Photo: TTXVN

According to proposals and recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries and branches, the Vietnamese Government has expanded the list of countries and territories with unilateral visa exemption, which officially takes effect from August 15, 2023. 

Here with, Article 1 of Resolution No.128/NQ-CP Amendments to the Government's Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated March 15, 2022 on Visa waiver for nationals,

"Visa waiver will be applicable to nationals of the Federal Republic of Germany, The French Republic, Italian Republic, Kingdom of Spain, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Russian Federation, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kingdom of Denmark, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Norway, Republic of Finland, and the Republic of Belarus with a maximum temporary residence period of 45 days from the date of entry, no matter what visa types they currently hold or their purposes of entry, on the basis of eligibility for entry in accordance with Vietnamese laws."

45 Days for 13 countries enjoying visa waiver (Source: Vietnam Tourism)

Thus, the temporary residence period for citizens of the above countries will be increased from 15 days to 45 days.

After taking effect from August 15, 2023, Vietnam's decision to unilaterally expand visa exemption has been bringing positive impacts for both tourists and Vietnam, including: boosting the country's economy, creating more job opportunities and increasing tourism in the region. On a whole, this policy will also create a friendlier image of Vietnam, attract more people to visit and explore the country's rich culture and heritage.

Photo: Collected

Order and procedure:

Step 1: To prepare a set of dossiers as regulated. 

Step 2: To submit the application forms at one of these offices of the Vietnam Immigration Department - Ministry of Public Security: 

     + 44-46 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

     + 335-337 Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

- After receiving and reviewing the application forms, the immigration officials will make the following decisions: 

          + If the documents meet the requirements, the receipt will be made and given to the applicant.

          + If the document does not meet the requirements, the applicant must continue to complete documents.

Working Time: From Monday to Saturday morning (except Lunar New Year holiday, public holiday and Sunday).

Step 3: Get results

- The person who comes to receive the results gives a receipt to the officer who returns the results and signs the receipt.

- Working Time: From Monday to Friday every week (except Lunar New Year holiday, public holiday and Sunday).

 - Application submission: Submit the application form in person to one of three offices of the Vietnam Immigration Department - Ministry of Public Security:

     + 44 - 46 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

     + 335 - 337 Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Contents, number of dossiers:          

         a) Passport or international travel documents or permanent residence permit issued by a foreign competent authority to an overseas Vietnamese;

         b) Application forms for visa exemption certificate enclosed with 2 photos (one photo attached in the declaration);

          c) Certificate of visa exemption, if it was lost, notice of loss should be attached;

         d) An authenticated copy of the original documents or enclosed with the original documents for reference of papers proving the content to be modified in the visa exemption certificate.

          + Number of dossiers: 01 (one) set.

         - Processing time : 05 working days. 

         - Subjects of application: Vietnamese people residing overseas and foreigners who are spouses, children of either of Vietnamese people residing abroad or Vietnamese citizens have lost, damaged, been expired or demand for adjusting some information in the visa exemption certificate.

         - Competent authority: Vietnam Immigration Department.

          - Results of procedures: To re-issue the visa exemption certificate

          - Fees: According to Circular No. 219/2016/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance dated October 11th, 2016 stipulating collection, payment, management and use of fees in the field of exit, entry transit, residence in Vietnam. 

          - Name of application form: Declaration Form for  reissuance of visa exemption certificate (NA9).

         - Eligible Requirements:

          + Having a passport or an international travel document that remains valid for at least 01 year; 

         + Entering Vietnam on a visa exemption certificate and currently residing in Vietnam;

          + Papers proving that those people are residing abroad and the foreigners who are spouses or children of either Vietnamese people residing abroad or of Vietnamese citizens;

          + Not falling into the case of suspension from exit prescribed in Article 28 of Law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Vietnam.

