Double action behind new visa policy

Overall, the visa exemption policy for less than 5 years is a breakthrough to attract the world's elite, including big names in the sports world, to Vietnam. The influence and opportunities to access investment flows, economic benefits and values, promotion of the country and people of Vietnam, as well as commercial tours and training activities are what we are looking forward to.

This does not come naturally. First of all, Vietnam's economy has had positive changes over the past years. We have gradually improved people's income and living standards and have the 35th largest economy in the world (March 2024 data). The "Vietnam Bamboo" foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization has helped to increasingly enhance Vietnam's international reputation.

But there is a long-standing truth that the sports environment and football market in Vietnam are still quite "disorderly". Instead of taking action, we are still waiting for the world to "knock on the door". Vietnam has welcomed clubs such as Juventus (1996), Arsenal (2013), Man.City (2015), the Brazilian Olympic team (2018), and former football star David Beckham (2013) to exchange; but the above events are the private efforts of a few businessmen with their partners, not necessarily the attractiveness of a market that meets all professional factors. We are not the proactive choice of sports partners, and the cause may come from unhealthy attitudes and consumption habits, including intellectual property rights violations and television copyright violations. Not to mention the conditions of the stadiums and facilities in Vietnam... do not meet the criteria for specialized organizational technology.

PHOTO: QUANG THANG

For example, to invite big clubs like Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain to Vietnam for a tour, or sports legends like Rafael Nadal and Cristiano Ronaldo to come and interact, is there any stadium in our country that can meet all the criteria of capacity, 5-6 star hotels, infrastructure conditions, and organizing team?

In terms of policy, the State has done its part well; the rest is action from management agencies and responsible people. Changing awareness of healthy consumer culture is not an easy task, but we must act. Promotion and communication work by Vietnamese embassies, consulates, and counselors abroad needs to be promoted soon. Next is action by ministries, branches, localities, and the cooperation of investors and businesses. In general, hardware and software need to be compatible to effectively operate the new preferential visa policy. In other words, it is time for us to change to be compatible with changes in the new value system, when entering the era of national development.