The granting of 30-day single-entry electronic visas to visitors from 40 countries from February 1 is expected to be a breakthrough in attracting foreign tourists to Viet Nam.
Director General of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan said the policy will make it easier for overseas visitors to enter Viet Nam.
To apply for e-visas, foreign citizens must complete a form which is available on two separate websites (one in Vietnamese at http://www.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn and the other in English at http://www.immigration.gov.vn) administered by the Ministry of Public Security. After which applicants will receive an application code and be prompted to pay a non-refundable fee online.
It will take three working days for tourists to be informed if their applications have been approved or not.
Providing e-visas is a step in the right direction, but ultimately, not enough to help Viet Nam’s tourism compete with other countries in the region, said Vice President of the Viet Nam Tourism Association Vu The Binh.
He suggested more policies such as visa exemptions, tourism promotion, and human resources development to attract more international tourists.
