Tourism sector urges revision of visa regulations

The 14th National Assembly will debate this week some draft laws, including the law amending and supplementing some articles of the law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam, as part of the ongoing eighth session.
Tourism sector urges revision of visa regulations ảnh 1Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA)
– The 14th National Assembly will debate this week somedraft laws, including the law amending and supplementing some articles of thelaw on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam, as part ofthe ongoing eighth session.

Vietnam’s tourism has developed strongly over the recent past and brought abouthigh economic values.

However, experts in the tourism sector said there still remain bottlenecks, oneof which being policies on the entry and exit of foreigners, which need to besettled in order to improve the sector’s competitiveness, thus attracting moreinternational visitors.

Hoang Nhan Chinh, head of the Secretariat of the Vietnam Tourism AdvisoryBoard, said the law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners inVietnam should be more open.

He cited as an example the stipulation that requires a gap of at least 30 daysbetween two visa-free visits.

Chinh further said that many international visitors, especially those fromWestern Europe, Northern Europe and Russia, want to stay in Vietnam longer thanthe maximum visa-free 15 days.

He also emphasized the need for a national website that publishes officialinformation about visa policies, citing a survey by the Vietnam TourismAdvisory which showed that most websites of Vietnamese embassies abroad fail toupdate latest information on the country’s visa policies.

Such a website should be prescribed clearly in the law on entry, exit, transitand residence of foreigners in Vietnam, he said.

Chinh also pointed to problems in visa granting at Vietnam’s border gates,which still requires visitors to apply for visas at embassies and receive visasat the border gates. He said this has reduced the tourism sector’scompetitiveness.

Experts in the tourism sector are concerned about the fact that the visaexemption policy for tourists from major markets like Russia, Japan and theRepublic of Korea (RoK) will end on December 31, 2019. They said the number ofvisitors from those markets would drop 30-50 percent if the policy is notextended. 

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration ofTourism, proposed expanding the list of countries and border gates eligible fore-visas.

Besides, Vietnam needs to reform visa grant procedures at border gates andreview its unilateral visa waiver policy, she said./. 

See more

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (L) and Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Deputy PM meets with Lao, UAE leaders in Dubai

Meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son provided an overview of Vietnam's socio-economic achievements and drastic measures the country has taken to realise the Resolution on continued reform and re-organisation of the political system for streamlined, effective and efficient operations.

The National Assembly House in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

NA’s 9th extraordinary session to open on February 12

During the 8-day session, legislators will review and pass the drafts of the revised law on amendments and supplements to the Law on organisation of the NA, the revised Law on organisation of the Government, and the revised Law on promulgation of legal documents.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien speaks at the forum (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam attends 14th Japan-ASEAN Defence Vice-Ministerial Forum

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien stressed that the world is undergoing era-defining transformations. Against this backdrop, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) has proven effective in managing regional security, fostering dialogue, and enhancing cooperation to address emerging challenges, helping to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.

Australian official lauds thriving partnership with Vietnam

Australian official lauds thriving partnership with Vietnam

Australian Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill suggested the two countries work closely on people-to-people exchange and promote tourism activities, noting with satisfaction the rapid increase in the number of Australian visitors to Vietnam and welcoming more Vietnamese tourists to the Australian shores.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son holds a telephone talks with Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono on February 10. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Indonesia seek deeper collaboration

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono affirmed that Indonesia highly values its strategic partnership with Vietnam and proposed that both sides continue to enhance substantial cooperation across all fields, including joint activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations (December 30, 1955 –2025).

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of Vietnam's permanent mission to the United Nations (UN), delivers a speech at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam begins term as UN Women Executive Board member

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of Vietnam's permanent mission to the United Nations (UN), on February 10 attended the annual session of the UN Women Executive Board as a newly elected member for the 2025-2027 term.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (R), Politburo member, member of the Standing Board of the Central Military Commission, and Deputy Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, and Kano Koji, Japan’s Vice Minister of Defence, at the 11th Vietnam-Japan defence policy dialogue in Fukuoka on February 10 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Japan hold 11th defence policy dialogue

Vietnam is willing to cooperate with countries and international organisations for peace and development in the region and the world, said Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defence.