At the press conference (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The new visa policy is presenting anopportunity for Vietnam's tourism industry to enhance its competitiveness, saidthe Ministry of Public Security’s Vietnam Immigration Department during a pressconference in Hanoi on August 30.
The Law on amendments and supplements toseveral articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and theLaw on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam officiallytook effect on August 15.
Within the first 15 days of the law being ineffect from August 15-30, and in accordance with the Government’s ResolutionNo. 127, a total of 112,058 applications for electronic visas have beensubmitted, marking an increase of over 70% compared to the time before the law came intoeffect.
Citizens of countries newly eligible for electronic visas under the resolution accounted for 50%, or 56,000applications, with Chinese citizens using e-passports making up around 10%(9,130 applications).
During this period, a total of 337,669foreigners entered Vietnam under the unilateral visa exemption policy, or 70%of the total, mostly from the Republic of Korea with 155,000people, Japan 30,000 and the UK 8,000. The extension of temporary stay from 15days to 45 days has also made it more convenient for foreign visitors to choosevarious leisure, cross-country, and regional tours.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) On August 14, the Government issued a resolutionon granting e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories, allowing them to enter and exit the country using e-visas through 13 air, 16 land, and 13 sea border gates.
Accordingto the department, the building of the Law also suits the practicalconditions with an aim to reform administrative procedures in the field ofentry and exit of Vietnamese citizens./.
