Vietnam’s government has proposed new visa arrangements for foreigners working remotely, travelling for medical treatment, or staying long-term for healthcare, as part of a draft National Assembly resolution on tourism development presented by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh on 7 November.
The draft proposes a controlled pilot scheme for foreigners working remotely in Vietnam, and more favourable visa and temporary-residence arrangements — tailored to purpose and length of stay — for foreign nationals travelling for medical examinations, treatment, rehabilitation or long-term healthcare, together with accompanying family members. The government also proposes easier work permits, visas and temporary residence for foreign experts and artists working on tourism projects, alongside expanded bilateral visa exemptions and more flexible visa policies for high-spending and long-stay visitors from key tourism markets.
The proposal is not yet adopted. Presenting the National Assembly’s Committee on Culture and Social Affairs’s appraisal, committee chairman Nguyen Dac Vinh said the resolution should not prescribe specific visa policies for groups such as experts and technical workers, and called for further clarification of the “novelty, distinctive features and scope” of the proposed special visa policy. The minister said the measures require no additional staffing or administrative changes, with funding to come from central and local budgets.
