The Prime Minister on Oct. 1 signed a decision to provide preferences for foreign specialists who are working for ODA programmes and projects in Vietnam.

According to the decision, foreign specialists and their dependants regardless of their nationality will be equally treated and have their lawful property and income during their protected stay in Vietnam .

The decision offers various preferences to foreign specialists, including those on visa, foreign exchange, residence and travel registration, granting and renewal of driving licences, and registration of vehicle’s number plates.

Specially, foreign specialists and their dependants will be granted multiple Vietnamese entry/exit visas at the request of the project managing agencies.

They may bring foreign currencies into Vietnam and transfer foreign currency remittances overseas covert into foreign currencies and bring out of Vietnam their earnings from wages, contracts on the implementation of ODA programmes or other legal incomes.

Specialists who are allowed to stay in Vietnam for less than 183 days will enjoy import tax exemption for essential household appliances with appropriate quantity and category.

During their stay in Vietnam , foreign specialists will be exempted from personal income tax on their incomes from wages or remunerations for the implementation of ODA programmes/projects.

Property under lawful ownership of specialists and their dependants in Vietnam shall not be collected, requisitioned or confiscated.

The decision will take effect as from Nov. 20./.