New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

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sigmoid
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

Post by sigmoid »

Guesst wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:20 pm Does anyone have an inkling as to why they're taking so long about it? As this was the policy before COVID anyway right - 3 month or even 6 month tourist visa options, IIRC

I'm not sure who exactly stands to gain by preventing tourism from going back to *somewhere near* the pre-COVID levels?!
Actually, in 2019, before COVID, it was announced that Vietnam tourist visas would be limited to 30 days. It was suppposed to be implemented in June or July 2020.
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

Post by ExPenhMan »

Hmmm . . . a couple of new but positive twists.

This story says they will deal with the proposals in the National Assembly in May. Whereas the above story mentions both May and October. I'm a little more hopeful they will just deal with the visas in May and be done with it. Can't see why they'd wait till the autumn because they would have a good chance of blowing another snowbird season and their tourism target numbers.


Headline on the lead story today in Saigon Times: Govt considers lengthening visa-free stay to 45 days
HCMC – The Government is weighing increasing the duration of visa-free stay for international tourists to 45 days from the current 15 to attract guests from abroad.

If approval is forthcoming, foreign tourists who come from countries to which Vietnam unilaterally gives a visa waiver can stay in the country for up to 45 days, instead of the current 15.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently chaired a meeting of the Government’s Standing Committee to look into visa exemptions for foreigners and tentative immigration policy changes.

Members of the Government’s Standing Committee agreed at the meeting that the validity of e-visa would be increased from no more than 30 days to no more than three months and that the e-visa would be either single or multiple-entry one.

E-visas might be issued to citizens of all foreign countries and territories.

The Government’s Standing Committee assigned the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate with the Ministry of Justice and other relevant agencies to make preparations and send immigration policy change proposals to the National Assembly session, expected to be held in May.
Note: Nordic and some European and ASEAN countries get 15/30-day visa waivers -- 25 countries in all.

https://english.thesaigontimes.vn/govt- ... o-45-days/
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

Post by ExPenhMan »

More confirmation and more of a positive spin from VN Express -- Government issues statement and May looking more solid.

Posted last evening but it wasn't on the VN Express news app this morning though. Anyway . . .

Headline: Vietnam to grant 3-month e-visas for foreign tourists to boost tourism
The government announced it will propose the National Assembly to prolong the duration of e-visas granted to foreigners entering Vietnam from 30 days to a maximum of three months to boost tourism recovery.

The e-visa will be valid for single-entry or multiple entries, the Government Office said in a statement.

The government also mulls expansion of issuing e-visas for citizens of all countries and territories.

Vietnam now offers a one-month, single-entry e-visa to visitors from 80 countries, including the U.S., Australia and India.

The new government proposal also includes extending the duration of stays for tourists from countries enjoying 15-day visa exemptions to 30 days. [45 day option from the above story is missing.]

Now, visitors from some European countries, Japan and South Korea, Vietnam's top tourism markets, are permitted to stay in the country for 15 days without applying for a tourist visa.

Since Vietnam reopened its borders in March last year, the number of foreign tourists has remained low, prompting tourism industry insiders to urge visa relaxations to save the tourism industry.

Despite being one of the first Southeast Asian countries to fully reopen to international tourism post Covid, Vietnam received only 3.6 million foreign tourists last year, around 20% of the pre-pandemic figure.

This year, Vietnam aims to receive 8 million foreign visitors.

The National Assembly's next meeting is in May.
https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/vie ... 85858.html

Let's hope they make this effective for say June 1 and the e-visa portal will be robust because there is going to be an explosive rush.
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

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ExPenhMan wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 6:32 pm More confirmation and more of a positive spin from VN Express -- Government issues statement and May looking more solid.

Posted last evening but it wasn't on the VN Express news app this morning though. Anyway . . .

Headline: Vietnam to grant 3-month e-visas for foreign tourists to boost tourism
The government announced it will propose the National Assembly to prolong the duration of e-visas granted to foreigners entering Vietnam from 30 days to a maximum of three months to boost tourism recovery.

The e-visa will be valid for single-entry or multiple entries, the Government Office said in a statement.

The government also mulls expansion of issuing e-visas for citizens of all countries and territories.

Vietnam now offers a one-month, single-entry e-visa to visitors from 80 countries, including the U.S., Australia and India.

The new government proposal also includes extending the duration of stays for tourists from countries enjoying 15-day visa exemptions to 30 days. [45 day option from the above story is missing.]

Now, visitors from some European countries, Japan and South Korea, Vietnam's top tourism markets, are permitted to stay in the country for 15 days without applying for a tourist visa.

