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The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee has decided to extend the pilot e-visa program for foreign visitors to Vietnam by another two years during its 28th session on October 15-17 in Hanoi.
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| NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan speaks at the closing ceremony of the 28th session of the NA Standing Committee__Photo: VNA |
On November 22, 2016, the NA issued Resolution No.30/2016/QH14 on the pilot program, which was scheduled to last until February 1, 2019.
Presenting the Government’s report on the implementation of the pilot program, Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quy Vuong said the outcomes showed that the policy has contributed to attracting foreigners to Vietnam for tourism and investment, forming a driving force behind the tourism sector.
Many diplomatic agencies of foreign countries in Vietnam applauded the policy, saying it facilitates the nation’s external diplomacy amid global integration, Vuong added.
He proposed that the pilot scheme should be continued to provide the basis for a more complete assessment of the policy’s impacts on local socio-economy, defense, security, and foreign diplomacy.
The official pointed to some existing shortcomings, which include the low number of e-visa holders entering Vietnam due to ineffective work on popularizing the policy, and the high number of countries yet to be subject to the policy.
According to Vuong, the extension of the pilot plan will help complete regulations on e-visa issuance when amending the law on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.
At the session, the NA’s Defence and Security Committee requested that the Government direct the Ministry of Public Security and relevant agencies to review and assess the implementation of the law on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam, with a view to adding the law to the NA’s law building program for 2019.
Concluding the function, NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty announced a decision on the two-year extension of the pilot program, saying that during this period, the Government is required to prepare amendments to the immigration law for submission to the NA.- (VNA/VLLF)
