Your Travel to Vietnam Becomes Easier with These Visa Reforms

Vietnam is accelerating new reforms to its visa policy in 2025. The government is finalizing long-stay visa reforms, including a proposed five-year waiver for investors, researchers, and athletes, and a golden visa valid up to 10 years for high-value residents.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Vietnam received over 10.6 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2025 alone, a 20.7 percent increase year-on-year, marking a continued rush to explore Vietnam’s culture and its market. China and South Korea accounted for the highest number of arrivals in Vietnam.

In this context, numerous reforms to Vietnam’s visa policy are accelerated to attract not only tourists but also long-stay professionals, investors, and high-skill individuals through extended stay options and more flexible entry rules.

Longer validity for e-visas, open to all nationalities

Since August 2023, Vietnam’s electronic visa (e-visa) system has been expanded to cover citizens from all countries and territories. The validity of the e-visa has also been increased from 30 days to 90 days, with both single and multiple entries permitted within that period.

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Applicants can submit requests online through Vietnam’s national portals. The move removes country restrictions that previously limited access and is intended to make short-term visits for tourism, business, or family purposes more accessible.

If you need to apply for an e-visa to enter Vietnam, please access e-visa information at the following addresses: https://evisa.gov.vn or https://thithucdientu.gov.vn to complete the procedure.

Revised visa exemptions extended through 2028

Under Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, issued in March 2025, Vietnam has extended visa waivers for nationals of 12 countries until March 14, 2028. These include visitors from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Travelers in this group are permitted to stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days per entry.

This exemption applies regardless of travel purpose and can be used repeatedly, provided each stay does not exceed the 45-day limit. It marks a shift from previous exemptions, which capped stays at 15 days.

Vietnam also maintains bilateral visa-free agreements with 15 countries. On top of this, a temporary arrangement is in place for Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. Nationals from these three countries can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days from March 1 to December 31, 2025, if they are traveling through tour packages organized by registered Vietnamese operators.

See also: Vietnam’s Visa for Indian Tourists: A Brief Guide

Phu Quoc exemption continues for short-stay island visitors

Visitors who enter Vietnam directly to Phu Quoc Island are allowed to stay up to 30 days without a visa, provided they do not visit other parts of the country during that time. The exemption applies to all foreign nationals and has been retained as part of the government’s effort to promote tourism to the island.

Promotional strategy to target new markets

These visa policy changes form one part of Vietnam’s wider tourism promotion strategy. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is leading a campaign under the banner “Vietnam – Travel to Love,” focused on both international visibility and specialized services in wellness, adventure, and luxury travel.

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The Travel to Love tourism campaign is offering a nationwide discount program with up to 50 percent off on accommodation, transportation, dining, and entertainment. Many major landmarks and scenic destinations in Vietnam have reduced their entry fees. Airlines are also expanding direct routes and increasing flight frequency to improve connectivity and support rise in demand.

The campaign strategy is to use digital outreach through platforms such as Google, TikTok, Facebook, and international online travel agencies. Tourism ministry’s marketing campaigns are currently focused on priority markets like Japan, South Korea, India, the US, Australia, and Western Europe.

The government is also supporting destination branding in specific regions and planning to open overseas tourism offices in major locations.

Five-year visa exemption option is under review

In July 2025, the Ministry of Public Security is reviewing a draft decree that would create new visa categories for long-term foreign residents and target specific high-skill groups. These include business leaders, scientists, artists, medical professionals, and digital creators.

The draft outlines eligibility across multiple categories:

• Executives and investors from global top 100 firms by market capitalization;
• STEM experts, economists, and scholars from Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with doctoral qualifications;
• Medical scientists affiliated with high-level hospitals or universities;
• Artists, athletes, and public figures with international recognition or awards;
• Tech professionals and engineers involved in national priority sectors like semiconductors or artificial intelligence (AI); and
• Vietnam’s tourism ambassadors and social media content creators with over 1 million followers, subject to official endorsement.

The visa exemption would come with a card valid for five years. Each stay would allow up to 90 days, with the total card duration determining the maximum allowable stay. The visa holders may also be issued electronic identification (e-ID) accounts for their use in official processes.

Golden visa proposal targets long-stay residents

The Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board has separately proposed a new golden visa aimed at long-term residents. This visa would carry a validity of five to ten years, and it would be possible to renew it. It would be available to individuals who could make economic, scientific, or cultural contributions to Vietnam.

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The Tourism Advisory Board has proposed piloting this visa in major urban centers and economic hubs such as Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang. This visa is supposed to serve as a magnet for global talent in innovation, finance, arts, and tourism.

It would differ from existing investor categories by offering longer stays and would be much broader in eligibility, by including passive investment or innovation-based contributions.

Existing investor visa structure remains capital-focused

Vietnam currently offers four investor visa tiers under the Investor Visa DT category. These are linked directly to investment amounts:

DT4 is the most widely used by small-scale investors, though its short validity has been flagged by business groups as a limitation. There are also issues due to the lack of options for portfolio investors or entrepreneurs without direct capital investment.

The proposed golden visa could be a possible solution to these gaps.

In brief

Vietnam is welcoming tourists, investors, and creative artists by reforming its visa policy around long-term value rather than short-stay volume. The proposed visa exemption for individuals who can contribute to Vietnam, and the golden visa, are great opportunities to set up business, study, work, and tour in Vietnam.

If successfully approved and implemented, these changes would close long-standing gaps in the current system, offering an easier path for those looking to contribute to Vietnam beyond limited one- or two-year permits.

Check out: Business Visas and Work Permits in Vietnam

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