The Hanoitimes - The Ministry of Public Security has issued 336,932 e-visa to foreigners from January 2017 to October 2018. The majority of Vietnam's National Assembly deputies have agreed to the government's proposal to extend the electronic visa plan by another two years to encourage more foreign arrivals to the country, local media reported. Vietnam has not detected any threat to national security related to e-visa granting after two years implementing it on a pilot basis at a limited number of gates of entrance, said Minister of Public Security To Lam on Monday. The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) considers applying it permanently in more border gates, he added. More Vietnamese border gates authorized to issue e-visa. Vietnam started the e-visa pilot program in February 2017, applicable to citizens of 46 countries at 28 border gates. In the report by the Ministry of Public Security presented at the on-going National Assembly session, Minister To Lam said between … [Read more...] about Vietnam to extend e-visa scheme to lure foreign visitors
Vietnam 3 month tourist visa
Vietnam to pilot electronic visa from January 1, 2017
The Hanoitimes - In the implementation of more favourable policies, Vietnam will pilot granting electronic visas for international visitors in 2017 and 2018, Nguyen Van Tuan, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) unveiled at a recent press conference in Hanoi. Accordingly, from January 1, 2017, procedures for applying and payment will be done online. It will take 3 days to process application for an e-visa valid for 30 days. The visa does not require letters of guarantee or invitation. The move reflects the Government’s efforts to stimulate tourism, according to VNAT Director Nguyen Van Tuan. It will facilitate the application for a Vietnamese visa of foreign tourists, Tuan noted, adding that the tourism sector is still looking forwards to the implementation of more favourable policies, particularly in waiving visa for foreign tourists. Foreign tourists visit Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi capital. Photo by Hong Hanh. VNAT Director Nguyen Van Tuan … [Read more...] about Vietnam to pilot electronic visa from January 1, 2017
Cheating schools and other problems expats face in Vietnam
Vietnamese schools need to follow the law. Schools in Vietnam get a bad rap, and often rightly so. Many break the parts of the law they don't know about and feign ignorance at the parts they do. Some cheat, lie and steal from their staff at times. Not just the small ones, the big names too. But this isn't a rant about that. This is about something specific. Three specific issues. Issue one. Payment. The State Bank of Vietnam in Article 3 "Principles of restricting the use of foreign exchanges within Vietnam's territory" of Circular No. 32/2013/TT-NHNN clearly states: Within the territory of Vietnam, except for cases that are allowed to use foreign exchanges as provided for in Article 4 of this Circular, any transaction, payment, listing, advertising, quotation, valuating, pricing in any contract, agreement and other similar forms (including the conversion or price adjustment of goods, services, value of contract, agreement) of residents, non-residents, shall not be performed in … [Read more...] about Cheating schools and other problems expats face in Vietnam
Chinese visitors to Vietnam rise by 66% in Q1
The Hanoitimes - In the first quarter of this year, the number of Chinese tourists to Vietnam increased by 66%, said the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism at a press conference in Hanoi on April 12. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said Vietnam welcomed 2.45 million international tourists in the first three months, up 19.9% against the same period last year, while local tourists numbered 18.7 million. Revenues from tourism reached 109,137 billion VND, rising by 21.2% year-on-year. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, during the reviewed time, the tourism sector saw a 66-% surge in the number of Chinese tourists to Vietnam, who mainly visit Da Nang, Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) and Phu Quoc. The figure is equipvalent to the highest growth rate from the China's market reached in the same period of 2014, he added. Meanwhile, number of Russian visitors to Vietnam in the first 3 months rose by 13.5% as well, topping the European market in the … [Read more...] about Chinese visitors to Vietnam rise by 66% in Q1
Vietnam plans to extend visa validity for US tourists from 3 months to 1 year: report
Vietnam's government is working on a plan to extend the validity of tourist visa for US citizens from three months to one year in a bid to attract more arrivals, Vietnam News Agency reported. The report, however, did not indicate any timeframe. It quoted tourism minister Hoang Tuan Anh as saying at a meeting with the US State Department on Monday that Vietnam aims to bring the annual number of US arrivals to one million by 2017. Last year US arrivals hit 443,776, up nearly 3 percent from 2013. Currently, a general tourist visa to Vietnam for US citizens is valid for 30 or 90 days, with single or multiple entries. Between January and July this year, Vietnam attracted 301,907 US tourists. Tuan also said the United States has become the largest foreign investor in Vietnam's tourism sector over the last few years. Vietnam is easing its visa policy this year as it tries to boost the tourism sector after consecutive declines in arrivals. It has recently offered visa waivers to five … [Read more...] about Vietnam plans to extend visa validity for US tourists from 3 months to 1 year: report