Foreign e-visa bearers will be allowed to enter Vietnam when they arrive at Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh, which is home to the world's natural heritage site Ha Long Bay.
It is expected to help fast-track the immigration procedures at airports and save time for everyone involved in the private international airport. Pham Ngoc Sau, director of Van Don International Airport said that e-visa will be issued by the border police.
Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Photo: Vinh Quan |
“Van Don International Airport is well-equipped to process e-visa, thus when the above-mentioned policy for foreigners takes effect, we can immediately implement it. In May 2022, passengers on flights from Incheon (South Korea) to Van Don Airport will be the first ones to be issued e-visas here,” Sau said.
With the move, Van Don is the ninth airport offering e-visa entry in Vietnam, facilitating the immigration in the country whose tourism is one of the key industries.
Since May 2020, eight airports have been allowed to process e-visas, including Noi Bai in Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, Danang in the central city of Danang, Cam Ranh in the central province of Khanh Hoa, Cat Bi in the northern city of Hai Phong, Can Tho in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, Phu Quoc in the southern province of Kien Giang, and Phu Bai in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.
All the eight above-mentioned are State-run airports while Van Don is a private international airport.
Van Don Airport, which came into operation in 2018 at a cost of VND7.5 trillion (US$325 million), has a capacity to receive 2.5 million visitors per year.
Vietnam has completely reopened inbound and outbound tourism from March 15 with pre-pandemic visa policy reinstated and foreign arrivals are only required to show negative Covid-19 tests prior to departure.
The government has also resumed e-visa issuance to citizens from 80 countries that allowed them to apply for 30-day stay and single entry since March 15.
