In order to increase foreign tourism to Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered officials to loosen several visa rules.

According to local media, one of the main reasons why Vietnam has failed to entice back tourists after the epidemic is the difficulty in acquiring tourist visas.

Less than 3.7 million tourists from abroad made the journey to this nation, which is renowned for its mouthwatering street food, lengthy coastline filled with beaches, and the Unesco World Heritage Site Halong Bay. (Tourists have also voiced concerns about infrastructure problems, such as foul-smelling public restrooms.)

According to the government website, Chinh gave his cabinet instructions on Wednesday to change immigration regulations, including raising the number of visa waivers available, extending visitor stays abroad for less money, and expanding the nation's e-visa programme.

Visitors from 13 countries, including 11 from Europe and 2 from Asia, are now able to enter Vietnam visa-free and stay for a maximum of 15 days. Tourists from nine Asean countries are permitted a 30-day visa-free stay. According to the immigration department, Vietnam presently grants e-visas to 80 countries.

According to Vietnam's tourism ministry, easing up on visa requirements is essential for luring more foreign visitors. State media claimed that local tourism businesses on Wednesday requested extending the maximum stay to 45 days.

This year, Vietnam hopes to welcome eight million foreign visitors. A record number of almost 18 million foreign tourists visited the nation in 2019.