Vietnam weighs new visa policy for Indian tourists: report

Vietnam is considering a new visa policy for Indian and other tourists, the Press Trust of India reported, citing a senior Vietnamese diplomat.

Last year, more than 222,000 Indian visitors landed in the coastal city of Da Nang, representing 5.3% of total international arrivals in the Southeast Asian country and 50% of the Indian tourists (501,427) who visited Vietnam.

Highlighting the tourism potential in Southeast Asian countries, Le Quang Bien, the consul general of Vietnam, noted that although many nations in the region offer visas on arrival for Indian tourists, Vietnam provides e-visas.

“We are considering a new visa policy for entry of tourists,” Bien, who was in Ahmedabad to participate in the “Da Nang Tourism Roadshow,” told media representatives.

He said there is substantial tourism potential between India and Vietnam, given India’s large population, and added that the number of Indian tourists in Vietnam is rising.

Another Vietnamese official stressed that the country will take steps to ensure Da Nang—a coastal town known for its beaches, museums, and heritage sites—becomes the preferred destination for Indian travelers.

A Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center official told reporters that city authorities are refining tourism packages, particularly for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) and wedding tourism.

According to tourism officials, Da Nang’s tourist inflow has surged 13.5 times when compared to 2019. The coastal city was recognized as the “Asia’s Leading Event and Festival Destination” by the World Travel Awards.