Foreign tourists try on Vietnamese conical hats during their trips to HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Đạt

HCM CITY — The new renewal policy for e-visas, with a duration of up to 90 days, is approaching its launch date of August 15, attracting the attention of the tourism industry both at home and abroad.

According to the online travel platform Agoda, the number of searches about the new visa policy increased by 33 per cent within two weeks after its approval by the Vietnamese National Assembly.

The highest increase in searches for accommodation came from France, with a 72 per cent hike compared to two weeks earlier. Other countries such as the Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany, and the US also recorded a rise in interest regarding Việt Nam, ranging from 38 to 45 per cent.

Agoda's analysis focuses on long-haul travellers from North America, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, and other long-haul destinations, who face stricter visa policies compared to entry into other Southeast Asian countries and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

They often have to take more expensive and longer round-trip flights, making them inclined to plan for longer vacations compared to visitors from nearby regions.

The increased flexibility and ease of the visa issuance process, along with promotional efforts and more flight services, have contributed to attracting more tourists to Việt Nam.

The data also indicated positive signs towards achieving Việt Nam's target of 8 million foreign visitors by the end of this year. Since the beginning of the year, Vietnam has welcomed about 5.57 million foreign tourists.

Following the visa policy change, India rose from eighth place to become the second-largest international market for hotel bookings in Vietnam, only behind the Republic of Korea.

Director of the HCM City Tourism Department Nguyễn Thị Ánh Hoa said the department will partner with relevant departments and agencies to jointly fine-tune the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism development policies in the city.

In the first half of this year, foreign tourist arrivals in the city surpassed 1.9 million, up 306 per cent annually and equivalent to 38.8 per cent of the 2023 plan. Meanwhile, the number of domestic visitors exceeded 16.4 million, up 48 per cent year-on-year and reaching 46.9 per cent of the yearly plan.

Those who can obtain the three-month visa to Việt Nam are tourists from eligible countries, as well as those travelling for business purposes with a guaranteeing agency or organization in Việt Nam.

Foreigners with at least one-year valid on their passport in advance of the trip and those who are not on the list of individuals prohibited from entering Việt Nam as prescribed in Article 21 of the Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Việt Nam are also eligible.

The three-month visa can be obtained via two methods: at the Embassy/Consulate or via a visa on arrival. Depending on the method applicants choose, the price varies from US$25 for a single entry and $50 for multiple entries if applying at the Embassy/Consulate.

For a visa approval letter, depending on the policy of each travel/visa agency in Việt Nam, it costs $25 for a single entry and $50 for multiple entries for a government fee plus $25 to $150. — VNS