Popular Post Briggsy Posted June 11, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 11, 2015 "HO CHI MINH CITY -- In a bid to boost dwindling tourism growth, Vietnam is poised to give visa waivers to citizens of nine more countries -- Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and the U.K. -- according to Nguyen Van Tuan, the head of Vietnam's National Administration of Tourism." That will save some money and hassle if it comes about. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tomtomtom69 Posted June 11, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 11, 2015 Excellent. While Vietnamese visas are extremely easy to get, they are a hassle due to the amount of space they take up and the amount they cost. Of course the only reason for a visa requirement to begin with (as with most other developing countries) is revenue raising. But dropping the visa requirement and instead making up for the loss in revenue by attracting more visitors more than makes up for this loss. Even if they only approve a 15-day visa free stay, for a regular business visitor to Vietnam (I often go for tourism purposes or combined business and tourism as well) it will make a big difference. It will mean less time wasted going to Vietnamese embassies and consulates in Thailand, Cambodia or Laos or using that convenient though equally expensive pre-approved visa on arrival if flying in. After arrival, it usually takes 1 hour or so of organized chaos before your passport is stamped with your visa sticker and by that time your luggage will be out on the floor somewhere, off the carousel. Now the only question is when will the visa waiver period begin? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jip99 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Yep, 10/10 for this proposed move. The present arrangements are a bit of a balls-ache so a visa waiver programme would be a real help. In fairness, I doubt many Americans expected any concessions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jip99 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 A few visa agents are going to be mightily pi55ed off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post KhunBENQ Posted June 11, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted June 11, 2015 And the Swiss ? VOA is required at a cost (45 USD?, photo required) Laos lets me in on visa excempt free of cost. A country that wants to attract tourism has to open up. Just today I saw a report in an Aussie media stating like "Vietnam is the new Thailand", No its not (yet). 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wooloomooloo Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I might even drop them a visit if they go with the visa waiver. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomtomtom69 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 And the Swiss ? VOA is required at a cost (45 USD?, photo required) Laos lets me in on visa excempt free of cost. A country that wants to attract tourism has to open up. Just today I saw a report in an Aussie media stating like "Vietnam is the new Thailand", No its not (yet). I'm lucky enough to possess both Swiss and Aussie citizenship. If I'm flying in to Vietnam, I can use my Aussie passport while my Swiss passport can be used to avail myself of the free entry into Laos, something I've taken advantage of perhaps 20 times using my Swiss passport due to the visa waiver, which began in 2011 I believe. Vietnam will open up more and more, but it has a lot of communist officials who still think the old way on a number of issues, thus hindering progress. For example, the Vietnamese who drive on the right (unlike Thailand) believe that RHD vehicles (from countries such as Thailand and Malaysia) are dangerous and refuse to allow them to use their highways even for a short tourism or business trip. So Thais can't drive to Vietnam in their own cars. On the other hand, Thailand has no problem with LHD vehicles and allows them in, in order to facilitate tourism. And yes, Vietnam is in some ways like the new Thailand or at least has the potential to become the new Thailand. Having said that, I'm not sure if that's a good thing though. Thailand has it's faults and Vietnam should develop it's own version of tourism. The country does however have nearly everything that Thailand has: beaches, mountains, jungles, eco-tourism and agro-tourism, bustling cities, night markets, floating markets (in the Mekong delta vs. the Khlongs of Thailand), colorful hill tribe minorities etc. Infrastructure, though still poor is rapidly improving with the recent opening of new expressways (though relatively short) near Ho Chi Minh City and between Hanoi and the Chinese border town of Lao Cai. A planned high speed rail link is also about to come to fruition, while I'd much rather trust the current Vietnamese rail system (though slow) to the unreliable Thai one, which derails every other week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Fairfield Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Vietnam extends visa free list HANOI, 10 June 2015: The Vietnamese government has given the green light to several proposals, including waiving visas for more nations, to revive the country’s troubled tourism industry. Travel arrivals have been in decline since 2014 and while there are signs of recovery in specific markets, the trend worries tourism executives who claim the government is not doing enough to streamline entry procedures. Tuoi Tre News reported that the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism have repeatedly called on the government to enact measures to ‘save’ the tourism industry, which has reported declining tourist arrival numbers for 12 months in a row, since May 2014. Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dun,g approved some proposals from the two agencies during a government meeting, late last month, raising hopes that Vietnam would reverse the negative trend. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has proposed scrapping visas for countries that are Vietnam’s key tourism markets, or those it has established strategic agreements on trade and tourism. The countries that are likely to enjoy visa-free travel are the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Read more: http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2015/06/vietnam-extends-visa-free-list/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 (edited) An arbitrary small list. Not for me. Vietnam currently offers visa-free travel to seven countries; Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. Also under ASEAN’s open doors policy citizens of Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines all enjoy visa-free stay. So this makes more sense, but still excluding some of Europes wealthiest countries makes no sense to me. Edited June 12, 2015 by KhunBENQ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phuketandsee Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 They've been talking about this for years. Be great if it actually happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lammbock Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Just in time 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 They revamped the business visa requirement on January 1st so this will be a timely rework of the tourist entries; all to the good. The Party conference next year will be interesting as most of the sitting politburo are beyond retirement age. Many Vietnamese are hoping for new, younger, dynamic and more entrepreneurial leadership which is a possibility. Unfortunately, not the same can be expected from Laos when they reshuffle the cards in the big house at the same time next year. It is thought that only the siblings of the incumbents will get the seats and it will be more of the same. The few independents with realistic ideas for better foreign relations, opening up to foreign trade and easing immigration policy will be further marginalized. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12DrinkMore Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 From the article: “Tourists from these countries will be given a 15-day stay over a five-year period,” VNAT chief Nguyen Anh Tuan said. WOW!!!! That is really loosening up the visa regulations!!! And they are moving very fast on this.. The visa waivers for the first group of countries are expected to take effect, 1 July for countries in Europe and for Australia, New Zealand and Canada, 1 July, next year. Pathetic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulic Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I will book a ticket as soon as this officially comes through. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfill Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 And the Swiss ? VOA is required at a cost (45 USD?, photo required) Laos lets me in on visa excempt free of cost. A country that wants to attract tourism has to open up. Just today I saw a report in an Aussie media stating like "Vietnam is the new Thailand", No its not (yet). I hope not. Why should Vietnam learn how to litter or how to foul up a cup of coffee? Having visited Vietnam a few times in recent years I have noticed each time an improvement and now it is a quite delightful place and so much cleaner than its neighbours. Far less hassle and you don't get the feeling of 'give us all your money and then go away', as is prevalent elsewhere. The current visa game is easy enough but does cost $45 plus the cost of the approval letter ($17) and a whole page of the passport. Getting extensions is fuss free. The new idea can only help their tourism which already has had a big boost owing to the shenanigans going on in Thailand. Good luck to them 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HyperRai Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Nice move! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironbark Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Can someone clarify what exactly is meant by "visa free". Does it mean no fee to pay for the various types of visa. Surely it does not mean you do not need a visa at all. There must still be different types of visas with different conditions. I assume it means you can get a visa on arrival at no cost. It's very ambiguous to call it visa free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccarbaugh Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Nope - went to Viet Nam twice last year. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Both were simply places where it's "give me money, GIVE ME MONEY,... " (More so than in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos!) As a farang, I was only seen as an ATM machine and I was entirely unsuccessful at having an exchange other than a "commercial transaction." I left Hanoi thinking I have no desire to return to Viet Nam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metapod Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 15 days over 5 years and takes effect NEXT year? LOL no thanks vietnam. i'll head elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacWalen Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 When will that happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggles45 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Visa free refers to the fact you don't need to get a visa before you arrive.......it means entry free of a visa. Thailand has the same system for 30 day entry. Of course there is no charge for the entry. Visa on arrival is where you pay money when you enter the country and get a number of days entry, but you dont have to get a visa before you arrive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weegee Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I might even drop them a visit if they go with the visa waiver. You wont be sorry....although nothing is free flowing yet...they are better with tourists and long stay people.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weegee Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Just in time At the right time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weegee Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Nope - went to Viet Nam twice last year. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Both were simply places where it's "give me money, GIVE ME MONEY,... " (More so than in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos!) As a farang, I was only seen as an ATM machine and I was entirely unsuccessful at having an exchange other than a "commercial transaction." I left Hanoi thinking I have no desire to return to Viet Nam. Go to the southern parts...you will change your mind... Away from tourist hangouts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauleddy Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I'm going in July. I haven't got my visa yet. Can anybody confirm the start date of 1st July '15 for UK nationals, or do us Limeys start with next year and the Colonials? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangon04 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I might even drop them a visit if they go with the visa waiver. I certainly will. It was only the visas filling up my passport which stopped me going more often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamKangMan Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 They will have to employ more staff at the Thai Embassies in Vietnam, as it will be added to the list of countries for "easy" visa runs by thousands of visa running foreigners living in Thailand. This should also reduce the queues at other meighbouring country embassies. The increased tourism from Thai visa runners alone will be worth it, not to mention the many tourists this move will steal off Thailand for their 2 week holiday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teethjoe Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Why do they like to issue free visas for german people but not for austrians?I guess because they do not know the name austria and they think that austria is already included in the list of free visa countries: Austrlaia! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHERNSTAR Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 An arbitrary small list. Not for me. Vietnam currently offers visa-free travel to seven countries; Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. Also under ASEAN’s open doors policy citizens of Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines all enjoy visa-free stay. So this makes more sense, but still excluding some of Europes wealthiest countries makes no sense to me. It depends on those nations visa requirements for Vietnamese, many visa exemptions are based on both countries allowing visa free travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMA_FARANG Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 My U.S. passport has 4 Vietnamese tourist visas I received at the Vietnam embassy in Bangkok. No more problem than getting a similar Thai tourist visa in a country neighboring Thailand. At least in HCMC (Saigon) a good 50 percent of the people are under 40, and therefore have no memory of any "American War". To them it is just old history I found people in HCMC quite friendly and eager to talk to "Americans". I had a long conversation with a waiter in a restaurant whose dream was to go to America and become a chef there in a restaurant. Also I met a middle-aged woman in Vung Tau who was the daughter of a South Vietnamese Navy sailor who had worked with the U.S. Navy sailors. she told me what it was like for her and her mother after 1975. I haven't been to Hanoi, not sure about people there. In HCMC there is no real resentment at the U.S visitors. All that is old history to most of those under 50 years of age. When I was there the people the Vietnamese were angry at was the Chinese because of the Chinese claimed islands off shore of Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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