Since Vietnam reopened its borders in March last year, the number of foreign tourists has remained low, prompting tourism industry insiders to urge visa relaxations to save the tourism industry.

Despite being one of the first Southeast Asian countries to fully reopen to international tourism post Covid, Vietnam received only 3.6 million foreign tourists last year, around 20% of the pre-pandemic figure.

This year, Vietnam aims to receive 8 million foreign visitors.

The National Assembly's next meeting is in May.
https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/vie ... 85858.html

Let's hope they make this effective for say June 1 and the e-visa portal will be robust because there is going to be an explosive rush.
Lot of talking, mulls, considere, propose, typical comminist rethoric.
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

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Now, visitors from some European countries, Japan and South Korea, Vietnam's top tourism markets, are permitted to stay in the country for 15 days without applying for a tourist visa.
1 Chile 90 days Entries that do not include remunerated activities
2 Panama 90 days Entries that do not include remunerated activities
3 Cambodia 30 days Not mentioned
4 Indonesia 30 days Not mentioned
5 Kyrgyzstan 30 days Not mentioned
6 Laos 30 days Not mentioned
7 Malaysia 30 days Tourism, attending press, conference/coverage, official duty, visiting relatives, business negotiation, investment, sports, or attending seminars or conferences
8 Singapore 30 days Entries that do not include remunerated activities
9 Thailand 30 days Not mentioned
10 Philippines 21 days Not mentioned
11 Brunei 14 days Not mentioned
12 Myanmar 14 days Visiting only
13 Belarus 15 days Not mentioned
14 Denmark15 days Not mentioned
15 Finland 15 days Not mentioned
13 France 15 days Not mentioned
17 Germany15 days Not mentioned
18 Italy 15 days Not mentioned
19 Japan 15 days Not mentioned
20 Norway 15 days Not mentioned
21 Russia 15 days Not mentioned
22 South Korea 15 days Not mentioned
23 Spain 15 days Not mentioned
24 Sweden15 days Not mentioned
25 United Kingdom (Not applicable to BNO) 15 days Not mentioned
So if you are from the European countries of Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden or the UK you might be in luck. Pretty fucking useless to any other westerner. Meanwhile a whole lot of people are not going to Vietnam because of its awkward visa policies. Well done you crusty old Politburo members. You can vote on it after the giant ceremony marking your own importance. :?
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

Post by ExPenhMan »

Seems to me this 90-day e-visa is going to happen and for lots of nationalities.

From Viet Nam News this morning:

Headline: Cabinet members agree on extending e-visa validity to three months
HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has emphasised the need to better facilitate entry and exit procedures during a lawmaking session in Hà Nội on Monday.

Among the items on the agenda were extending tourist visas' validity to three months and easing conditions for Vietnamese citizens to apply for foreign entry visas.

PM Chính assigned the Ministry of Public Security to collaborate with the other ministries and agencies to draft amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese citizens and the Law on foreigners' entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Việt Nam.

The proposal will be submitted to the National Assembly for inclusion in the 2023 Law and Ordinance Development Programme.

The session examined a range of topics covering both foreigners coming to Việt Nam and facilitating Vietnamese citizens going abroad.

The PM said most cabinet members agreed with the proposal to raise the validity of e-visas to 90 days (from the current 30 days) with single and multiple entries applicable, granting e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories (with the list decided by the Government), and increase the duration of temporary residence at the border gate for people entering the country under the visa exemption categories from 15 days to 45 days.
https://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/15 ... onths.html


Not much in this Youth News (Tuoi Tre) story other than more confirmation of the government's intent.


Headline: Vietnamese gov’t to seek legislative nod on 3-month e-visa validity
The Vietnamese government will seek the lawmaking National Assembly (NA)'s approval for a proposal that visitor e-visa validity would be increased to three months from one month for foreigners who want to enter Vietnam.

The Government Office has released conclusions of the government’s Standing Committee on visa exemptions for foreign citizens and a number of immigration policy changes.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh earlier chaired a meeting over the issue, during which the Standing Committee asked the Ministry of Public Security to team up with relevant agencies to complete proposals on e-visa validity extension and immigration policy changes to be submitted at an upcoming NA session, scheduled for May this year.

According to these proposals, Vietnam would extend the validity of e-visas granted to foreigners entering the country to three months from no more than 30 days for single entry or multiple entries.

Besides, the Southeast Asian country would grant e-visas to foreign citizens of all countries and territories.

