Vietnam launching 10-year golden visa to boost tourism

Dhaka: Vietnam is introducing a new 10-year golden visa scheme in a move to attract new international residents, professionals, and investors, and boost the country’s travel and tourism sector.

The announcement comes amid good economic signs in the country, sparking hope that high-net worth individuals will see the visa program as a decade-long opportunity.

As per reports, three categories of visa are set to come on offer: an extendable five-to-10-year golden visa; an “investor visa” which also lasts 10 years and provides the chance to become a permanent resident after five; and a “Talent Visa” targeting professionals in growth industries.

Applications for the visas will be able to be completed online, reports cited authorities saying, and no embassy appointments are required.

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism expects the suite of visa changes to help it meet a target of up to 23 million foreign arrivals in 2025—an achievement that would be a 31 percent increase over 2024, when about USD 30 billion in tourism revenues were recorded.

The largest source markets for Vietnamese tourism are China, South Korea, and Taiwan. US and Japanese visitors rank fourth and fifth.

Vietnam is positioning itself as a culturally dynamic and vibrant place to live, leaning heavily on the appeal of cities such as Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, where foreign settlers can find amenities they expect, including international schools.