The visa exemption will last until June 30, 2018. 

A corner of Quy Nhon Beach 

The country first offered visa waivers for citizens from the five European countries in July, 2015. The policy has been updated annually and would have expired at the end of June.

The continued visa exemption is expected to help the domestic tourism sector obtain the annual growth of international visitors to around 30%.

The number of tourists from these countries to Vietnam soared in recent years, with 720,000 in 2015, 855,000 in 2016, and 1,500,000 in 2017.

Vietnam has some of the strictest visa policies in Asia. The country currently offers visa waivers to visitors from 24 countries and territories, including the ASEAN member countries.

The country has tried to improve the situation with an e-visa policy which is now available to people from 46 countries.

According to the Minister and Chairman of Government Office Mai Tien Dung, a more relaxed visa exemption policy would provide momentum for tourism development.

“We’ll try to offer the best conditions for foreign travellers who can apply for a visa for Vietnam anywhere, instead of having to come to Vietnamese representative agencies in their countries,” Dung added.

In March this year, the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board sent a proposal to the prime minister on visa exemptions for foreign visitors in the country.

The board noted that Vietnam should consider visa exemptions for more countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium. This is expected to increase the tourism revenues by USD100 million per year.