Holders of national passports in Belarus and Vietnam will be eligible to travel to each other’s territories visa-free for short-term stays starting from today, January 30.
The decision comes following the agreement reached between the Government of Belarus and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, according to the press service of the Belarussian diplomatic mission in Hanoi, VisaGuide.World reports.
In accordance with article 2 of the agreement, citizens of Belarus and Vietnam who have valid national passports can enter, exit, stay and (or) transit through the territory of one of the states in a visa-free regime, provided that their stay does not exceed 30 days from the date of entry. The total period of stay in the territory of the state of one of the parties to the agreement should not exceed 90 days during a calendar year.
However, the diplomatic mission emphasizes that all those interested in staying for periods that exceed 30 days are required to apply for a visa in advance, regardless of the purpose of the trip.
Through a statement, the diplomatic mission emphasizes that entry and exit from Belarus are carried out through international checkpoints with documents valid for travel abroad.
Tightening Bilateral Connections
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Belarus Nguyen Van Ngu said both countries tightened their cooperation following the agreements reached in December 2023.
He said that last year, Vietnam and Belarus completed domestic legal procedures on the intergovernmental agreement reached on visa waiver for ordinary passport holders. Nguyen Van Ngu added that the agreement was signed during an official visit of Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko to Vietnam in December 2023.
The ambassador told English Belta that this is the first time that a European country has canceled visa requirements for Vietnamese citizens. According to him, the signing of the agreement and its entry into force shows a new step in the good traditional friendship between these two territories.
He said that the decision also shows the desire of these two territories to create favorable conditions for further development of the tourism industry, enhanced cooperation, and development of bilateral relations on all fronts.
The ambassador also expressed his hopes, on behalf of his country, that Belarusian friends who have already benefited from Vietnam’s unilateral visa policy implemented in 2015 will continue to choose Vietnam as an attractive country for tourism or business purposes, thus leading to strengthening and development of friendship cooperation between the two countries.