Vietnam mulls over waiving visas for billionaires, celebrities

In a directive issued on Thursday, the PM instructed the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work together with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to propose specific policies for short-term visa exemptions and streamline visa approval procedures for tourists.

Along with billionaires and celebrities, the PM suggested considering visa exemptions for renowned artists, athletes, experts, scientists, and investors visiting Vietnam for tourism or international cooperation activities.

Since March 1, Vietnam granted visa-free travel to 45 days for citizens of Poland, Czechia, and Switzerland traveling on package tours, adding to a list of 25 countries enjoying visa-free entry.

In mid-March, Vietnam extended visa exemptions for citizens of 12 of the 25 countries, including major tourism markets like South Korea and Japan, until 2028.

Apart from visa-exempt countries, Vietnam grants three-month tourist visas to citizens of all other nations and territories.

The country targets 22–23 million foreign tourists by 2025 after receiving 17.6 million last year.