V for VISA
Visa exemption agreements between Vietnam, France, Chile to come into force soon
(July 2005)

Agreements on visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders Viet Nam has signed with France will come into effect on July 1st. A similar agreement, which will begin on June 25th, also includes official passport holders in the beneficiary list. The Foreign Ministry announced the information on June 1st. Under the agreement signed by Viet Nam and France on October 6th, 2004, Vietnamese citizens holding valid diplomatic passports are exempt from visa requirements when visiting France and are allowed to stay for up 3 months at one time or on several visits within six months since their first immigration dates.

French citizens holding valid diplomatic passports also enjoy similar privileges. Under the agreement signed by Viet Nam and Chile on October 22nd, 2003, citizens holding valid diplomatic or official passports from one of the two countries are exempt from needing entry, exit and transit visas in the other's territory and are allowed to stay for up 60 days on each visit.

(Source: Vietnam News Agency)

Citizens from four European countries given visa exemption

Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish citizens will be exempted from requiring visas as of May 1 when they enter, exit or stay in Viet Nam for less than 15 days.

Decision No. 808/2005/QD-BNG issued by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on April 13 stipulates that these countries' citizens must have valid passports for at least three months since they enter Viet Nam, return tickets or tickets for a third country. This does not apply to those who have been banned from entering or have not been allowed to enter Viet Nam under
Vietnamese laws.

After entering Viet Nam, if they want to stay more than 15 days, and have a valid reason as laid out by Vietnamese agencies, organizations and individuals for the Ministry of Public Security and the Foreign Ministry, they will be required to have a visa.

(Source: Vietnam News Agency)