Also, foreign visitors from countries and regions entitled to Vietnam’s unilateral visa waiver program may enjoy a maximum stay duration of 45 days, instead of the current 15 days.


The Ministry of Public Security had previously drafted amendments to the Law on Foreigners’ Entry in, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in Vietnam.

Its drafted amendments also proposed increasing the validity of e-visas issued to foreigners to three months from one month in order to create favorable conditions for those who want to enter and stay in Vietnam for up to three months.

Foreigners who want to remain in the country for more than three months would get their requests processed as per the prevailing regulations.

The ministry also proposed prolonging the length of stay to 30 days from 15 days for foreign visitors from countries to which Vietnam offers a visa waiver.

The government would finalize the list of countries and territories whose citizens would be granted the e-visa, and the list of international border gates that allow entry and exit using e-visas without negatively affecting Vietnam’s national defense and public security.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, the e-visa validity extension to three months was suggested by multiple agencies in an attempt to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism and woo more international visitors as well as investors to the country

https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/society/202 ... 72300.html
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

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One more forward step . . . But still waiting for a proposed date to activate the new amendments. The decision should come next month.

Headline in Saigon Times: New visa policy proposal sent to National Assembly
HCMC – The Government has officially written to the National Assembly proposing a new policy for changing immigration procedures and e-visa issuance, and lengthening a visa-free stay for foreign visitors.

The proposed policy includes granting e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories, extending the validity of e-visa to up to three months, and increasing the duration of visa-free stay for international tourists to 45 days from the current 15.

If approved, this visa policy would help attract more international tourists to Vietnam and contribute to the recovery and development of tourism.

The proposal, signed by the Minister of Public Security To Lam under the authorization of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, will be considered in the National Assembly session, expected to be held in May 2023.

After Vietnam resumed international tourism in mid-March 2022, the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam in 2022 increased 6.6 times compared to 2021, which Covid-19 struck and led to travel restrictions. However, it was still low compared to pre-pandemic levels, only equal to 32.6% of the figure in 2019.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, foreign diplomatic representatives in Vietnam, trade associations, foreign businesses, and the Tourism Advisory Council previously suggested a more flexible visa policy to enhance competitiveness and attract international tourists in the future.



https://english.thesaigontimes.vn/new-v ... -assembly/
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

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ExPenhMan wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 6:32 pm
Let's hope they make this effective for say June 1 and the e-visa portal will be robust because there is going to be an explosive rush.
Explosive rush? What am I missing here? Many expats have already relocated elsewhere. Vietnam has never been very popular with tourists. The nightlife is boring/annoying.

Just curious... Who really has a desire to spend 3 months in Vietnam? Maybe some old folks?
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

Post by ExPenhMan »

sigmoid wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 2:15 pm
ExPenhMan wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 6:32 pm
Let's hope they make this effective for say June 1 and the e-visa portal will be robust because there is going to be an explosive rush.
Explosive rush? What am I missing here? Many expats have already relocated elsewhere. Vietnam has never been very popular with tourists. The nightlife is boring/annoying.

Just curious... Who really has a desire to spend 3 months in Vietnam? Maybe some old folks?
Many who have relocated to the neighbouring and faraway nations are mostly planning a return to live in VN, as I was told by those still living in Vung Tau on business and marriage TRCs. Comments in the Viet press show the same interest. Which leads me to believe former residents are of mixed ages over the whole country, but yes, quite a few are of advanced age.

Just judging by the popularity of border hop services, there are many who are wishing and waiting for the 90-day visa, as noted in many posts in the expat pages and through personal conversations.

I am sure you remember a record 18 million tourists visited VN in 2019. Admittedly, VN has its problems and frankly, I have cooled off on VN overall, having visited most years since 2005. But I still like to visit Vung Tau. However, I will add, Saigon overall is as annoying as bucket of mosquitoes. It hasn't changed much for the better.
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Re: New Vietnam draft law to offer 3-month e-visa

Post by Alex »

sigmoid wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 2:15 pm
ExPenhMan wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 6:32 pm
Let's hope they make this effective for say June 1 and the e-visa portal will be robust because there is going to be an explosive rush.
Explosive rush? What am I missing here? Many expats have already relocated elsewhere. Vietnam has never been very popular with tourists. The nightlife is boring/annoying.

Just curious... Who really has a desire to spend 3 months in Vietnam? Maybe some old folks?
I had the 3-month multi-entry tourist visa twice in 2019, when it was still available before Covid. And I'll get the eVisa reincarnation thereof again once that becomes available. I think Vietnam is a great country to explore, and I'm not done yet.
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