Vietnam and Thailand agree to pilot the "Six Countries, One Destination" tourism initiative, promoting a joint visa for six Southeast Asian nations. Vietnam and Thailand have agreed to collaborate on piloting the "Six Countries, One Destination" initiative, a tourism project aimed at boosting regional travel in Southeast Asia. During a meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos, the two leaders discussed strengthening economic and tourism ties.

The initiative, first proposed by Thailand, envisions a Schengen-style joint visa that would allow tourists to visit six Southeast Asian countries—Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar—on a single visa. This is expected to streamline travel across the region and increase international tourist arrivals.

In 2023, these six countries collectively attracted 70 million foreign tourists, and with growing interest in the region, the joint visa is seen as a crucial step in promoting more seamless travel. Thailand alone welcomed nearly 27 million foreign tourists this year, marking a 30% increase year-on-year due to favorable visa policies, while Vietnam recorded 12.7 million international arrivals in the first nine months of 2024, surpassing last year's total.