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

[ExPenhMan]

This looks like the real thing, an actual draft amendment, which would have to be passed by the National Assembly, I believe. It also fits some of the statements by the PM recently and noted in the earlier thread. Thought I would post a separate story since this could be what many are waiting for.


Earlier thread: topic54137.html


Headline in VN Express story from last evening: Vietnam considers extending e-visas to three months

The Ministry of Public Security has proposed prolonging the duration of e-visas granted to foreigners entering Vietnam from 30 days to a maximum of three months to help tourism recover.

The e-visa will be valid for single-entry or multiple entries, according to a draft amendment to The Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, for which the ministry is preparing to collect public opinions.

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

Under the draft, the ministry also suggested extending the duration of stays for tourists from countries enjoying 15-day visa exemptions to 30 days.

Now, visitors from some European countries, Japan and South Korea, Vietnam's top tourism markets, are permitted to stay in the country for no more than 15 days without applying for a tourist visa.

The ministry said that 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.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told a tourism conference that Vietnam will waive visas for more countries and extend the length of stay for foreign tourists to speed up the recovery of tourism.

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.

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietn ... 82646.html

[ExPenhMan]

This is going to disappoint a lot of expats waiting out in neighbouring countries, plus the RoW for the rumoured 90-day VN tourist visa.

Vietnam's planned easement of visa policy will continue to be talked to death. A more detailed story than the one above appeared on Viet Nam News today.

Here is the quote that makes reading the rest of the story moot:

The public security ministry is seeking public feedback on the amended law, and the bill is set to be discussed at the fifth and sixth plenary session of the 15th-tenure National Assembly in May and October this year.

Headline: Ministry proposes extending visa-free stay to 30 days, e-visa to 90 days


https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1501210/ ... -days.html

[Matty9999]

thanks a lot, let me kow when 90 to 180 days is implemented

[cabron]

This is going to disappoint a lot of expats waiting out in neighbouring countries, plus the RoW for the rumoured 90-day VN tourist visa.

Vietnam's planned easement of visa policy will continue to be talked to death. A more detailed story than the one above appeared on Viet Nam News today.

Here is the quote that makes reading the rest of the story moot:

The public security ministry is seeking public feedback on the amended law, and the bill is set to be discussed at the fifth and sixth plenary session of the 15th-tenure National Assembly in May and October this year.

Headline: Ministry proposes extending visa-free stay to 30 days, e-visa to 90 days


https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1501210/ ... -days.html

Proposes only, it may takes another year before it comes through.

[Guesst]

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?!

[Mr Cynical]

90 day visa great, at the moment a border run each month is only an inconvenience. Let’s face it a round trip to the border is a lost day only, it’s not as if people need to lose a days work to do this. If it’s the cost then you are better staying in shit accommodation and environment in Cambodia. Just a thought

[cabron]

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?!

There is rumors in the high rank politician that they simply don't want to become another mass tourists destination like Thailand or Philippines.

[ExPenhMan]

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?!

There is rumors in the high rank politician that they simply don't want to become another mass tourists destination like Thailand or Philippines.

Interesting. However, the Viets have an enormous amount of work to do on infrastructure: expressways (many unfinished), rail for cargo and passengers, city subways (same, many delayed and unfinished) and airports. Saigon airport needs a thorough renovation and reorganization. Whereas Thailand has it all done.

Visas? They have had a year since reopening and have not taken a single progressive step toward encouraging more tourists and long-stay visitors. Why? I haven't a clue, other than being distracted by a huge bribery scandal over pandemic repatriation flights with dozens of arrests, high and low.

[KunKhmerSR]

If this goes through Cambodia might as well close it's tourism industry. Instead of going through Cambodia from Thailand most people will just skip the $35 and bothersome visa process on arrival which makes you wait ages and having to present printed out documents like we still live in the age of fax machines.

[hanno]

If this goes through Cambodia might as well close it's tourism industry. Instead of going through Cambodia from Thailand most people will just skip the $35 and bothersome visa process on arrival which makes you wait ages and having to present printed out documents like we still live in the age of fax machines.

Bothersome visa process? Hardly. Applied for e-visa, got said visa within a day (yes, the printing part sucks), and was out of the airport in 10 minutes.