Vietnam’s current visa policy, which exempts citizens of only 25 countries, is seen as a barrier to foreign tourists. In a petition submitted to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the annual Vietnam Business Forum, industry insiders and leading tourism experts urged for visa exemption period to be extended to all European Union (EU) countries, as well as for a three-to-six-month visa program for self-sufficient retirees. They also called for improving passenger handling at major airports, increasing the number of immigration officers and scanners, and introducing special lanes for business travelers and families with children. Last week, the government ordered officials to waive visas for more countries and extend the length of stay for foreign tourists to accelerate the recovery of the tourism industry, which accounted for around 20% of pre-Covid tourism numbers in 2020.