Denmark Joins Germany, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Poland, Switzerland And More As Vietnam Sees Explosive Growth After New Visa-free Entry Policy

Published on October 13, 2025

In a strategical move to boost its tourism sector, Vietnam has unveiled a caller visa argumentation allowing European nationals from 12 countries, including Denmark, Germany, Hungary, and Switzerland, to participate nan state visa-free for up to 45 days. This decision, which aligns pinch Vietnam’s extremity of becoming a starring destination successful Southeast Asia, not only simplifies recreation for European visitors but besides intends to summation nan country’s world arrivals. With visa-free access, nan caller argumentation is expected to pull much visitors, stimulate section economies, and position Vietnam arsenic a much competitory subordinate successful nan world tourism market.

As nan autumn breeze replaces nan sweltering summertime power successful Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s tourism manufacture is basking successful nan occurrence of a caller argumentation alteration that’s group to toggle shape its position connected nan world stage.

The country’s latest solution has paved nan measurement for citizens from 12 European nations—Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, nan Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland—to participate without a visa for stays of up to 45 days. This isn’t conscionable a procedural update; it’s a strategical move aimed astatine strengthening Vietnam’s opinionated successful nan competitory Southeast Asian tourism market, wherever streamlined separator introduction is simply a important trading point. The early signs are promising. In nan first 9 months of 2025, Vietnam welcomed 15.4 cardinal world visitors, marking a 21.5% summation complete nan erstwhile year. The caller visa argumentation is already contributing to these numbers, pinch officials optimistic astir continued growth.

Strategic Visa Policy for Global Impact

Vietnam’s caller visa argumentation displacement is portion of a broader effort to bolster nan country’s tourism sector. By extending visa-free introduction to 24 countries, nan full number of visa-exempt nations has now reached 39. For nan 12 European countries covered by nan caller rule, citizens tin participate Vietnam for up to 45 days for tourism, provided they meet modular introduction conditions. The argumentation will stay successful spot until August 14, 2028, aligning pinch nan government’s Tourism Recovery Program, which intends to transcend pre-pandemic visitant levels and target betwixt 23 to 25 cardinal world arrivals annually.

This determination is driven by world trends. Research from nan World Tourism Organization suggests that visa waivers tin lead to an summation successful tourer arrivals of anyplace from 5% to 25%. Southeast Asia’s tourism leaders, for illustration Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, already boast visa-free introduction for ample numbers of countries. Malaysia saw 37 cardinal visitors successful 2024, while Thailand’s tourism soared, surpassing its pre-pandemic records pinch complete 35 cardinal world arrivals. Vietnam’s allure—its stunning landscapes and rich | culture—is undeniable, but nan convenience of visa-free introduction is quickly proving to beryllium a cardinal facet successful attracting much visitors.

The Economic Impact of nan Policy

The figures speak for themselves. According to Vietnam’s General Statistics Office, July 2025 saw 1.56 cardinal world visitors, a 35.7% summation year-on-year, pinch a 6.8% emergence from nan erstwhile month. August showed moreover much promise, pinch 1.68 cardinal arrivals, marking a 16.5% year-on-year jump and a 7.8% summation from July. September’s numbers were somewhat little astatine 1.52 million, but still represented a coagulated 19.5% year-on-year increase. The full number of world visitors betwixt January and September was astir 15.4 million, an awesome 21.5% emergence compared to nan aforesaid play successful 2024.

Vietnam’s caller argumentation is proving peculiarly charismatic to European tourists, who person already contributed to these rising numbers. The country’s increasing European beingness is being seen arsenic a nonstop consequence of nan visa waivers. Among nan apical sources of world visitors, China led pinch 3.8 cardinal visitors, followed by South Korea astatine 3.2 million, Taiwan astatine 926,000, nan U.S. astatine 622,000, and Japan astatine 617,000. While nan nonstop effect of nan caller European markets is still unfolding, nan displacement is intelligibly supporting Vietnam’s beardown capacity successful Asia.

Boosting Local Economies and Promoting Sustainable Growth

The influx of European visitors is benefiting not conscionable awesome cities for illustration Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but besides location destinations. According to manufacture players, Europeans thin to enactment longer and task beyond nan accustomed hotspots, which boosts section economies. Cities for illustration Da Nang and Phu Quoc are seeing grounds edifice occupancy rates, and nan aviation assemblage is besides emotion nan affirmative effects, pinch airlines specified arsenic Vietnam Airlines expanding routes to European cities. The country’s vibrant MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) manufacture is besides thriving, contributing to nan surge successful request for recreation services.

The accrued number of world visitors presents Vietnam pinch an opportunity to attraction connected semipermanent sustainable growth. Dr. Nguyen Duc Trong, a tourism master astatine nan National Economics University, highlights that while visa openness is simply a bully start, sustainability is basal for lasting success. The state must put successful improving infrastructure, specified arsenic expanding Tan Son Nhat International Airport and enhancing proscription successful agrarian areas. Promoting divers attractions for illustration culinary tours successful Hue, kayaking successful Ninh Binh, and taste experiences pinch section communities will besides beryllium key.

The Role of Environmental Protection

As tourism numbers rise, biology work will go moreover much important. Vietnam must foster greenish tourism by banning integrative connected beaches and offering c offset programs for flights. The state should purpose to dispersed tourer activity beyond conscionable Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, helping to administer nan benefits to areas for illustration nan Mekong Delta and nan cardinal highlands. Supporting section crafts and promoting eco-friendly accommodations and activities will guarantee that tourism remains a affirmative unit for some nan system and nan environment.

A Bright Future for Vietnamese Tourism

Vietnam is not conscionable reopening its borders to world tourists—it is mounting nan shape for a caller era of tourism. The operation of earthy beauty, taste heritage, and easy entree done visa-free introduction is making nan state an progressively charismatic destination. With nan continued support of its Asian neighbors and increasing liking from Europe, Vietnam is connected way to reinvent itself arsenic a apical tourism subordinate successful Southeast Asia. As 1 European traveler put it aft a sojourn to Ha Long Bay: “No visa worries, conscionable axenic magic.” This elemental sentiment encapsulates nan occurrence of nan caller argumentation and nan agleam early that lies up for Vietnam’s tourism industry.