Eased visa policies drive tourism growth between Vietnam and S.Korea, Taiwan

Travel businesses raised several issues related to immigration procedures, tour operations, and strategies to tap into the South Korean and Taiwanese markets during a dialogue focused on visa regulations in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.

The event was part of the 'Tourism and Entrepreneurs 2025' series, aimed at stimulating outbound tourism among Vietnamese travelers.

According to You Sang Byun from the Consulate General of South Korea in Ho Chi Minh City, around 4.5 million South Korean tourists visited Vietnam in 2024.

In January-July, the number reached 2.5 million.

Vietnam currently ranks as the second-most popular international destination for South Koreans, following Japan, You added.

Meanwhile, about 650,000 Vietnamese traveled to South Korea in 2024 and around 420,000 Vietnamese visited the East Asian country in January-July 2025.

Vietnam is now South Korea’s fourth-largest source of tourists, after China, Japan, and the United States.

You noted that one major reason for this growth is Vietnam’s relaxed visa policies, including extended stays for visa-exempt travelers and longer durations for electronic visa holders.

He also highlighted improvements in tourism infrastructure and services.

The South Korean government, along with its Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, has implemented measures to support Vietnamese travelers, such as waiving group visa fees and reducing documentation requirements.

“I hope that in the future, Vietnamese citizens will be able to enter South Korea without needing a visa,” he said.

A representative from South Asia Travel Media Co. Ltd. raised concerns about whether South Korea’s visa policies apply equally to all travel agencies.

You clarified that visa reviews are conducted fairly across all applicants—individuals and companies—based on the authenticity and appropriateness of the submitted documents.

He underlined that the most important factor is preparing complete and accurate applications that meet the requirements.

Derek Chou, head of the Taiwan Tourism Administration’s representative office in Vietnam, explained that the GuanHong (group) visa is issued through designated travel companies.

This type of visa is free and does not require financial proof, offering significant advantages to tour organizers.

For individual tours, only companies on an approved list are allowed to submit visa applications. This list is updated every March and September.

Although individual tour numbers have declined this year, corporate incentive group tours have tripled compared to 2024.

This surge presents opportunities for tour operators to be included in Taiwan’s designated travel agency list.

Doan Ngoc Thao, secretary general of the Saigon Golf Tourism Association, shared that international golf tourists to Vietnam have seen stable growth, especially travelers from South Korea and Taiwan.

These are traditional markets with a strong passion for golf, high spending power, and a preference for combining golf with luxury resorts.

On average, golf tourists from South Korea and Taiwan to Vietnam grow 10–15 percent annually, Thao said.

She added that visa policy plays a vital role in attracting golf tourists. The policy helps boost visitor numbers and encourage longer stays and repeat visits.

Golf tourism, she said, contributes significantly to enhancing Vietnam’s image and stimulates related services such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation.