The government of Vietnam has recently issued a single-entry e-visa that welcomes tourists from all nationalities with a validity of up to 90 days. The regulation started taking effect on August 15, 2023. As a result, applications for e-visas rocketed to 112,058 in only 2 weeks after the enactment of the regulation.
Vietnam has also extended Visa exemption stay durations for 13 countries, from 15 days to 45 days. Countries affected by this change include Sweden, Japan, Russia, Belarus, Germany, South Korea, Norway, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, and Spain.
Vietnam’s Tourism Sector: What Makes The Country “Deserve” Visa Reformation
The tourism sector has been one of the main economic drivers of Vietnam and created up to 660,000 job opportunities from 2014 to 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 reduced foreign tourism, deteriorating the country’s economy. The recent visa policy changes could help accelerate post-COVID recovery by recovering tourism levels.
To see if Vietnam is ready for the visa policy amendments, however, we need to first examine the country’s tourism sector. Ranging from how recognized it is in the international community and rewards people can discover when making a visit.
1. The First Half of 2023 Shows Constant Growth of Tourists in Vietnam
Data from up until May 2023 shows that Vietnam received approximately 4.6 million foreign tourists with a revenue of 11.5 billion USD. From May 2023 to July 2023, Vietnam raised this number to 6.6 million. Additionally, domestic tourists were recorded to be 76.5 million in number. Projecting towards the future, the government estimates the arrival of foreign tourists to be 8 million in number for 2023.
2. An Affordable Tourist Destination
You don’t need to be afraid regarding the cost when traveling to most Southeast Asia countries, especially Vietnam in this case. Many sources stated that Vietnam is one of the most affordable places for budget travelers.
Generally, you can expect to spend around 20 USD to 50 USD per day, depending on which place and what delicacy you choose. For example, main dishes in Vietnam usually cost around 3 USD to 10 USD. Entry fees for tourist attractions typically range from 2 USD to 6 USD per visitor.
3. Many Tourism Attractions to Offer
Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Hoi An are famous for a variety of tourism offerings. The capital has the Cu Chi Tunnel, which allows you to imagine what daily life was like during the Vietnam War. To make you closer to the local heritage, you can visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi. When you feel like enjoying dinner accompanied by beautiful lights, Thu Bon River in Hoi An is what you are looking for.
If you wish to experience exotic nature, Ha Long Bay is the absolute choice. Located in Quang Ninh Province, it has a formation of more than 1,600 islands and islets, as well as caves that you can visit one after another. It is recommended to visit between September to November when the weather is cooler, or between April to May to feel more sunshine.
Tourism Competition in Southeast Asia
Countries like Thailand and Indonesia have been heavy contenders for the “best place to visit” crown in Southeast Asia for a very long time. For Thailand, approximately 15.32 million foreign tourists have visited the country as of July 2023.
On the other side, Indonesia shows off its pride with various achievements, such as being declared by Money UK as World’s Most Naturally Beautiful Country or the famed Bali which never ceases to attract domestic and foreign tourists alike. Others like Malaysia and the famous Mount Kinabalu or Cambodia with their historical Angkor Wat are also often mentioned in tourism discussions.
While the tourism competition may be difficult, Vietnam can definitely hold its own. . The numerous tourist attractions described in the previous section demonstrate how Vietnam is worthy enough to be called as “one of the best tourism destinations in Southeast Asia.” The sharp increase of e-visa registrations in the 2 weeks after the new visa regulation took effect shows that people from various countries are interested in visiting Vietnam.
Conclusion: Visa Regulation Aligns Vietnam Tourism Achievements
The rise of revenue in tourism in the first half of 2023, affordable spending for tourists, and many locations to experience show the world that Vietnam is a strong competitor in the tourism sector. The new visa regulation aligns with the current state of Vietnam’s tourism achievements, and the expectation is that it should be well-executed given Vietnam’s stellar tourism reputation.
Will the regulation increase Vietnam’s revenue in the following years? How would tourism destinations be developed to cater to more tourists? Only time will tell.
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