Vietnam to roll out visa-on-arrival facility for Indian vacationers? This is what diplomat mentioned

The Vietnamese authorities is contemplating unveiling a brand new visa coverage for vacationers visiting the Southeast Asian nation from India and different nations, a senior diplomat mentioned. Vietnam’s Consul Normal in Mumbai, Le Quang Bien, underscored the tourism potential of Vietnam, as he mentioned that although there’s an e-visa facility, there is no such thing as a visa on arrival for vacationers from India and different nations. He added, “However we’re contemplating a brand new visa coverage for the entry of vacationers from India and different nations.” 

What did the Vietnamese diplomat say?

The Vietnamese diplomat added that whereas Vietnam is known for its seashores, rivers, and Buddhist pagodas, India and the Southeast Asian nation share a robust relationship with India. Notably, a number of South Asian nations have allowed visa-on-arrival services for Indian vacationers, whereas Vietnam nonetheless points e-visa for travellers.

The diplomat added, “There may be loads of potential for tourism from India to Vietnam because of the very excessive inhabitants of India. The 2 nations have a really robust bilateral relationship. We worth vacationers from India, the variety of whom is rising.”

Vietnam places strict rules on social media

In the meantime, in associated developments, Vietnam has put strict rules on social media because it gave authorities elevated powers to stop dissent and management the information.

Final December, Vietnam’s authorities carried out “Decree 147,” which sought to tighten rules on social media firms like Fb, X, YouTube, and TikTok in a bid to additional stifle criticism, mentioned Ben Swanton, one of many authors of the report by The 88 Undertaking, a bunch targeted on human rights and free speech points in Vietnam.

“Any problem to the federal government and the Communist Celebration, any important problem to their official narrative of occasions, is perceived by them as a scenario that’s getting uncontrolled,” he mentioned in an interview from Thailand.

Amongst different issues, the decree requires customers to confirm their accounts with telephone numbers or nationwide ID playing cards that have to be supplied to the federal government upon request and for the social media firms to retailer their information in Vietnam.

Social media firms have till late March to conform, and it isn’t but clear whether or not they are going to attempt to push again. TikTok and Fb refused to touch upon their plans, whereas X and Google, which owns YouTube, didn’t return emails.

(With inputs from companies)

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