Vietnam Pilots Group Visa Exemption for Chinese Tourists in Khanh Hoa

Vietnam’s pilot exemption is limited to qualifying mainland-China package groups entering and leaving through Cam Ranh; implementation guidance is still being prepared.

Vietnam has approved a pilot visa exemption for qualifying Chinese group tourists visiting Khanh Hoa, including Nha Trang. The reported measure took effect on October 12, 2026 and is scheduled to remain in force through December 31, 2027, but it applies only under specific travel and airport conditions.

Who the pilot covers

The scheme applies to Chinese citizens with valid ordinary passports, excluding passports issued by the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. Visitors must travel in a group of at least two on a package tour organised by a Vietnamese international travel company. Each tour may last no more than 30 days.

The pilot is limited to Khanh Hoa Province. Eligible visitors must fly directly from mainland China to Cam Ranh International Airport, enter Vietnam there and leave through the same airport. The report does not describe eligibility for independent travellers or people arriving through other border checkpoints.

Implementation guidance is still being prepared

The source says the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is to issue procedures and criteria for selecting and managing participating Vietnamese travel companies. The Ministry of Public Security is also to guide entry, exit and residence procedures. The report does not name companies already approved to operate under the pilot, so it should not be read as confirmation that a particular package can yet be booked.

For travellers, the key distinction is that the reported policy is in effect, while its operating guidance and company-selection process are still pending. The available terms are narrow: eligible Chinese passport holders, organised group packages, Khanh Hoa only, and arrival and departure through Cam Ranh.