Visa exemption for Western European visitors proposed to extend
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed extending the visa exemption policy for citizens from the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Germany and Italy from one year to five years.
Hanoi (VNA) 🅷– The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed extending the visa exemption policy for citizens from the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Germany and Italy from one year to five years.
The ministry announced on April 28 that it also proposed increasing visa-free stay for those tourists from 15 to 30 days to meet their demands.
The ministry also suggested the government approve its proposal to offer unilateral visa exemption for citizens from another 13 countries who travel to Vietnam on full-package tours.
It submitted to the Prime Minister a visa waiver scheme for tourists from several key markets as well as granting visas at border gates and e-visas to facilitate travelling.
After nearly 10 months of offering visa waiver for Belarus and five Western European countries, travellers from these markets have been on the rise.
Figures from the General Statistics Office showed that tourist arrivals to Vietnam in the third and fourth quarter of 2015, and the first three months of 2016 increased by 4.24 percent, 16.49 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
The total number of travellers from the five above countries topped 554,000 in the last nine months, up 13.91 percent from 2014 and 2015.
Last year, Belarusian visitors to Vietnam neared 6,000, a 65 percent increase from 2014 –
a record high compared to past years.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), tourists from the five Western European countries have brought Vietnam an increase of more than 171 million USD in revenue.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)’s visa openness report showed that the share of tourists requiring to obtain a visa prior to travelling continues to decline, from 77 percent in 2008 to 61 percent in 2015.
In Asia-Pacific last year, nearly 20 percent of the world population was able to travel to a destination without a visa, while another 23 percent could receive a visa on arrival and 11 percent was able to obtain e-visas.
The total number of countries and territories enjoying visa exemption amounts to 169 so far.-VNA
The Indonesian government will waive visa requirements for another 45 countries by the end of this year, ahead of schedule and bringing the total figure to 90, reported the Antara news agency.
The new regulations on visa exemption for overseas Vietnamese aim to create more favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to return to the home land, said Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Hong Nam.
Vietnam will extend its visa exemption policy for Western Europe tourists, which will expire on July 1, said the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) at a press conference in Hanoi.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
Illustrative Image (Source: mofa.gov.vn)
