Tin chi'nh xa'c ho+n ve^` visa

[Dam Son <son@fermi.phys.washington.edu>]

Hi,

Previous news I posted read:

"Vietnam agreed to allow Singaporean passport holders to stay in the
country for a maximum of 90 days without having to apply for a visa,"

however the following news article says that only Singaporean holders of 
diplomatic and official passports (not ordinary passport) can go to VN 
without a visa.

Son

---
Vietnam, ASEAN nations sign visa-free agreements

Visa formalities will be eliminated as of this Saturday for Vietnamese and
Singaporean holders of diplomatic and official passports and as of next
Monday for Vietnamese and Thai diplomatic and official passport holders. 

In accordance to the agreement signed between the Vietnamese Government
and the Thai Government in March of this year, visa formalities will be
eliminated for diplomatic and official passport holders entering the two
countries for no more than 30 days, (not including diplomats who are
assigned to work at embassies or consulates). 

In addition, ordinary passport holders from the two countries will only
have to wait two days to be granted a visa to enter the other country for
no more 15 days for the purpose of attending seminars, market research,
and others, or for members of tour groups organized by local travel
agencies. 

Under the Vietnam-Singapore agreement signed in the April, Vietnam will
exempt visa requirements to Singaporean holders of diplomatic and official
passports if they stay in Vietnam no more than 90 days. Meanwhile
Singapore will exempt visa requirements to Vietnamese holders of
diplomatic and official passports depending on their objective and nature
of their trips. 

In addition, visas will not be necessary for ordinary passport holders
invited by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or an
organization of that country, to enter the country for no more than 15
days to participate in ASEAN activities. All Vietnamese and Singaporean
members of the ASEAN Secretariat will not require visas.