The waivers will last for three years, starting from March 15, 2022. Photo: VGP

According to the newly-issued Resolution No.32/NQ-CP, citizens from Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K. are allowed to visit Vietnam for up to 15 days from the date of entry without a visa regardless of passport type and entry purpose.

The waivers will last for three years, starting from March 15, 2022, to March 14, 2025, and an extension could be taken into account in line with Vietnamese law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked with the assessment, evaluation, and putting forward recommendations to the Government with regards to the extension, suspension or termination of the unilateral visa exemption policy.

The decision is made as Vietnam seeks to resume inbound and outbound tourism activities after nearly two years of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Foreign nationals from Singapore have their documents checked at passport control in Noi Bai International Airport on March 15, 2022. Photo: VNA

Prior to the pandemic, Vietnam offered a unilateral visa exemption policy for these 13 countries. Visitors from most other ASEAN countries do not require a visa for up to 30 days. Meanwhile, the waiver was for 21 days for visitors from the Philippines and 14 days for those from Brunei and Myanmar.

Vietnam also granted e-visas to citizens of 80 countries that allowed them to apply for a 30-day, single entry.

The government has agreed to reinstate pre-pandemic entry and exit procedures for foreigners and Vietnamese living overseas from March 15.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said in a notice that the procedures would be resumed to the level before Covid-19 restrictions were introduced in early 2020, based on the Law on Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in Vietnam.

Foreign tourists in Hoi An ancient town, Quang Nam province. Photo: Vietnam Times

According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed 49,200 foreign visitors in January and February, up 71.7% year-on-year. Foreign arrivals by air accounted for 87.8% of the total number of visitors.

The number of tourists to the country in February increased 49.6% compared with the previous month.

Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport on March 15 morning welcomed the first international commercial flight after the two-year hiatus.

Flight SQ192 from Singapore to Hanoi, operated by Singapore Airlines, marks a milestone as Vietnam fully opens its doors to international visitors, said Nguyen Thi Kim Nga, Deputy Director of Noi Bai International Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said the country has resumed services to foreign tourists from March 15, noting that domestic airlines have geared up for the restoration. /.

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (Feb. 10): Vietnam Considers Visa Exemption for 24 Countries To date, the country has recorded 192 cases infected with the Omicron variant, with Ho Chi Minh City the highest at 92.

Automatic Stay Extension for Stranded Foreigners in Vietnam to End on Jan. 15 According to the latest updates on traveling into and through Vietnam, there will be no automatic visa extensions for stranded foreigners from Jan.15.

Vietnam Extends Automatic Stay for Stranded Foreigners due to Covid-19 The Department of Immigration has issued a notice on automatic extension of stay for foreigners stranded in Vietnam due to Covid-19