Vietnam and Thailand are intensifying efforts to enhance tourism collaboration as part of the Six Countries, One Destination initiative, which aims to promote seamless travel across six ASEAN member states: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
On January 3, a working session between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held in Hanoi. Led by Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Ho An Phong, and Thai Foreign Affairs Advisor Dusit Manapan, the discussions focused on simplifying visa procedures, fostering economic cooperation, and creating a unified tourism experience in Southeast Asia.
A key proposal included exploring a shared visa system modeled after the European Union’s Schengen Visa, enabling tourists to travel effortlessly across participating nations. Additional plans involve fast-track immigration lanes, coordinated promotional campaigns, and enhanced business networks to position the ASEAN bloc as a top global destination.
Vietnam expressed its commitment to maintaining liberal visa policies and expanding the list of countries eligible for visa exemptions. This aligns with the initiative’s goals to attract global tourists and increase intra-regional travel. Both nations emphasized the importance of creating new tourism products that highlight their unique cultural strengths, participating jointly in trade fairs, and hosting promotional events to boost tourist exchanges and investment opportunities.
Furthermore, Vietnam sought Thailand’s support in developing its tourism and hospitality workforce through scholarships, training workshops, and partnerships between educational institutions. Such collaborative efforts aim to enrich tourism experiences, attract international travelers, and strengthen economic ties between the two countries and the broader ASEAN region.
