At the 16th Whitebook launch, EuroCham outlined 5 overarching Must-Win Battles for Vietnam, shaped by insights from our 19 Sector Committees and 1,400-member business community.
Priority #1: Optimising Immigration Procedures.
Investors and business travellers entering Vietnam have to queue for immigration for up to 2 hours vs. only 30-45 minutes in neighbouring countries – leaving a negative first impression of the country.
EuroCham’s Q1 2025 Business Confidence Index (BCI) also revealed that around 83% of surveyed businesses reported no or only minimal improvements in efficiency gains and/or administrative simplification in recent years.
That’s why EuroCham urges for streamlined, digital-first immigration procedures that reflect Vietnam’s ambitions to be a modern, investor-friendly economy.
Priority #2: Expanding Visa Waivers.
Vietnam now offers 45 days of visa-exemption to 15 countries – falling short of regional peers like Thailand (60 days for 93 countries) and Malaysia (30-90 days for 158 countries). This hinders Vietnam’s attractiveness as a tourist and business destination.
On the business side, European businesses operating in Vietnam has consistently identified Visa for foreign workers/ experts as a top administrative burden. EuroCham Vietnam’s Q1 2025 Business Confidence Index (BCI) result shows that 45% of businesses surveyed encountered procedural inefficiency in obtaining visa for foreign workers/ experts.
To boost tourism, business activities, and investments into the country, EuroCham Vietnam recommends:
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- A tiered visa system, including long-term options for digital nomads and retirees;
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- Expanded visa waivers to cover the entire EU, Australia, and New Zealand;
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- Investment in modern e-visa infrastructure; and
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- Exploring regional cooperation on a Southeast Asia Common Visa to enhance connectivity.
For more information, read our 16th Whitebook and Q1 2025 BCI report.
