Politics · Vietnam Bureau
Vietnam expands visa exemption programme for Chinese tour groups
Vietnam is piloting a visa exemption scheme for organised Chinese tour groups visiting Khanh Hoa province, part of broader efforts to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation between the two countries.
LSN Vietnam ·
Under the new pilot programme, Chinese visitors travelling in organised tour groups will be exempted from visa requirements when visiting the popular coastal destination. The initiative aligns with Vietnam's commitment to facilitating tourism and cultural exchanges with neighbouring China, a key partner in the region.
Eligible travellers must meet specific criteria to access the exemption. Visitors must travel as part of groups comprising at least two people on package tours arranged by Vietnam's international travel companies, in accordance with the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam. Additionally, each tour package cannot exceed 30 days in duration.
The visa exemption pilot comes as Vietnam and China intensify cooperation across multiple sectors. Recent legislative exchanges and commercial discussions have underscored the two nations' commitment to deepening bilateral ties, with trade growing substantially between them.
The scheme is expected to streamline travel procedures and encourage greater tourism flows from China to Vietnam, particularly to Khanh Hoa's renowned attractions. Officials anticipate the pilot could serve as a model for expanding similar exemption arrangements to other provinces and destinations across Vietnam, contingent on its success and implementation outcomes.