Is Vietnam's 10-year golden visa on the cards?

By Hoang Vu April 1, 2025 | 01:03 am PT

A group of visitors stroll on a street in Da Nang City, June 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

Vietnam's Tourism Advisory Board wants the government to consider options like a "golden visa" valid for five to 10 years to be able to compete with neighboring countries.

In a proposal submitted to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the board said while Vietnam's tourism has nearly recovered to pre-Covid levels there are concerns it could fall behind regional competitors, particularly Thailand and Malaysia, Bao Van Hoa reported.

Countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have already introduced golden visas allowing foreign nationals to stay for up to 10 years.

The TAB also proposed a 10-year investor visa with the option of acquiring permanent residency after five years if the investment level is maintained and a five-year "talent visa" with a simplified renewal process, Thanh Nien newspaper reported.

It said these visa programs could be piloted in cities or provinces with tourism potential such as Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang.

During a meeting with government officials on Monday, the prime minister urged ministries to consider expanding visa policies to stimulate tourism growth and position Vietnam as a safe and welcoming destination.