In the future, hotel stays in Vietnam may be slightly more expensive for foreigners.
According to VnExpress, during a meeting held last Tuesday, Vietnam’s tourism administration revealed a plan to impose additional fees on accommodation for foreign tourists in the country. Head of the National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan shared at the event that the money will go into a “tourism development fund”.
This fund will include parts of the state budget, visa and sightseeing fees and sponsorships, as well as the new proposed hotel surcharge. The proposal states that the additional fee will range from VND10,000-20,000 per night per tourist for those staying at hotels with three stars or more. The plan will run for two years before being reviewed.
The proposal has drawn controversy, however, with some travel companies voicing concerns that the move may make Vietnam look discriminatory toward foreign visitors.
Nonetheless, Tuan’s office will still submit the plan to the National Assembly for consideration in June. If passed, the rule will become law from next year. The tourism fund is expected to amass as much as VND500-700 billion (US$21.9-30.6 million) annually for the tourism body to use.
[Photo via Ha Long Bay Airport]
