Should Vietnam Tighten Its Visa Policy as Southeast Asia Grapples with Crime Concerns?

A wave of crimes involving foreign visitors is prompting many countries across Southeast Asia to revisit their visa policies and tighten controls on the behavior of arrivals. The question now is whether Vietnam should follow suit — particularly as the tourism industry continues its push to recover and expand.

Tourism industry experts believe Vietnam should not impose across-the-board restrictions on visa issuance. Instead, the priority should be to maintain and broaden policies that make entry easy for visitors from key markets, especially those known for high spending. Clamping down too hard could erode Vietnam's competitiveness against neighboring countries that are actively courting international tourists.

For destinations like Da Nang and Hoi An, where foreign visitors account for a significant share of total tourism revenue, national-level visa policy decisions have a direct impact on travel businesses, restaurants, and accommodations. Striking the right balance between maintaining public safety and preserving a welcoming environment for guests remains a challenge that demands real, practical solutions — not just policy statements.