Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s visa policy should be more open to lure international tourists , insiders have said. Although the country has offered unilateral visa exemption and e-visas, the policy is not competitive enough as the 15-day visa exemption has yet to satisfy the need of visitors from such markets as Europe, North America and Australia, who often stay from three to four weeks in Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Culture , Sports and Tourism (MCST). Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said the ministry should propose the Government instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expand the list of countries and territories qualified for visa exemption and e-visa, and restore visa granting at border gates. She also suggested simplifying visa procedures for visitors who get infected with COVID-19 during their stay in Vietnam and undergo treatment in the Southeast Asian nation. The … [Read more...] about Relaxing visa policy to attract more foreign tourists: insiders
Adventure sports
Top tennis player enjoys record high in world rankings
Ly Hoang Nam rises to world’s No.332 in latest ATP rankings (Photo: ATP) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s top tennis player Ly Hoang Nam has passed a milestone in his career when rising to the world’s No.332 in the latest Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings. In early August, Nam made a great contribution to helping the Vietnam ese tennis team win the Davis Cup Group III runner-up in the Asia-Pacific region 2022 and a ticket to play in the World Group II play-off next year. With his stable performance, the player of Tay Ninh province may soon achieve his goal – entering Top 300 in ATP Rankings before 30 years old. He is scheduled to travel to Thailand to compete at 2022 Nonthaburi Challenger from August 22-28./. VNA … [Read more...] about Top tennis player enjoys record high in world rankings
Vietnam deploys diverse solutions to revive tourism industry
Hanoi will play a key role in connecting visitors to tourist destinations in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism needs to actively support major tourism businesses to build routes linking localities, and restart heritage digitalization with the participation of travel companies to create new tourism products. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the meeting. Photo: VGP This is one of the requirements made by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on August 17 at the meeting on removing difficulties and promoting tourism recovery so that the industry would become a key economic sector. The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to urgently submit to the Prime Minister the adjustment of electricity prices so that accommodation establishments would be entitled to energy rates equal to those of manufacturing facilities. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, associations, and tourism businesses … [Read more...] about Vietnam deploys diverse solutions to revive tourism industry
Ho Chi Minh City, France’s Lyon City partner in urban management
Ho Chi Minh City expects to have more urban management projects with Lyon City of France, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen told visiting member of the Council of Lyon City Max Vincent during a reception on September 12. Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh municipal People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen (R) receiving member of the Council of Lyon City of France Max Vincent Tuyen said the two cities share similarities for conducting joint work in urban development. Vincent, for his part, pledged to discuss mechanisms to effectively launch projects. Host and guest agreed that both sides should facilitate exchanges, trade and investment promotion in the near future. During the Pullutec festival slated for November in Lyon city, the two sides are due to discuss a bilateral cooperation program and sign an agreement on lighting Ho Chi Minh City Fine Art Museum. Since Lyon and Ho Chi Minh City signed their cooperation … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City, France’s Lyon City partner in urban management
Tourism industry insiders urge govt to ease visa requirements
At a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on Wednesday, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the HCMC Department of Tourism, proposed the government order the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider waiving visas for more countries, instead of the present 24 . She also urged the government to extend visa-free stays for tourists from Western European countries from the current 15 to 30 days because Westerners tend to make longer trips, Vietnam News Agency reported. She also expected the government to simplify e-visa issuance procedures to facilitate tourist entry. Nguyen Thien Phuc, product manager of Ho Chi Minh City-based Vidotour Indochina Travel, also petitioned the government to remove visa obstacles to attract foreign tourists for the rest of the year. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, admitted though Vietnam reopened its borders to foreign tourists, its visa policies are less attractive than neighboring countries. Earlier, he … [Read more...] about Tourism industry insiders urge govt to ease visa requirements
Vietnamese cultural village to be built in RoK
The hall of the Ly Hoa Son clan in Bonghwa , the RoK. (Photo: VNA) Seoul (VNA) – A Vietnamese cultural village will be built in the county of Bonghwa, Gyeongbuk province, the Republic of Korea , heard a recent meeting between the county’s mayor Park Hyun-guk and Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tung. Briefing on a plan for the construction of the village, Park asked the Embassy of Vietnam in the RoK for support to the project which aims to mark the 30th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (December 22, 1992 – 2022), to expand people-to-people exchange, and to promote Vietnam’s cultural experience in the RoK. According to Park, the village will be developed on a ground of 38,350sqm. It is expected to attract around 100,000 visitors and generate some 3.7 billion won (2.8 million USD) in revenue annually. Local authorities also hope that project will create jobs for nearly half a million of local residents. The Vietnamese village in Bonghwa forms part of … [Read more...] about Vietnamese cultural village to be built in RoK