China expands visa-free transit for Vietnamese citizens

China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) has expanded visa-free policies for Vietnamese citizens, effective August 20. Under the new regulations, eligible travelers with confirmed connecting flights can benefit from a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit through 65 designated Chinese ports of entry within specified areas.

Additionally, Vietnamese citizens are now eligible for a 30-day visa-free stay when entering Hainan province through international ports. These policies are intended to facilitate short-term travel, tourism, business, and family visits. However, travelers intending to work, study, or engage in journalism must still apply for the appropriate visas.

The transit policy offers significant cost savings and flexibility, allowing travelers to transform layovers into short sightseeing trips in cities like Shanghai or Beijing. Travel agencies are expected to utilize these changes to develop new multi-destination tour packages involving China, Japan, or South Korea.