[HANOI] Vietnam’s visa-free entry policy for 12 additional European countries, introduced in August 2025, remains in effect for 2026, allowing eligible travelers to enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 45 days.
The measure, approved under Resolution 229/NQ-CP, added Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland to Vietnam’s visa-exemption list starting on August 15, 2025.
The waiver applies to all passport types and runs for three years, until August 14, 2028, as part of Vietnam’s national tourism recovery strategy aimed at encouraging longer stays by European visitors.
These countries join the 12 nations already covered by Vietnam’s unilateral visa-free policy — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom — a program currently set to run until March 14, 2028.
Under Resolution 229/NQ-CP and Decree 221/2025/NĐ-CP, passed on August 8, 2025, Vietnam also introduced special visa exemptions for certain categories of visitors, including:
- High-level official guests invited by national leaders
- Researchers, professors, engineers, and leading specialists
- Major investors and senior executives of global companies
- Prominent figures in culture, the arts, sports, or tourism
- Vietnam’s honorary consuls overseas
- Invitees from approved universities, research institutions, or companies
The policy remains part of Vietnam’s broader effort to attract high-value visitors and to strengthen tourism through 2026 and beyond.
