Russia Introduces One-Year Visa-Free Regime for Vietnamese Citizens
Moscow, The Gulf Observer: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree granting Vietnamese citizens visa-free entry to Russia for one year, in a move aimed at boosting tourism and strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
According to the media correspondent in Moscow, the decree was signed on October 12, 2026, and will take effect on October 15. The visa exemption will remain valid until October 15, 2027.
Under the new arrangements, Vietnamese citizens will be allowed to stay in Russia for up to 30 consecutive days without a visa, provided their visit is not for employment purposes. The exemption covers tourism, business trips, participation in events and transit through Russia to third countries and vice versa.
However, the visa-free regime does not apply to foreign nationals travelling to Russia for employment, journalistic activities, study or long-term residence.
With the introduction of the new policy, Vietnam has become the 12th country whose citizens are eligible for visa-free entry into Russia under the relevant arrangements.
Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said the decision could increase tourist arrivals from Vietnam, generate additional employment opportunities in the tourism supply sector and create new prospects for expanding bilateral economic cooperation.
He also highlighted the growing connectivity between the two countries, noting that the number of direct flights between Russia and Vietnam was increasing and flight networks were expanding.
The two countries currently operate 78 flights per week. Last year, 20 new routes to Vietnamese destinations were launched, including Da Nang, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development expects the new visa arrangements to help tourist flows between the two countries reach 1.5 million visits by the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) has forecast that the number of Vietnamese tourists travelling to Russia could rise by at least 30 per cent following the implementation of the visa exemption.
President Putin had announced plans to introduce visa-free entry for Vietnamese citizens following talks with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, in early September.
The move is expected to facilitate people-to-people exchanges, encourage tourism and further strengthen the growing partnership between Russia and Vietnam.
