Vietnam adds 12 European markets to a 45-day visa-free tourism program

From August 15, 2025, Vietnam broadened its tourism-stimulus visa exemption program to cover citizens of 12 European countries through August 14, 2028.

The group includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Under Resolution 229/NQ-CP, citizens of those countries are exempt from visas for a temporary stay of up to 45 days from the date of entry for tourism purposes, regardless of passport type, provided they satisfy Vietnam’s entry conditions.

The expansion is seen as a notable move to attract additional high-value inbound demand while helping airlines, airports and travel firms design longer-stay products for European customers.

For Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, the new arrangement also replaces the shorter-term tourism stimulus policy that had been applied earlier in 2025.

For travelers from the newly covered markets, clearly aligning the purpose of travel with tourism and preparing clean travel documentation should make pre-departure checks and arrival procedures smoother.