Visa fee exemption takes effect
Update: Oct 12, 2010
The visa fee exemption policy took effect on October 10 after the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) had issued guidelines on the policy over weekend.

In a document signed by VNAT’s Deputy Director General Nguyen Manh Cuong, the tourism agency said the exemption of visa fees would be granted between October 10, 2010  and December 31, 2010 to international visitors.

However, the incentive is limited to only those tourists who buy packaged tours from international travel companies who have registered to join the country’s tourism marketing campaign named Viet Nam – Your Destination. Tourists can find such companies at www.impressivevietnam.vn

The central Government late of last month announced the new policy for international travelers to the country following a request from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Travelers who purchase “Vietnam – Your Destination” program’s tours but make their tours after December 31 will not be entitled to visa fee exemption.

The country received more than 383,000 foreign visitors last month, bringing the total number of foreign arrivals to over 3.73 million in the January – September period, up 34.2% year on year.
SGT