Russia is easing visa rules to attract more Southeast Asian tourists, including a visa-free system for Vietnamese tour groups and a possible bilateral waiver for Malaysian travelers, alongside expanding its e-visa program and promoting the Discover Russia campaign across ASEAN.
Meanwhile, Viet Nam has extended its visa exemption for 12 countries, including Russia, allowing stays of up to 45 days, and Vietnam Airlines will resume direct Moscow–Hà Nội flights in May, while Thailand is also extending visa-free entry for Russians until July as regional competition for tourists grows.
At the same time, Russia is negotiating visa-free agreements with Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian nations like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia, and Myanmar, expecting some deals to be finalized by the end of 2024, and has already welcomed 400,000 foreign visitors since introducing visa-free and e-visa options in August 2023.
With ongoing discussions for a group tour program with India and efforts to simplify visa fees, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov has emphasized that further visa relaxations could significantly boost tourism in the country.
