Malaysian media praises Vietnam's visa-free travel policy.

The Malaysian newspaper News Straits Times, in its January 22nd issue, published an article highly praising Vietnam's visa-free tourism policy.

Titled "The Benefits of Visa-Free Travel," the article argues that by waiving visa fees and expanding the scope of those eligible for this policy, Vietnam has attracted a larger number of tourists than expected.

The article points out that currently, more and more countries are deciding to waive visa requirements for tourists in order to stimulate tourism.

For authorities, this is a way to boost tourism, while for tourists, it's a way to save time and money.

The article highlighted the attractions that helped Vietnam attract 12.6 million tourists from around the world in 2023, such as traditional pho, floating markets in the Mekong Delta, the mountainous region of Sapa, and the ancient capital of Hue.

The article emphasizes that in order to attract more tourists than expected in 2023, Vietnam implemented a visa exemption policy for tourism and expanded the scope of those eligible for this policy.

Specifically, Vietnam has simplified entry procedures through an online system and extended the permitted length of stay to 90 days, compared to the previous 30 days.

In addition, Vietnam also grants visa exemptions to citizens of 13 countries and extends the length of stay from 15 days to 45 days, including Germany, South Korea, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and others.

Therefore, in the fourth quarter of 2023, the number of tourists from Spain increased by 90%, from Italy by 68%, from the UK by 48.6%, and from France by 52%.

The article argues that this policy has made it easier for tourists to choose their next destination, and that this is part of a long-term approach.

In conclusion, the author states that visa exemption is considered a policy aimed at stimulating economic growth in each country.

For tourists, this policy is an incentive to explore and plan a future vacation.