“In the past, tourist visas have generally been issued for single or multiple entries with a validity of one or three months according to the applicant’s request,” said NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong.
Chairwoman Phong said Vietnam business visas were normally valid for 6 months or one year, although a business traveller always had the option of applying for a tourist visa is the business trip was shorter.
The fee for the visa varied depending on the length of stay, said Phong, and there have always been more complicated rules for spouses of Vietnamese citizens and others to get one year visas.
Under the new rules proposed by State President Tran Dai Quang, US tourists and businesspeople would be able to apply for a multi-entry, 12-month visa upon arrival at the airport or other border crossing, said Vice Chairwoman Phong.
Tourist and business travelers would still have all of the other options available to them and could select the best choice depending upon their needs, she said, and of course the fees would change accordingly.
The compelling argument presented by US officials in lobbying for the change, said the Chairwoman, is that Vietnamese citizens who wish to enter the US for tourist or business purposes are issued a 12-month visa, and Vietnam should reciprocate in kind.
According to the NA agenda, the NA will on April 9 vote on the resolution.
