Vietnam has put a new offer for foreign talent on the table. On 22 October 2026 the government's policy portal published the full draft of a National Assembly resolution, prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs, that would create a 'Vietnam Talent Visa' alongside a five-year personal income tax exemption for the people who qualify. Four days later, on 26 October, the government announced an action plan to attract and develop talent in key sectors, with the ministry tasked with taking the resolution to the National Assembly.

For anyone living in Thailand on a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), or weighing up where to base themselves in Southeast Asia, the headlines invite an obvious question: is Vietnam about to offer something better? The short answer is that the two schemes are built for very different people. Here is what is proposed, what already exists, and how it compares.

What the draft resolution proposes

The draft, which the ministry has put out for public comment, has 16 articles. Its stated aim is to attract talented people to work on 'strategic tasks', meaning priority national programmes, key projects and major problems facing the country, its sectors and its provinces. It covers Vietnamese citizens, overseas Vietnamese and foreign nationals.

Article 11 deals with foreigners. Under the draft:

1. Foreign nationals selected under the resolution would receive a 'Vietnam Talent Visa' and a matching temporary residence card, which could be extended or converted in line with the law.

2. A spouse and children under 18 would receive UĐ2 visas, the family visa Vietnam introduced this year, with matching residence cards.

3. The talent would be exempt from work permits for professional, research, teaching, advisory or management work linked to the purpose of their selection, and could work for several organisations at once without a separate permit for each.

4. Changing employer, or working for more than one, would not require a new visa while the existing one is valid.

Article 10 proposes that salary and bonus income for the selected talent and their team members be exempt from personal income tax for five years from when the income arises. Article 13 would let companies that employ them on strategic tasks deduct an extra amount equal to 50% of the salaries and bonuses paid when calculating corporate income tax.

Two details matter. First, the 'five years' in the headlines refers to the tax exemption. The draft does not set a validity period for the talent visa itself; it leaves the details to the government. Second, this is a draft. According to Vietnam News Agency, it is expected to go to the 16th National Assembly at its second session, and it has no effect until it is passed.

Who it is aimed at

This is not a visa you apply for online on your own. The draft describes a system in which ministries, provincial leaders and other authorities publish lists of strategic tasks and then identify, nominate and select people to deliver them, either by competition, direct invitation or commissioned assignments. Formal titles, degrees and seniority would not be compulsory, which is a real change, but you would still need to be chosen for a specific task.

The government's 26 October action plan points the same way. It calls for a national framework for identifying talent, a national talent database and simpler procedures for international talent and their families, with a focus on strategic sectors, research and technology.

What Vietnam already offers

The proposal builds on two measures that are already in force. Since 1 July 2026, Law 118/2025/QH15 has added the UĐ1 visa for high-quality digital technology personnel and others given preferential treatment by law, and the UĐ2 visa for their spouses and children under 18. According to the Ministry of Public Security, UĐ1 and UĐ2 visas can last up to five years, and the matching residence cards up to ten. The income and expertise tests for digital technology personnel are set out in Decree 353/2025/NĐ-CP.

Separately, Decree 221/2025/NĐ-CP, in force since 15 August 2025, created a special visa exemption card of up to five years for a narrow list of invited experts, scientists, executives and public figures. Holders get 90 days per entry, and a Vietnamese authority or approved institution must make the request on their behalf.

Thailand's DTV in brief

Thailand's Destination Thailand Visa, launched in 2024, works on a different principle. According to the Government Public Relations Department, it is a five-year, multiple-entry visa allowing stays of up to 180 days per visit. It is aimed at remote workers, digital nomads, freelancers and people taking part in Thai 'soft power' activities such as Muay Thai or Thai cooking courses. Applicants need at least 500,000 baht in funds, and the fee is 10,000 baht.

Crucially, you apply yourself through Thailand's official e-Visa system. There is no sponsor and no selection panel. The trade-off is that the DTV does not allow local work: the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest states that holders cannot get a Thai work permit, work for Thai companies or freelance for Thai clients.

The DTV has also become harder to get. Since 31 August 2026, Thai missions require applicants to be nationals or permanent residents of the country where they apply and to provide a criminal record certificate, as announced by the Royal Thai Embassies in Vientiane and London.

Side by side

Who applies: Vietnam's proposed talent visa would follow selection for a state-defined strategic task; Thailand's DTV is a self-service application by the individual.

Work: the Vietnamese proposal includes a work permit exemption and multi-employer work for the task; the DTV allows remote work for overseas employers and clients only.

Tax: the draft offers a five-year personal income tax exemption on salary and bonuses; the DTV carries no special tax treatment.

Family: spouses and children under 18 would get UĐ2 visas in Vietnam; in Thailand, spouses and children of DTV holders can apply as dependants.

Status: the Vietnamese talent visa is a draft awaiting the National Assembly; the DTV is in force, with tighter document rules since 31 August 2026.

What it means if you live in Thailand

For most remote workers and freelancers in Thailand, nothing changes today. The DTV remains the simpler route for people who earn abroad and want long stays without a sponsor, and Vietnam's talent proposal is not designed for them.

For senior specialists, researchers and technology leaders, the comparison is more interesting. If the resolution passes in its current form, Vietnam would offer selected foreign experts a combination Thailand does not currently match on one visa: a work permit exemption, freedom to work across several organisations and five years of income tax relief. Thailand's nearest equivalent is the Board of Investment's Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, which offers a ten-year stay, a digital work permit and a 17% personal income tax rate for qualifying highly skilled professionals.

The fine print is not written yet. The government still has to set the criteria, the selection process and the visa's validity, and the draft could change before it is passed. We will update this story when the National Assembly votes.

Sources: Government of Viet Nam policy portal (22 October 2026); Viet Nam Government Portal (26 October 2026); Vietnam News Agency (22 October 2026); Ministry of Public Security (17 August 2026); Government of Viet Nam portal on Decrees 221/2025 and 353/2025; Thailand Government Public Relations Department; Royal Thai Embassies in London, Vientiane and Budapest; Thailand Board of Investment.