Photo courtesy of Tuoi Tre

 

Vietnam is considering more favourable entry and exit policies for international tourists as part of an ambitious plan to turn tourism into a leading economic sector and attract 70 million foreign visitors annually by 2045.

The proposals form part of Resolution No. 26, issued by the Politburo and signed by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam.

Relevant agencies have been instructed to examine wider bilateral visa exemptions and preferential visa policies for travellers considered likely to make a significant contribution to the tourism industry.

 

Long-stay visitors and remote workers targeted

The resolution also raises the possibility of controlled pilot schemes designed to attract long-stay visitors, remote workers and international investment in tourism and resort developments.

Vietnam plans to support new tourism models connected with digital platforms, the sharing economy, night-time entertainment, coastal and riverside activities, healthcare, shopping, conferences, exhibitions, culture and sport.

Authorities have also been told to improve value-added tax refund arrangements at major shopping centres, tourism hubs and other eligible outlets. The aim is to encourage visitors to spend more while making Vietnam more competitive with other regional destinations.

Pilot programmes may be introduced where existing legislation does not cover new tourism projects or where different rules are required to resolve urgent development issues.

 

Major cities to drive tourism expansion

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have been identified as Vietnam’s three principal tourism growth centres. The government also plans to develop ten key tourism hubs, 20 national tourism areas and internationally competitive beach and island resorts.

By 2030, Vietnam wants tourism to contribute directly between 10 and 12 percent of gross domestic product. The country is targeting 45–50 million international visitors, 160 million domestic travellers and annual tourism revenue of US$80–90 billion.

The strategy calls for approximately 1.5 million accommodation rooms and expects tourism to support 2.3 million direct jobs and 3.5 million indirect jobs.

By 2045, tourism is intended to contribute 14–15 percent of GDP and place Vietnam among the world’s 30 most competitive tourism destinations. More than 21 million international tourists visited the country in 2025.

 

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

Foreign travellers could eventually benefit from wider visa exemptions, easier entry procedures, improved tax refunds and more services aimed at long-stay visitors and remote workers. However, the resolution outlines areas for further study rather than immediate rule changes. Existing visa and entry requirements therefore remain in force until the government announces and implements specific policies.

 

 

 

31 August 2026

Vietnam's visas can't really get any easier than they are now. I've not heard of a visa refusal even with multiple one day border runs to BKK and KUL every 90 days. TRC are relatively simple provided you meet the criteria. Shame there's still no Retirement Visa available.

Vietnam is already having trouble with the young drunken shirtless louts, especially in Danang, very similar to Thailand's recent problems. I agree a retirement visa would be a good step, lots of Aussies, singles and couples, with pensions would be interested in living there, they have money to spend, and are highly unlikely to make any trouble.

38 minutes ago, QPRFC said:

Shame there's still no Retirement Visa available.

If they did, they know they would get inundated by broke-assed farang deadbeats fleeing Thailand who think slumming it in Cambodia is beneath them.

30 minutes ago, grain said:

I agree a retirement visa would be a good step, lots of Aussies, singles and couples, with pensions would be interested in living there, they have money to spend, and are highly unlikely to make any trouble.

Vietnam is hoping to keep it classy.

23 hours ago, Uncle Claude said:

Vietnam is considering more favourable entry and exit policies for international tourists

And what are those "favorable" policies? I guess these:

23 hours ago, Uncle Claude said:

Relevant agencies have been instructed to examine wider bilateral visa exemptions and preferential visa policies for travellers considered likely to make a significant contribution to the tourism industry.

Bilateral exemptions are probably going nowhere - none of the large markets that they would want to attract are likely to offer visa-free entry to Vietnamese at this point. They've been successful with unilateral visa exemptions, and that's probably their best road to success.

As for "travellers considered likely to make a significant contribution to the tourism industry", it's anyone's guess as to what (if anything) that means, or whether it's just the usual rhetoric inserted into every government announcement (like the old favorite "establishing a framework for mutual cooperation"). As others have already noted, a retirement visa would be the best way to attract long-staying, high-spending foreigners, but they don't seem to be interested in that (yet).

Would be nice if Americans did not have to apply for a visa.

I’d still love to go before it gets too crazy. I guess I’d have to stay away from the tourist areas, which is no problem. Plus I think it has gotten very easy now to get an online visa for those from the US. I honestly haven’t really looked in a while, but heard it was. I guess I best plan soon and figure out when their slow season is.

13 minutes ago, jcmj said:

I guess I best plan soon and figure out when their slow season is.

Make it real soon. Vietnam's low season expires around now.

Does Vietnam have a visa-exempt entry for certain passports, like Thailand?

59 minutes ago, Searat7 said:

Would be nice if Americans did not have to apply for a visa.

Maybe that is a bilateral agreement they can work on. Vietnamese still need a Visa and Embassy interview prior to receiving the Visa.

While US Passport holders only need to obtain an E-Visa and then submit the Digital Arrival Info for a QR code to present to Immigration.

Meanwhile ...

Folks, Vietnam is NOT a viable retirement destination.

It should be on no such lists.

Vietnam is tightening regulations on visa runners due to concerns over illegal activities and overstays, with authorities warning that overstay fines can reach up to 40 million VND (approximately $1,600). While visa runs remain legal, frequent travelers may face increased scrutiny at border controls.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/vietnamspot.ru.ico vietnamspot.ruhttps://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/vietnamlawmagazine.vn.ico vietnamlawmagazine.vn

Overview of Vietnam's Visa Regulations

Vietnam is currently tightening its regulations regarding visa runners. This change is primarily due to concerns about illegal activities and the increasing number of overstays by foreigners.

