Vietnam rejected entry for 217 international visitors due to document discrepancies in the initial two months of this year, constituting approximately 25% of the previous year’s tally, as reported by aviation authorities.
The individuals were found in possession of counterfeit passports or lacking valid visas, as disclosed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
Presently, Vietnam grants visa exemptions to citizens from 25 countries, encompassing major tourism markets like Japan and South Korea.
CAAV highlighted that the upsurge in denied entries has inflicted financial strain on airlines, primarily tasked with repatriating such individuals to their departure points.
Furthermore, this has led to congestion at Vietnamese airports, where rejected passengers await their return flights, potentially posing risks to aviation security and safety.
In 2020, 506 foreigners were refused entry into Vietnam, with the number dropping to 404 in 2022 before rising to 886 last year, according to CAAV records.
To mitigate the occurrence of denied entries, aviation authorities have mandated airlines operating regular international flights to and from Vietnam to rigorously scrutinize the documentation of passengers entering or transiting through the country.