Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s visa policyshould be more open to lure international tourists, insiders have said.
Although the country has offered unilateral visaexemption and e-visas, the policy is not competitive enough as the 15-day visaexemption has yet to satisfy the need of visitors from such markets asEurope, North America and Australia, who often stay from three to four weeks inVietnam, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST).
Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department ofTourism Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said the ministry should propose the Governmentinstruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expand the list of countries andterritories qualified for visa exemption and e-visa, and restore visa grantingat border gates.
She also suggested simplifying visa procedures forvisitors who get infected with COVID-19 during their stay in Vietnam andundergo treatment in the Southeast Asian nation.
The official proposed extending visa-free stay fromthe current 15 to 30 days to attract more tourists.
Nguyen Thien Phuc, Director of Product Research& Development at Vidotour Indochina Travel, said apart from the visapolicy, a national communication strategy and a contingent of trained personnelare needed for the domestic tourism sector.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism hascoordinated with associations, businesses and airlines to outline promotionplans to quickly ramp up international tourism, focusing on Southeast Asian,Northeast Asian and European markets.
Specifically, Vietnam will join JATA Tourism Expo, aleading regional travel fair which will take place in Japan from September22-25, and the World Travel Market in the UK from November 7-9.
There will be also festivals and programmespromoting Vietnamese tourism in major markets like the Republic of Korea,Japan, Taiwan (China), Europe, North America and Australia, along with an arrayof events at home.
The sector served nearly 72 million domestictourists and 733,000 foreign visitors so far this year, according to the MCST.
The Ministry of Public Security said it grantede-visas to citizens from 80 countries and territories and offered visasexemption to travelers from 25 others./.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed resuming pre-pandemic visa policy for foreign arrivals to Vietnam to attract more tourists and recover the tourism sector in the future.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang informed the press on Vietnam’s policy on visa and mutual recognition of vaccine passport during a regular press conference of the ministry held online on March 3.
Vietnam dropped COVID-19 test requirements for visitors entering the country from May 15, a move expected to boost the recovery of the country’s tourism industry.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
