Vietnam should make transit visas simpler to boost tourism

These changes have significantly improved the immigration process and tourist experience in Vietnam.

While these advancements are excellent, I recently noticed a small but critical issue that needs addressing.

My instructor at an airport management course, a retired CEO of a major airport in Australia with global experience in airport safety and information systems, had a bad experience with Vietnam's visa system.

Knowing that I'm from Vietnam, he shared the story with me during our break.

He and his wife traveled to the U.K. by a Vietnamese airline, flying from Sydney to London with a layover of three and a half hours in Hanoi.

While their trip to the U.K. was smooth and enjoyable, the return trip was not.

He told me that he and his wife were denied boarding at the London check-in counter because their return flight to Melbourne included a domestic flight from Hanoi to HCMC before continuing to Melbourne.

Vietnamese rules require transit passengers on domestic flights to have a visa.

Their ticket agent failed to inform them, and they assumed their Australian passports, valid for visa-free entry to 189 countries, would be enough in this case.

And since my instructor did not have the required visas, he and his wife could not board the plane.

Technically, the airline was not at fault.

Passengers are responsible for checking visa requirements in countries to which they are going.

The return trip included a domestic flight within Vietnam, and my instructor and many other passengers overlooked the visa requirement.

My instructor had an urgent conference to attend that day, and so needed to return to Australia as soon as possible.

He tried applying for an e-visa online but was informed it would take three days to process his application.

Left with no other option, he and his wife had to find a hotel.

Eventually their ticket agent secured a new flight through HCMC, which only required a transit stay. Only, the layover in HCMC was for 15 hours.

Passengers checking in at Tan Son Nhat Airport, HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

My instructor described it as the most exhausting layover of his life.

The transit area was crowded and hot, with limited food options that were both expensive and unimpressive.

Despite holding a platinum membership with a major airline alliance, he could not access any lounge.

Airport staff also failed to inform him and his wife about available paid lounge options, leaving them without a place to rest during the layover.

From my instructor’s story, I realized that the largest issue here is policy.

If Vietnam wants to attract more passengers and boost tourism, the country must simplify visa requirements instead of expecting travelers to deal with them on their own.

Even with new facilities like Long Thanh Airport and Terminal 3 at Tan Son Nhat Airport, problems like visa confusion and limited transit support will continue to occur unless immigration policies are improved.

Other countries in the region provide clear examples of how to make transit policies more traveler-friendly.

Despite its strict visa rules, mainland China allows transit passengers to enter cities visa-free for even 240 hours if they are en route to a third destination.

I experienced this myself in Guangzhou during a 15-hour layover. The airline provided free transport to a hotel, breakfast, and return transportation to the airport—all for a ticket cheaper than one from Vietnamese airlines.

Similarly, South Korea, known for tight visa policies for Vietnamese citizens, allows 30-day visa-free entry for transit passengers holding visas for the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or European countries.

By adopting similar policies, Vietnam could unlock significant benefits. For example, offering 24-hour transit visas at Vietnam's international airports would provide relief to travelers facing unexpected problems with their transit.

Such a policy will also allow Vietnamese airlines greater flexibility in routing and scheduling, potentially turning Vietnam's airports into regional flight hubs.

More transit passengers would pass through Vietnam's airports, boosting tourism and related industries. Cruise tourism will also benefit. Currently large cruise ships stop in Vietnam for a day, but passengers miss out on exploring the country without a visa.

This change in policies is simple to implement and can bring immediate results.

It is time to act and unlock Vietnam's untapped potential in transit and tourism.

*Dang Thai Hoang is a civil engineering graduate working in infrastructure management and policy for a local government in Australia.