HCMC – South Korea will extend its visa fee waiver for groups of tourists from Vietnam and five other countries until the end of June 2026, a move expected to support the recovery of outbound travel.
On December 31, South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said the government would prolong the waiver for the C-3-2 visa, a short-term tourist visa for those visiting South Korea in groups organized by accredited tour operators. The policy, which was due to expire on December 31, 2025, allows multiple entries within one year, with stays of up to 15 days per visit.
The extension applies to travelers from China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
The decision is seen as a boost to tourism flows between Vietnam and South Korea as international travel demand continues to recover. In 2025, the number of Vietnamese visitors to South Korea is expected to reach around 550,000, up about 9% from 2024. South Korea aims to attract roughly 600,000 Vietnamese tourists in 2026, exceeding pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.
Vietnam remains one of the top destinations for South Korean travelers. So far, the country has welcomed more than 3.9 million visitors from South Korea, helping it maintain its position as one of Vietnam’s largest inbound tourism markets.
However, flight capacity between the two countries has yet to fully return to 2019 levels. The Korea Tourism Organization is working with airlines and travel companies to expand services, with a focus on developing charter flights and stepping up promotions in emerging markets such as Haiphong and Danang, in addition to Hanoi and HCMC.
