Vietnam Visa Blog

Despite failing to achieve visitor arrival targets for 2008, Vietnam’s authorities remain reluctant to soften visa rules. Last year Vietnam received 4.2 million international arrivals instead of the 5 million targeted. Vietnam is the only country in Southeast Asia to demand entry visas from the bulk of European countries; only Scandinavian and Russian passport holders can enter Vietnam without arranging a visa in advance.

According to Vice Minister of Sport and Tourism, Tran Chien Thing, the restriction is necessary for ‘security reasons’. Since October 2008, international arrivals have declined month on month by between 10% and 11%, forcing the authorities to impose cuts in prices for hotels and domestic air tickets and to link value-added offers to package tours.