded airport, unprofessional hotel services, an inconvenient transportation system... all can make them skip Vietnam whether the visa is free or not?".
Vietnam possesses rare natural and cultural advantages, from the majestic Ha Long Bay, ancient Hoi An to pristine Phu Quoc. But a beautiful landscape is not enough to become an attractive destination. What tourists need is a worthy service, a memorable journey, a feeling of comfort and satisfaction from the moment they arrive.
New thinking about smart visas
According to the Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, a country's visa policy is not simply an immigration regulation. It is part of its foreign affairs, economic and tourism development strategy. A smart country not only exempts visas for everyone, but also knows how to be flexible to attract important audiences.
Vietnam has been moving towards a smart visa model that not only exempts procedures but also creates special conditions for strategic groups of visitors. These are experts, investors, and high-spending elites who not only come to travel but also bring economic, technological and investment opportunities.
In addition, the application of technology in immigration procedures, from biometrics to electronic visa systems, will also help improve the tourist experience. As the world has entered the digital era, the tourism industry cannot continue to operate with the old mindset.
Mr. Sieu also said that the goal of attracting 22-23 million international visitors in 2025 is a big challenge, requiring close coordination between many sectors, from tourism, diplomacy to security... The government has created favorable conditions with favorable policies, but success or not depends on how the tourism industry takes advantage of this opportunity.
"Changing mindsets, improving service quality, applying technology and building an attractive destination image are prerequisites for Vietnam to not only attract tourists but also retain them, turning them into voluntary tourism ambassadors to promote Vietnam's image to the world," affirmed the Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
Thailand, for example, welcomes tens of millions of international visitors each year, but more importantly, they have a very high rate of returning visitors. Japan does not exempt visas for many countries, but tourists still flock to it because of its superior service quality.
Therefore, Vietnam cannot compete with cheap prices or easy visas forever. We need a truly high-class tourism ecosystem, where tourists do not just come once but want to return many times. And to do that, visa policy is just the door, what is inside that door is the deciding factor.
This further demonstrates that visa exemption is not just a policy, but a commitment. A commitment to an open, hospitable Vietnam, ready to break through to become the world's leading destination.
The world is entering an era of fierce competition to attract talent and capital. In this “level playing field”, Vietnam needs strategic visa policies that are not only flexible but also attractive enough to make the best, the richest, and the most influential people choose Vietnam as their destination. And when that is done, Vietnam will not only develop tourism, but also lay a solid foundation for a prosperous future.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/mien-thi-thuc-cu-huych-lon-cho-du-lich-viet-nam-vuon-minh-5041748.html
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