The Vietnam e-Visa system is not fun. Even travelers who don’t need a visa are hamstrung by the 15-day maximum stay limit. It’s kind of amazing people actually visit the country given how unfriendly the setup is. Change could be coming, however. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered relevant agencies in Vietnam to improve tourist visa processes as the government looks to boost flagging arrival numbers.
Despite being one of the first countries to reopen after the pandemic, only 3.6 million foreign tourists visited Vietnam in 2022. This was 70 percent of its target and a main reason the government wants to simplify administrative procedures in granting e-visas to foreigners and change current visa policies.
Of course, Vietnam actually improving tourist visa processes is easier said than done. The Prime Minister has requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to create a plan to encourage people to visit the country.
This proposal will likely include the extension of visa-free stays for foreign tourists and possibly some sort of visa-on-arrival program. Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board Hoang Nhan Chinh suggested the country expand the list of countries eligible for visa waivers and increase the maximum stay to 45 days.
Currently, arrivals from 25 countries do not require an e-visa but they can only stay in Vietnam for 15 days.
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Interesting Analysis
Vietnam has needed to improve tourist visa processes for more than a decade now. The country had a major head start in reopening for tourism only for its cumbersome visa bureaucracy to fumble the opportunity away.
As an American, I have had to go through the Vietnam e-Visa system on multiple occasions and it is not very good. Meanwhile, British, Japanese, French and other visitors who are eligible for a visa waiver lament the fact it’s only for 15 days.
Given how easy it is to travel just about anywhere else in Southeast Asia, hopefully things change this time around. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh being involved signals there may be some urgency from the government to improve the system.
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