Vietnam-Belarus visa exemption agreement to open up world of opportunities
The agreement on visa exemption for Vietnamese and Bulgarian holders of ordinary passports, signed by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and her Belarusian counterpart Evgeny Shestakov in Hanoi on December 8, 2023, will come into effect on January 30, 2025.
At the signing ceremony (Photo: Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Hanoi (VNA) 🌄- The agreement on visa exemption for Vietnamese and Bulgarian holders of ordinary passports, signed by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and her Belarusian counterpart Evgeny Shestakov in Hanoi on December 8, 2023, will come into effect on January 30, 2025.
The agreement allows holders of ordinary passports from both countries to travel visa-free for up to 30 days per visit, with a total stay not exceeding 90 days within a year.
It reflects the Vietnamese Government's desire to establish reciprocal entry and exit mechanisms and visa exemptions with suitable partner countries. By facilitating easier travel, it is to create mutual benefits for the citizens of both nations.
꧑ The signing marks a new step forward in the bilateral traditional and friendly relations, opening up a world of opportunities for deeper cooperation across various fields. It is also part of the Vietnamese Government's broader efforts to facilitate international tourism in general, particularly encouraging Belarusian tourists to explore Vietnam, contributing to boosting tourism, cultural exchange, market exploration, and overall bilateral ties.
Vietnam and Belarus signed the agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports back in 1993. Since 2015, Belarusian citizens, regardless of their passport type, have enjoyed unilateral visa exemption when entering Vietnam./.
Vietnam and Belarus have complementary economic advantages and great potential to promote their trade ties, according to participants at the Belarus - Vietnam Business Forum held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 23.
The Vietnam Embassy in Belarus and the Association of International Friendship and Cultural Exchange of Belarus on May 6 held a ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of Victory Day over Fascism in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 1945 – 2024), the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024), and the 49th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the national reunification (April 30, 1975-2024).
An event themed “Hello Vietnam” was held in Minsk on April 17 to promote the Vietnamese culture, traditions, history, and cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide.
In recent decades, Vietnam’s mainstream media has become a reliable and persuasive channel for showcasing the nation’s development policies and achievements, especially in economic matters, according to a senior assistant editor at the Times of India.
A hub for sharing best practices, the event aims to forge solutions for financial sustainability, public media contracts, audience engagement, content innovation, and newsroom restructuring. It is also a moment for Vietnam’s media to accelerate its progress and figure out what the “revolutionary press” means in a new era.
From “Thanh nien”, Vietnam’s first revolutionary newspaper founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) on June 21, 1925, the revolutionary press has remained devoted to its sacred missions -accompanying the nation, serving the Fatherland, and working for the people.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
In this era of global integration and digitalisation, the press must adopt modern multimedia models to not only meet increasing information and communication demands but also align with the broader socio-economic development of the country.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
As of June 17, Ca Mau province had achieved its target of supporting the construction and renovation of 4,400 homes, with a total budget of over 235 billion VND (about 9 million USD).
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
