Vietnam foreign ministry dismisses allegations of tightening visa rules for foreigners

Allegations of Vietnam tightening visa policies and control over foreigners are "baseless", Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said Thursday.

At the ministry’s regular press conference, Hang highlighted Vietnam always facilitates the entrance, exit, and residence of foreigners, in order to help the country’s socioeconomic growth.

Regarding Vietnam’s laws related to the entry, exit, and residence for Vietnamese nationals and foreigners in the country issued in August 2023, Hang affirmed the rules aim to facilitate the studying, working, investment, market survey, and tourism activities of foreigners per the country’s legal framework.

Vietnam welcomed 14.13 million foreign tourist arrivals in the first 10 months of this year, up 41.3% year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office. South Korea, mainland China, and Taiwan were the biggest sources with 3.7 million, 3 million, and 1.1 million, respectively.

At present, Vietnam unilaterally waives citizens from 13 countries from visa requirements, namely Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus. They can stay for 45 days from the date of entry, regardless of passport types and entry purposes.

On November 11, the Ministry of Public Security’s Immigration Department launched two new portals for visa applications, at thithucdientu.gov.vn and evisa.gov.vn, in addition to the current site at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.

Starting August 2023, Vietnam issues 90-day e-visas to foreigners from all destinations.