Starting January 30, 2024, citizens of Vietnam and Belarus holding common passports will enjoy visa-free travel under a newly signed bilateral agreement. This arrangement, effective at the end of the month, allows mutual stays of up to 30 days per entry and a total of 90 days per year without a visa.
Agreement Details and Historical Context
The visa exemption agreement was formalized on December 8, 2023, by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and her Belarusian counterpart, Evgeny Shestakov. This milestone follows an earlier visa exemption deal in 1993 for diplomatic and official passport holders. Since 2015, Belarusian citizens have been allowed to enter Vietnam visa-free, but this new agreement extends the same privileges to ordinary passport holders.
The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry emphasized that this agreement represents a significant step forward in the friendly relations between the two nations. It paves the way for expanded cooperation in various fields, including trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
Bilateral Benefits and Opportunities
The visa exemption aims to strengthen ties between Vietnam and Belarus by facilitating easier travel for citizens of both countries. Vietnamese travelers can now explore Belarus without visa concerns, while Belarusian citizens will experience the same convenience when visiting Vietnam.
The agreement is expected to boost tourism, trade, and cultural exchange, creating opportunities for both countries to showcase their unique attractions and deepen economic cooperation.
A New Era of Cooperation
The mutual visa exemption signals a commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and fostering closer people-to-people connections. As Vietnam continues to expand its international partnerships, agreements like this reflect its openness to collaboration and growth on the global stage.
This policy development marks an important milestone in Vietnam-Belarus relations and sets the stage for stronger diplomatic and economic ties in the years to come.
Tags: Belarus, Europe, visa-free travel, Vietnam