Key Changes in Visa Regulations

• Increased Fines: Overstay fines have been raised significantly, reaching up to 40 million VND (approximately $1,600).

• Scrutiny at Borders: Frequent travelers who perform multiple visa runs may face heightened scrutiny at border controls. Authorities are likely to ask about the purpose of travel, return tickets, and accommodation details.

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Does Vietnam have a visa-exempt entry for certain passports, like Thailand?

Yes, citizens of Thailand and other ASEAN countries don't need a visa to enter Vietnam.

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Does Vietnam have a visa-exempt entry for certain passports, like Thailand?

Short answer: yes.

4 hours ago, grain said:

Vietnam is already having trouble with the young drunken shirtless louts, especially in Danang, very similar to Thailand's recent problems. I agree a retirement visa would be a good step, lots of Aussies, singles and couples, with pensions would be interested in living there, they have money to spend, and are highly unlikely to make any trouble.

Only a matter of time before Vietnam announces a retirement visa.

It will be interesting to see what impact, if any, it will have on Thailand, in the present, and into the future.

Once they announce their retirement visa deal, if it's reasonable, many looking to retire and live in South East Asia may very well chose Vietnam over Thailand.

i contemplated vietnam, but the fact that i would have to leave the country for a new visum every 6 months made it a no go due to bad back.

had they had a system where i could renew the visum inside vietnam i would have moved there

2 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Only a matter of time before Vietnam announces a retirement visa.

It will be interesting to see what impact, if any, it will have on Thailand, in the present, and into the future.

Once they announce their retirement visa deal, if it's reasonable, many looking to retire and live in South East Asia may very well chose Vietnam over Thailand.

How hard can it be? They currently have some sort of investment visa that you can get by depositing money into Vietnam, with the duration of the visa anywhere between one to five years, at the discretion of the issuing authorities. That seems too uncertain to me.

Anyway, if they want retirees, it would be easy enough to make that happen. Just require a valid passport and proof of an income stream such as a pension or Social Security. Good for five years and renewable on the same terms every five years. Pretso! An instant influx of retirees into Vietnam. Retirees who spend money and don't cause any trouble.

Existing visa and entry requirements therefore remain in force

Life must be slower in 'nam.

How slow is it?

So slow the status quo is news.

In other news, I think about Leg Day 😀

Edited September 1Sep 1 by SiSePuede419
Nobody thinks about Legday

The timing is just exquisite....😁

5 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Does Vietnam have a visa-exempt entry for certain passports, like Thailand?

Yes, most countries get 45 days visa-waiver, The notable exceptions are the USA and Australia. Most ASEAN countries get 30-days

5 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Does Vietnam have a visa-exempt entry for certain passports, like Thailand?

Yes I've been many times now with my Thai wife, as she's ASEAN she doesn't need a visa, she gets a stamp on entry, I think it's 30 days, I'm dual passport (Aussie & UK) so I enter Vietnam on my UK PP, used to get 15 days free stamp on arrival, now it's 45 days. It makes Vietnam one of the easiest countries for us to fly to for holidays.

Seems they anticipate droves of deportations from Thailand, they must know something...

27 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

Seems they anticipate droves of deportations from Thailand, they must know something...

Deportations, or defections? 🙂

2 hours ago, jas007 said:

How hard can it be? They currently have some sort of investment visa that you can get by depositing money into Vietnam, with the duration of the visa anywhere between one to five years, at the discretion of the issuing authorities. That seems too uncertain to me.

Anyway, if they want retirees, it would be easy enough to make that happen. Just require a valid passport and proof of an income stream such as a pension or Social Security. Good for five years and renewable on the same terms every five years. Pretso! An instant influx of retirees into Vietnam. Retirees who spend money and don't cause any trouble.

One used to be able to extend a 1 year tourist visa in country, so, pretty much a retirement visa, but they ended long stay visas. I have no idea why Vietnam did not want to be known as a retirement destination, but it appears they will soon be appealing to that market.

Last time I was in Danang, there was a lot of construction of high rise condo buildings.

It will be interesting to see what deal they offer.

2 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Deportations, or defections? 🙂

Lemmings.

10 hours ago, Searat7 said:

Would be nice if Americans did not have to apply for a visa.

I'd be happy oif they just brought back the One year Multiple entry/exit Visa we had before Covid - it would be worth $250-$350 for that.

Most western european nations and Swizerland (not part of the EU) do not need a visa for sojourns upto 45 days in Vietnam.

3 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

One used to be able to extend a 1 year tourist visa in country, so, pretty much a retirement visa, but they ended long stay visas. I have no idea why Vietnam did not want to be known as a retirement destination, but it appears they will soon be appealing to that market.

Last time I was in Danang, there was a lot of construction of high rise condo buildings.

It will be interesting to see what deal they offer.

Even though there are thousands of empty condominiums in Hanoi, Saigon, Nha Trang and Danang..........prices keep going up, not down - that are overpriced by any countries standards.

Like with the Asian ladies in general...don't buy...only rent...😁

4 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Deportations, or defections? 🙂

Defecations?

Laptop bros have already wrecked it.

Just say No, Vietnam.