The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officially announced a new simplified travel regime to Vietnam, which starts from the August days of 2025. Bulgarian citizens will be able to visit the Asian country without visa restrictions for tourist purposes for 45 calendar days.

A key condition for seamless entry is possessing a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months before the planned departure from Vietnamese territory. The document must be in excellent condition - without tears, with a legible personalized page and at least one completely blank page for possible entry stamps.

For travels with purposes other than tourism, Bulgarian citizens can obtain the necessary entry visa through the official embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, located in Sofia. If an extension of stay beyond the specified 45 days is needed, direct contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Vietnamese cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is recommended.

The government decision, adopted on August 8, covers visa facilitations not only for Bulgaria but also for eleven other European countries, including Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and others. This move is part of a comprehensive strategy to promote international tourism and strengthen economic ties.

The historical context of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Vietnam is extremely rich. On February 8 this year, 75 years were marked since the initial establishment of diplomatic relations, which occurred in the distant 1950. Subsequently, in 1956, these relations were officially elevated to the level of embassies.

Particularly indicative is the period from 1980, when under an intergovernmental agreement, thousands of Vietnamese citizens worked and studied in Bulgaria. Exactly 35,000 people were employed in various economic sectors, while 5,000 graduated from Bulgarian universities.

Today, around 1,200 Vietnamese continue to live and work in Bulgaria, and the relationships created decades ago serve as a solid foundation for future bilateral cooperation. The new visa facilitations are another step towards deepening friendly relations between the two countries.