30 days Free Vietnam Visa to Phu Quoc - Vietnam10.3.2014

[rnw]

Get 30 days Free Vietnam Visa to Phu Quoc - Vietnam

Following the newest decision from Vietnam Government, people who come to Phu Quoc Island (Vietnam) for tourist purpose will be free 30 days Visa. This decision will take place from 10 Mar, 2014.

Also, the foreigner, the Vietnam foreign passports who enter, exit and residence in Phu Quoc Island are exempt from visa for temporary stay (not exceeding 30 days)

In case of foreigners who come to Vietnam by international gate (including road, air and sea), stay at transit area at the gate, and then forwarded to Phu Quoc island is also exempt from visa requirements in accordance with this.

[lekatai]

Unfortunately,it is not completely clear exactly how this will work-the translations into English that I have seen are fairly broad,and I can foresee teething troubles.Firstly,the directive doesn't include land borders:-there is no land border with Phu Quoc,it's an island.If it is a cruise ship calling at An Thoi port in the south of the island,or a direct flight in to Phu Quoc from outside Vietnam,(The first international flight-from Russia-landed a few weeks ago)then it's pretty clear-cut,travelers of most nationalities get 30 days on arrival,there is no fee for this.But it isn't clear how it will work if people fly in to (for example) Saigon airport from outside Vietnam,and then transfer to the domestic terminal for the flight to Phu Quoc,as the two terminals aren't connected.Unless they alter the layout at Saigon airport to create a transit area and escort passengers straight to the flight,or possibly issue a 30 day entry stamp only valid for Phu Quoc upon arrival at Saigon,it's not clear how it will actually work.And will the airline allow passengers to board the aircraft,who don't have a valid visa for Vietnam,but who say they are going to Phu Quoc?It will be very interesting to see what actually happens on 10th March