He also suggested the government consider simplifying immigration procedures to attract foreign tourists as Vietnam reopened after over two years of border closure, he said in a report submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Tuesday. Hung also proposed extending tax cuts to tourism businesses until the end of 2023 to help them recover after the pandemic crisis. Though Vietnam reopened tourism and lifted most Covid restrictions, Hung said travel firms and those working in the tourism industry are grappling with difficulties and have not really benefited directly from current policies. The country welcomed 954,000 foreign arrivals in the first seven months this year, up nine times year-on-year. This year, Vietnam targets five million foreign tourists, around 30 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The government has allowed quarantine-free entry and resumed its pre-pandemic visa exemption policy for 24 tourism markets including Western European countries from … [Read more...] about Vietnam minister proposes visa exemption for US, European travelers
Vietnam transit visa
Ministry plans to add “place of birth” to new passport version
The new passport version of Vietnam (Photo: Vietnam Government Portal) Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is planning to add the “place of birth” to the new passport version to facilitate citizens’ seeking of visas to the Schengen countries . The granting and use of the new passport will be among the issues about which Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam will be questioned at the 14th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on August 10. Compared to the old passport, the new version is produced by using modern technology to meet higher security requirements and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), according to the MPS’s report sent to lawmakers prior to the meeting. Images of Vietnam’s typical landscapes and cultural heritages are featured in the new passport with the aim of introducing the country’s land and people to international friends, it noted. So far, the MPS has granted 272,000 passports of the … [Read more...] about Ministry plans to add “place of birth” to new passport version
☕ Afternoon briefing on August 9
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on August 9. - The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has asked the Prime Minister about the mechanism for ongoing solar power and transitional wind power projects to enjoy the incentive price. In a recent document sent to the PM, the MoIT suggested investors of those projects negotiate electricity prices and power purchase and sale contracts with Vietnam Electricity (EVN). Read full story Read full story Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) - Vietnam will need a skilled workforce to transform itself into an upper-middle-income economy by 2035, the World Bank has suggested in its recently-released report named “Taking Stock: Educate to Grow”. Read full story Read full story The new passport version of Vietnam (Photo: Vietnam Government Portal) The granting and use of the new passport will be among the issues about which Minister of Public Security Gen. … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on August 9