3 more European countries will be granted visa exemption for Vietnam in 2025
On January 15, the Government issued Resolution No. 11 on visa exemption under the Tourism Development Stimulus Program for 2025, applicable to citizens of Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
According to the Resolution, citizens of Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic are granted visa exemption with a temporary stay of up to 45 days from the date of entry for tourism purposes, regardless of passport type.
This policy applies to citizens of these three countries traveling to Vietnam for tourism under programs organized by Vietnamese international travel service providers. It does not differentiate between passport types, provided that all entry conditions stipulated by Vietnamese law are met.
The visa exemption policy for citizens of the aforementioned countries entering Vietnam will be implemented from March 1 to December 31 as part of the Tourism Development Stimulus Program for 2025.
Un Challenge D’équipe Au Marché
Currently, Vietnam grants visa exemptions to citizens of 25 countries, including 13 countries under unilateral visa exemption agreements. Since mid-August 2023, Vietnam has expanded its e-visa issuance to citizens of all countries and territories, extending the temporary stay duration from 30 to 90 days with unlimited entries and exits. Additionally, the temporary stay period for citizens of the 13 countries under unilateral visa exemption has been increased to 45 days.
The introduction of the e-visa policy has significantly facilitated travel, making it more convenient to attract international tourists to Vietnam.
With simple and convenient procedures, along with the benefit of multiple entries within 90 days, the e-visa system has enhanced Vietnam’s image as a friendly destination for international tourists. According to the General Statistics Office, international arrivals to Vietnam in 2024 exceeded 17.5 million, marking a 40% increase compared to 2023 and reaching 98% of the pre-Covid-19 level in 2019.
South Korea emerged as the largest source market in 2024, contributing over 4.5 million arrivals, accounting for 25.98%. China ranked second with 3.7 million arrivals, representing 21.26%. Other major markets in the top 10 included Taiwan (China), Japan, India, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Notably, China showed the highest growth rate in 2024, with tourist numbers reaching 214% of 2023 figures. Other markets with significant growth included Russia, Italy, Sweden, and France — all of which are on the list of countries benefiting from unilateral visa exemption policies.
Arts Martiaux à Hanoi, Vietnam
The vibrant recovery of Vietnam’s tourism industry, evidenced by the robust growth in international arrivals in 2024, highlights the sector’s strong rebound. Tourism experts emphasize that visa policies have become a strategic tool to enhance competitiveness and facilitate international travelers visiting Vietnam.
Recognizing the critical role of “visa easing” policies in driving tourism development in the new context, many countries in the region — especially Vietnam’s major competitors like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore — have quickly accelerated efforts to attract international visitors.
Currently, Thailand grants visa-free entry to tourists from 93 countries and territories, Malaysia offers visa exemption to 156 countries, Singapore to 162 countries, and the Philippines to 157 countries. These expansive visa policies underline the fierce competition in the regional tourism market.
