Vietnam considers 10-year ‘golden visa’ to stay ahead in Southeast Asia’s tourism race
Vietnam’s Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) has proposed a long-term visa program to the government to maintain its lead in Southeast Asia’s fast-evolving travel market. The recommendations, submitted to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, include a “golden visa” valid for five to ten years to compete with Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia—countries that already offer such schemes to long-stay travellers, Báo Văn Hóa reported.
The proposal comes at a time when Vietnam has regained 98% of its pre-pandemic tourism levels, making it the fastest-recovering destination in the region. In 2024, the country welcomed 17.5 million international visitors, overtaking Singapore and trailing only Malaysia and Thailand.
The advisory board also suggested introducing a 10-year investor visa with the possibility of permanent residency after five years, and a five-year talent visa with a simplified renewal process, as reported by Thanh Nien newspaper. These programs could be piloted in key tourism hubs like Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang.
During a government meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Chinh asked ministries to explore ways to improve visa policies to support tourism growth. «Vietnam must remain an open and safe destination,» he said.
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Vietnam’s tourism momentum has been driven by multiple factors. New visa reforms in 2023 extended the e-visa duration to 90 days and expanded the list of visa-exempt countries. The first direct US-Vietnam flight and