          - Legal basis:

          + Law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence  in Vietnam (Law No. 47/2014 QH13) dated June 16th, 2014;

          + Decree No. 82/2015 / ND-CP of the Government dated September 24th, 2015 regulating visa exemption for Vietnamese people residing abroad and foreigners being spouses or children of either Vietnamese residing overseas or  Vietnamese citizens;

          + Circular No. 04/2015 / TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security dated January 5th, 2015 regulating the required forms relating to foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence  in Vietnam;

         + Circular No. 219/2016/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance dated October 11th, 2016 stipulating collection, payment, management and use of fees in the field of exit, entry transit, residence in Vietnam./.

Source: xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn

Photo: Freepik

Vietnam was among the top 10 destinations for Australian tourists during the past nine months of the year, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

More Australians are choosing destinations in Southeast Asia when traveling abroad, with four destinations featured in the top 10, including Indonesia in first, Thailand in sixth, Vietnam in ninth, and Singapore in 10th.

Bali of Indonesia has maintained its leading position as a favorite destination for Australian tourists for many years.

Furthermore, Australian newspaper the Sydney Morning Herald predicts that Vietnam will continue to be a popular destination for Australians ahead in 2024 as the number of Australian visitors to the nation this year is approximately equal to that before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The beauty of Vietnam through landscapes (Source: Photo by VNA)

A report by the Skyscanner platform in early November showed that Ho Chi Minh City ranked among the top 10 most sought-after destinations for Australian tourists, with a growth rate of 246% recorded in the past year. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City is projected to be one of the top destinations for Australian tourists by 2024.

The report also reveals that airfares and hotel costs are the biggest factors for Australian tourists when deciding on their holiday destination.

According to data released by the Vietnam Administration of National Tourism, the number of Australian visitors to Vietnam after 10 months reached nearly 319,900, equal to about 98% compared to the same period of 2019 when nearly 326,500 arrivals were recorded.

Source: VOV

Photo: Freepik

Vietnam has welcomed 8.9 million international visitors in the first nine months, exceeding the target of eight million for the whole year.

The socio-economic situation report released by the General Statistics Office on September 29, shows that September 2023 recorded 1.05 million foreign arrivals, marking the third consecutive month when foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 1 million. Compared to August 2023, international visitors to Vietnam decreased by 13.4% and 2.4 times higher than the same period last year.

With the number of international visitors continuing to surpass the 1 million mark in September, during the first 9 months of 2023, Vietnamese tourism has welcomed nearly 8.9 million visitors, completing and exceeding the target of welcoming 8 million international visitors for the whole year. 

However, compared to the same period in 2022, international visitors to Vietnam in the past nine months still only reached 69%.

10 largest sources of tourist arrivals to Vietnam (Source: Nhân Dân)

The Republic of Korea continues to be the largest source of tourist arrivals, with over 2.5 million in the first nine months, followed by China. 

Taiwan (China) surpassed the U.S. (548,866) to become the third biggest tourist sender with 575,101, and Japan came fifth with 414,444.

Out of the 8.9 million tourists, 7.8 million arrived in Vietnam by air (87.5%), one million by road (11.8%), and 64,000 by sea (0.7%).

The majority of the arrivals were from Asia (6.85 million), followed by Europe (1.015 million), the Americas (682,800), Oceania (311,100), and Africa (20,400).

Revenue from accommodation and catering services in this period rose by 16% and earnings from travel and tourism services increased 47.7% year-on-year.

Some localities with increasing travel service revenue, in the first nine months of 2023, compared to the same period last year are as follows: Da Nang increased by 139.9%; Quang Ninh increased by 98.8%; Ho Chi Minh City increased by 91.3%; Hanoi increased by 67.4%; Hai Phong increased by 50.9%; Can Tho increased by 39.6%.

The fact that Vietnam has completed the year's target of welcoming international visitors in just nine months shows the efforts of the entire tourism industry to overcome difficulties after the pandemic. At the same time, it also shows the correct policies of the Government in supporting the tourism industry to promote recovery and increase competitiveness with destinations in the region and the world.

Experts and businesses in the field of tourism and travel expect that, with the Government's recent decision to loosen visa policies and the efforts of the entire tourism industry, the possibility of Vietnam tourism receiving from 10 to 12 million international visitors in 2023 is completely achievable.

Source: Nhân Dân