After Thailand and Sri Lanka, Vietnam to offer visa-free entry to Indian travellers

Reportedly, Vietnam is in line to consider the possibility of introducing visa-free entry for Indian tourists, as part of its efforts to boost its tourism sector. This comes as great news for Indian travellers as Vietnam has become a hot favourite from travellers all across the country, enjoying attention that was previously enjoyed by destinations such as Dubai, Bali and Singapore.

Nguyn Van Jung, Vietnam's Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, is pushing for short-term visa waivers for key markets, including China and India. This initiative will likely provide the required boost to recover the country's tourism industry, which has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently, citizens of various European nations, including France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, and Finland, benefit from visa-free access to Vietnam. The recent initiative to expand this perk to Indian visitors underscores Vietnam's acknowledgment of the increasing significance of the Indian market in the global tourism scenario.
Read more: Northeast India’s most beautiful monasteries

If you go by the tourism statistics and growth for Vietnam in the first 10 months of 2023, it reveals a noteworthy surge, with approximately 10 million international visitors – a substantial 4.6-fold increase compared to the same period in 2022. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam had hosted around 170,000 Indian visitors, indicating the potential for further growth in this market.

Popular Vietnamese destinations like Phu Quoc Island, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Ha Long Bay, and Hoi An are popular among Indian tourists. Moreover, to facilitate easier entry for travellers, Vietnam initiated the issuance of e-visas for individuals from all countries starting from August of the current year. These e-visas offer a 90-day validity period and permit multiple entries, thereby streamlining the visa application process for international visitors.

If Vietnam proceeds with the plan to allow visa-free entry for Indians, it would join the ranks of Sri Lanka and Thailand, which have already implemented similar measures. As reported earlier, Thailand announced visa-free entry for tourists from India and Taiwan for a period of six months, starting from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavision emphasised that this decision was driven by the desire to cater to the preferences of Indian and Taiwanese travellers.

Read more: Maldives to build fortress islands to battle rising sea levels

Before Thailand, Sri Lanka also approved free visas for travellers from seven countries, including India, China, Japan, Russia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This initiative will remain effective until March 31, 2024, aims to boost tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, with the tourism ministry setting a target of attracting five million tourists in the coming years.
This move of Vietnam contemplating to offer visa-free entry to Indian tourists, aligns with a broader trend among countries seeking to stimulate tourism by simplifying entry procedures.