Fresh policies take effect from August, 2023

Payment of pensions, monthly allowances

Decree 42/2023/ND-CP on pensions, social insurance benefits, and monthly allowances shall come into effect from August 14, 2023.

Accordingly, pensions, social insurance allowances and monthly allowances are raised by 12.5 percent to 20.8 percent for some specific target groups from July 1, 2023.

The Viet Nam Social Security (VSS) announced that it would arrange the payment of pensions, social insurance benefits and monthly allowances according to the new rates from August 14, 2023. Therefore, unclaimed payments from July 2023 will also be made on August 14.

The increases will help to improve the lives of nearly 3.4 million people nationwide.

Extension of e-visa validity to 3 months

The amended Law on Exit and Entry, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Viet Nam shall come into force from August 15.

The law also raises the duration of visa-free stays for visitors from certain countries to 45 days.

Nationals of some western European countries, Japan and South Korea, Viet Nam's top tourism markets, are now permitted to visit without a visa for 15 days.

The National Assembly approved a government proposal to extend the validity of tourist e-visas from 30 to 90 days and allow visitors multiple entries.

Lawmakers said the move would reduce the administrative burden and save time and money.

Viet Nam currently offers e-visas to citizens of 80 countries and territories and waives visa for nationals of 25 countries, mostly for between 15-30 days, a policy considered less generous than other countries in its neighborhood./.