Vietnam seeks 15-day Russian visa exemption

Speaking at Saint Petersburg-Vietnam Tourism Forum in Russia, Vietnamese Trade Counselor Duong Hoang Minh said Vietnam has offered a 15-day visa exemption policy for Russians visiting Vietnam and 30 days for those on direct flights to Phu Quoc Island.

The two countries still have great potential in tourism cooperation, but have not yet taken advantage of all opportunities for development, including attracting more Vietnamese tourists to Russia.

Currently, Russia offers 30-day visa exemption for tourists from Laos and Thailand; therefore, he proposed Vietnamese tourists also be exempted from visas with a duration of 15 days.

Deputy Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Le Phuc said that Vietnam has simplified many procedures to attract foreign tourists, including those from Russia via visa exemption and removal of quarantine requirements.

Phuc also hoped Russian authorities would waive visas for Vietnamese tourists to open up opportunities for both countries to boost tourism potential.

Vice Chairwoman of the Saint Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development Nana Gvichia Magrushevna said Saint Petersburg has proposed the Russian government consider issuing e-visas to Vietnamese citizens.

Both countries also agreed to speed up the launch of direct flights connecting Vietnam’s tourist hubs with Russia’s Saint Petersburg City.

In 2019, the year before the onset of the Covid pandemic, Vietnam received a record 646,000 tourists from Russia, making it the sixth largest tourism source market after mainland China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the U.S.