Vietnam is moving toward a more open and competitive visa regime as part of a coordinated package of breakthrough measures to drive sustainable tourism growth. The Ministry of Public Security will work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to study and propose expanded unilateral visa exemptions, prioritising major and high-potential source markets to attract high-quality international visitors.
The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh on January 20, following a meeting of the State Steering Committee for Tourism. The measures come at a time when Vietnam’s tourism sector has recorded strong results, reaffirming its role as a key pillar of the national economy. In 2025, Vietnam achieved robust tourism growth and was recognised by the World Tourism Organization as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
The year 2026 holds particular significance, marking the first year of the 2026–2030 five-year socio-economic development plan, alongside major national milestones including the 14th National Party Congress and elections for deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels.
Against a backdrop of global economic volatility, heightened risks and uneven recovery, Vietnam has set ambitious targets of welcoming 25 million international visitors and 150 million domestic travellers. To achieve these goals, ministries, sectors and localities have been instructed to decisively address existing bottlenecks, shortcomings and structural constraints hindering tourism development.
The Deputy Prime Minister called on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to take a leading role, in close coordination with relevant ministries and local authorities, in effectively implementing Resolution No. 08 (dated January 16, 2017), which aims to develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector. Priority will be placed on restructuring source markets while enhancing the overall quality and competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism offerings.
As part of this effort, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the 2017 Law on Tourism and related legal documents. The ministry will propose amendments, supplements or the removal of outdated provisions to establish a more enabling and responsive legal framework for tourism development.
The ministry is also required to closely monitor global travel trends and visitor demand, guiding the development of tourism products that focus on high-end and high-value-added segments such as green tourism, wellness tourism, MICE, and golf tourism. Special emphasis will be placed on attracting international markets characterised by high spending power and longer stays.
In addition, the ministry will advise on updates to the Tourism System Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045. These adjustments will ensure alignment with urban and rural planning as well as administrative restructuring, creating new development space for the tourism sector.
The Ministry of Public Security has been assigned to accelerate digital transformation in immigration management, enhancing electronic visa issuance systems, simplifying procedures and shortening clearance times at border checkpoints to maximise convenience for travellers. A key focus will be the coordinated proposal with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expand unilateral visa exemptions for priority markets.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to strengthen international communication on Vietnam’s visa policies, while reviewing and proposing amendments to relevant legal documents to facilitate overseas tourism promotion and marketing activities.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will integrate tourism branding into trade promotion programmes, international fairs and exhibitions, and leverage Vietnam’s overseas trade offices to enhance synergies between trade and tourism promotion.
The Ministry of Construction will continue to prioritise investment in strategic infrastructure, including airports, seaports, expressways and direct transport links to major tourism destinations, ensuring modern, seamless connectivity for travellers.
Other ministries and agencies, within their respective mandates, have been urged to proactively coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to implement practical and effective solutions that accelerate tourism development in a sustainable manner.
According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed 21.2 million international visitors in 2025, an increase of 20.4% year-on-year and the highest figure on record. The tourism sector now aims to attract 25 million international arrivals in 2026, representing a further 16% increase.
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