South Korea reduces visa procedures for Vietnamese visitors

According to the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam, the Korean diplomatic agency in Vietnam has signed agreements with 15 travel companies in Hanoi and 20 travel companies in Ho Chi Minh City to cooperate in simplifying visa procedures for Vietnamese tourists to Korea.

Accordingly, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Korea, the Korean Embassy in Vietnam will expand the subjects eligible for multiple-entry visas to Korea and simplify visa procedures, effective from July 10, 2017.

This move by Korea aims to strengthen the strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and Korea, promote the expansion of exchanges in all fields, in line with the development of relations between the two countries and limit difficulties for visa applicants due to complicated application procedures and slow processing time.

Signing ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City.

Accordingly, on July 6, 2017, the Korean Embassy and 15 designated tourism agencies in Hanoi signed a cooperation agreement to increase the number of Vietnamese tourists to Korea. Then, on July 7, 2017, the Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City also signed a cooperation agreement with 20 designated tourism agencies in Ho Chi Minh City.

Thus, from July 10, 2017, the visa processing time for tourists registering through designated travel companies will be reduced to 5 working days for regular tourists and 3 working days for tourists traveling on incentive tours.

In addition, the subjects eligible for multiple-entry visas to Korea will be expanded and the procedures for applying for a Korean tourist visa, especially financial proof, will be significantly simplified.

South Korea is an attractive destination for many Vietnamese tourists. Illustration photo: Internet

“Along with expanding the subjects eligible for multiple-entry visas to Korea and simplifying visa application procedures for Vietnamese tourists, we at the Korea Tourism Organization hope to bring convenience to the Vietnamese people and at the same time expect the development in the “Strategic Cooperation Partnership” relationship between the two countries to grow stronger. In the coming time, we will increase promotion to develop unique Korean tourism products to bring Vietnamese tourists wonderful experiences when traveling to Korea.” – Mr. Jung Chang Wook, Chief Representative of the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam said.

In 2016, the number of Vietnamese tourists to Korea reached 251,402 people, an increase of 54.5% compared to 2015. As of July 9, 2017, the total number of Vietnamese tourists to Korea reached 177,976 people, an increase of 29.8% compared to the same period last year. This proves that Vietnam is one of the leading markets in Southeast Asia for Korean tourism.

According to Toquoc