Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked relevant state agencies to reduce the fees for offering visa to foreign tourists entering Viet Nam by sea from US$45 per visa under the new rule to US$5, according to a document recently issued by the Office of Government.

Specifically, according to the document, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Public Security to work with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other relevant authorities to create the most favorable conditions for foreign tourists to Viet Nam by sea.

European visitors boarding cruise ship Crystal Symphony choosing Vietnamese handicrafts at Phu Huu Port in Ho Chi Minh City

The aforementioned state agencies should ensure diplomatic security, avoid congestion and difficulties at transfer points, and ensure simplification of procedures in receiving foreign tourists to Viet Nam, according to the document.

For visa fees, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with the concerned state agencies to urgently amend the provisions of the visa fees.

The Vietnamese government on December 29, 2014 issued a resolution on waiving visas applied to citizens from Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Tourists from those countries whose temporary stay in Viet Nam does not exceed 15 days are eligible for the visa waiver irrespective of the kind of passport they are holding and the purpose of their trip.

The waiver is applied to tourists from the said countries within five years, from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019, before renewal is considered.