HCMC – Vietnam is weighing extending a unilateral visa waiver to more countries, especially those having upgraded ties with the nation.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a directive ordering ministries to prepare plans for coping with ongoing challenges at home and abroad following the Lunar New Year holiday.
The directive asks the Ministry of Public Security to look into the possibility of offering visa exemptions to citizens of more countries based on the current circumstances and bilateral relationships.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked with reviewing the unilateral visa exemption policy for citizens of 13 countries which has been in force over the past few years, and working with the Ministry of Public Security to make a new list of countries eligible for a unilateral visa waiver.
Last year, Vietnam’s tourism sector performed better than expected. International visitor arrivals reached 12.6 million, nearly 3.4 times higher than in 2022, while the full-year target was eight million.
This year, the tourism industry aims for around 18 million international visitors and 110 million domestic tourists, with total revenue of VND840 trillion.
