Vietnam attracts European tourists thanks to visa exemption policy

Visa exemption and e-visa policies are helping Vietnam attract a strong international tourist flow. Simplifying entry procedures and expanding the list of countries that offer visa exemptions or easy visa issuance not only saves time and money but also creates opportunities for tourists to explore local experiences.

The number of foreign tourists coming to Vietnam is increasing because of the new visa policy.

European market is up

The 45-day visa exemption policy for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, which has been in effect since March 2025, has brought positive signals to Vietnam's tourism industry. According to statistics from the digital travel platform Agoda, immediately after the temporary visa exemption policy was implemented from March 1 to December 31, 2025, searches for accommodation in Vietnam from the Polish, Czech Republic and Swiss markets increased dramatically. Specifically, searches from Poland increased by 306%, from the Czech Republic by 155% and from Switzerland by 68% compared to the same period in 2024.

In addition, according to foreign tourists, the temporary visa exemption policy also helps save costs and simplify entry procedures, while creating conditions for European tourists to further explore local experiences in Vietnam. The most searched destinations are Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phu Quoc and Nha Trang - cities famous for their rich tourism ecosystems, diverse accommodation services and unique entertainment activities.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam, Country Director of Agoda in Vietnam, said that the visa exemption policy is a significant "boost" that helps European tourists easily access Vietnam. This is a positive signal for the entire tourism industry, especially in the context of fierce competition in the Southeast Asian region. To welcome the new wave of tourists, Agoda is implementing many incentives on accommodation, air tickets and entertainment aimed at European tourists.

Foreign tourists come to Vietnam by ship.

Meanwhile, many travel agencies have also caught up with this trend by upgrading their tourism products, targeting the high-spending customer segment. Products such as golf tourism, cruise tourism, health care combined with resort tourism, adventure tourism... are focused on developing to meet the increasingly diverse and demanding needs of tourists from Europe.

Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, Marketing and Communications Director of Vietluxtour, said that European visitors currently account for about 30% of the company's total international visitors. Cross-Vietnam tours, beach resorts in Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Ha Long Bay or itineraries to experience local cuisine and culture are the most popular choices.

Similarly, Ms. Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, Deputy General Director of Vietravel, said that visitors from Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland tend to choose high-end services and especially love to experience local culture. This opens up opportunities for Vietnam to build more in-depth tourism products, instead of just focusing on accommodation and regular sightseeing.

According to experts, Vietnam is emerging as a potential destination in Asia for European tourists, thanks to its rich natural resources, attractive cuisine, friendly people and timely open-door policy. The visa exemption policy not only contributes to the growth of visitors from key markets, but also creates momentum for Vietnam to penetrate deeper into the international market.

Strengthen promotion and flight connection

According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the impressive growth results from European markets are a testament to the drastic efforts of the Government and the tourism industry in removing visa barriers, one of the key factors in attracting international visitors.

"The timely issuance of the e-visa exemption and issuance policy has contributed to removing difficulties for businesses and attracting new visitors. In addition, it is the proactiveness of the tourism industry in building a flexible, modern and in-depth promotion strategy," Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh added.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recently launched many large-scale international promotion programs in key European markets such as Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic. Some notable activities include promoting tourism at the ITB Berlin fair (Germany), the Travex fair (Malaysia), the film tourism promotion event at the Cannes Film Festival (France), and communication campaigns on digital platforms.

At the same time, the Vietnamese tourism industry is also promoting a domestic and international stimulus program with the theme "Vietnam - Travel to love", announced from the beginning of 2025. This is a large-scale campaign with the synchronous participation of travel, accommodation, transportation businesses and airlines.

Visa exemption and e-visa policies are becoming important levers to help Vietnam strongly attract international tourists.

The stimulus program to attract international visitors includes discounted air and train tickets, group promotions, and special offers for international visitors from target markets. At the same time, the Vietnamese tourism industry also closely coordinates with airlines to open more direct flights, charter flights, and increase the frequency of flights between Vietnam and European countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

According to statistics in the past 6 months, the number of visitors from Poland to Vietnam has increased by 44%, while from Switzerland increased by 10% compared to the same period in 2024. This is considered a direct result of the short-term visa exemption policy under Resolution 11/NQ-CP, part of the tourism development stimulus program in 2025. The goal of the Vietnamese tourism industry in 2025 is to welcome 22 - 23 million international visitors.

With positive signals from the visa exemption policy and the synchronous participation from the central to local levels, tourism experts also believe that this is a completely feasible goal, making Vietnam one of the leading destinations in Asia for European tourists in the coming period.

According to News and People Newspaper

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/viet-nam-hut-khach-chau-au-nho-chinh-sach-mien-thi-thuc-20250730144831605.htm