Vietnam denies its refusing Chinese tourists

The Vietnam embassy and its consulates in China have dismissed reports that Chinese mainlanders'applications for tourist visas to Vietnam have been suspended, saying on Friday that they are dealing with the applications normally.

It has been reported that some Vietnamese consulates in China have stopped accepting tourist visa applications from Wednesday to Friday, for unknown reasons. It was also suggested the Nanning consulate cancelled more than one thousand visa applications in one day.

An anonymous employee told China Daily that there was no such suspension, and the reported cancellation of applications in the Nanning consulate "was absolutely untrue".

"The fact is the Vietnamese government is currently regulating the procedures of tourist visa applications, which would require more information including specific traveling itinerary to be provided upon application, in order to "better serve Chinese tourists," the employee said.

Travel agencies have already been informed of the changes, which took effect in June, but they haven't filed applications as required, he said.

However, he noted that since the regulation has to some extent affected the time limit of issuing visas, it is true that some tourists have voluntarily given up applying, but the changes are not something targeting the Chinese mainland.

"We really welcome Chinese tourists to travel in Vietnam," he added, saying that the only difference now is that applicants have to fill more sheets and submit more information than before.

The embassy in Beijing and consulate in Shanghai are currently accepting applications and issuing tourist visas as usual, their staff said.