Vietnam extends visa exemption for UK visitors
Vietnam has confirmed an extension of its visa-exemption programme until the end of June 2018.
The existing exemption programme was due to expire this month but will now run until June 30, 2018.
It allows visitors from the UK, and several other countries, to stay for up to 15 days without a visa.
The extension has been applauded by Vietnam’s Tourism Advisory Board, but it also called for the programme to run for five years and allow Europeans a stay of a minimum 30 days, along with multiple entry within that timeframe.
"Tourists now only visit for 15 days. If the visa exemption duration is extended to 30 days, the industry could get of up to $1,500 extra per visitor. The total revenue would increase significantly," said tour operator director Nguyen Xuan Hai.
When Vietnam began offering single-entry visa exemptions to citizens of Europe, some markets grew by nearly a third.
The Vietnam Tourism Association also recently urged the government to not only extend the visa waiver scheme but to expand it to more countries in Eastern Europe and former Soviet states.
For citizens of various other nations, visa on arrival is also possible with a valid visa approval letter issued by an authorised Vietnamese tour operator such as Asian Trails, which reiterated the strict criteria required for VoA to its travel agency partners.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive