Le Tan Toi, head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Defense and Security Committee, said Friday these changes would meet the demand of foreign visitors to stay longer to explore investment opportunities.

Foreign tourists visit Tra Que vegetable village in Hoi An in central Vietnam, January 2023.

The NA's Committee also agreed to triple to 45 days the duration of visa-free stays for tourists from certain countries who now enjoy a 15-day waiver.

Nationals of some western European countries, Japan and South Korea, Vietnam's top tourism markets, are permitted to visit for 15 days without a visa.

Some lawmakers said Vietnam currently waives visas only for nationals of 25 countries, much fewer than neighbors Indonesia (169), Malaysia (162), Singapore (158), the Philippines (157), and Thailand (68), and called for expanding the list.

The changes are set to be approved at the National Assembly session starting on May 22.

Vietnam received over 3.6 million foreign visitors in January-April, equivalent to 62% of pre-pandemic numbers and nearly half of this year's eight-million target.

But the number is far below those of its Southeast Asian neighbors like Thailand, which received 8.4 million in the period.

More solutions needed to accelerate tourism service in Bac Giang

(BGO) – Bac Giang province has 13 recognized tourism sites and complexes. However, the investment and exploitation of accommodation, resort and entertainment services have a lot of limitations. The province needs more synchronous solutions to remove the issue.

Vietnam’s tourism industry earns over 1 billion USD during five-day holidays

Vietnam welcomed more than 300,000 foreign visitors and served 7 million domestic tourists during the five-day holidays of Hung Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day from April 29 to May 3, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Vietnamese localities see surges in tourist numbers during five-day holidays

Localities across Vietnam saw a boom in the number of tourists during the five-day holidays of Hung Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day from April 29 to May 3 – the second longest national holidays only after the lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

Foreign tourists explore historical sites during holiday break

Foreigners are visiting war-themed museums and historical sites in HCMC to get an insight into Vietnam’s Reunification Day (April 30) while in Hanoi others enjoy a quiet time.

Vietnam's tourism in April and first four months of 2023

Vietnam’s tourism industry is on track to exceed the target of welcoming 8 million international visitors for 2023, as it has already received 3.7 million international visitors in the first four months of the year.

Source: VnExpress