Vietnam’s tourism scene roared to life on August 15, 2025, when the government rolled out its biggest visa-free gift yet. Now folks from an extra dozen European nations can skip the red tape and stay 45 days to explore the striking beaches, buzzing cities, and lush rice terraces, all on a simple 45-day stamp at the airport.
12 New Allies Join the Free-Entry Family
The new plan, published under Resolution 229/NQ-CP, opens the gate to travelers from Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. For the next three summers, from August 15, 2025, to the same date in 2028, the clock is ticking; a full print of a 24-strong visa-free lineup now beckons the world. This landmark followed a similar blitz in March 2025, when travelers from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the U.K., Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland already enjoyed the same gift—proof that Vietnam is serious about welcoming its European friends.
Traffic Charts Speak Volumes
Numbers back the warm welcome. The first seven months of 2025 saw 12.2 million international arrivals, up an eye-popping 22% from 2024. European travelers are diving in; Italy shines brightest, soaring 24.7%, followed closely by France at 19.8% and the U.K. at 19.5%. the message is loud and clear: Vietnam’s beaches, mountains, and historic sights are a must-visit.
Agoda’s Summer 2025 trend data shows that Vietnam now sits in the Asian top five for European vacationers. Growth is strongest in newcomer markets such as Hungary and Poland, where fresh search traffic outpaces legacy feeder countries.
Vietnam’s latest move goes beyond standard visitor perks. Effective August 15, Decree 221 rolls out Special Visa Exemption Cards for people who have critical impact on the economy and society. The five-year, multiple-entry passes are aimed at leading scientists, high-stakes investors, cultural leaders, and top technical experts.
Targeting the brightest minds, the scheme facilitates knowledge and investment flows. A talented Polish technologist, for example, could now join the push to scale Vietnam’s semiconductor capacity without the hassle of repeated visa applications.
This faster, more flexible entry framework helps Vietnam outpace regional peers such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The 45-day stay is tailor-made for deep, worthwhile Western European experiences and top-spending travelers.
In Vietnam, land-shaping crews are moving fast. The Realtors’ Association is buzzing about how a little extra sunshine is lighting a path from the tarmac to the beaches. One wave of news spills over into the next; tourism shops restack the guides, and developers stack luxury villas right around the corner. Picture a row of glinting new villas, tiles that catch the sunrise, curling seaside on strips of Korea-, Canada-, and Germany-flagged resorts. Everyone is gearing up for those jetsetters we never stopped believing would be back, those who pack wallets ready for an epic splurge.
Vietnam is rolling out welcome mats that read, “Come in and stay!” Extra pine is going into step-by-step guides. If you land at midday, you get comfy. If you’re two months in, grab an easy e-visa extension. Steps at the terminal blink in color; the internet hums in every language. By doing this, the country is telling airlines and hotel chains, “Let’s dance.” The point is crystal: Vietnam still wants the dance crown in Southeast Asia, and every upgraded facility and new beachfront view says so. With the ink on smarter entry deals still drying, you can already see the next dancers preparing a synchronized splash around the next general-election-ready, social platform-ready backdrop that is Phu Quốc.