Visa-free transit drives surge in Vietnamese arrivals at Qingdao airport

Passenger arrivals from Vietnam through Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport have risen sharply this year, as expanded air links and China's visa-free transit policy make travel more convenient.

China extended its 240-hour visa-free transit policy to eligible citizens of Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan on Aug 20. In the first month following the change, more than 2,800 Vietnamese travelers entered China through the Qingdao airport.

The city currently has direct passenger services to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with 11 flights operating each week. The airport's Southeast Asian network now covers seven destinations, including Bangkok and Singapore.

Customs authorities have also introduced measures to streamline arrival procedures. A smart pre-screening channel allows hand luggage screening and health quarantine procedures to be carried out simultaneously, cutting baggage screening time to about eight seconds per passenger. The average clearance time for arriving travelers has been reduced to around four minutes.

Departure tax-refund procedures have also been simplified, with most travelers who are carrying small-value tax-refund purchases no longer required to undergo additional checks.

In the first eight months of 2026, arrivals through Qingdao airport from Thailand and Malaysia each rose 2.3-fold year-on-year, while arrivals from Vietnam increased 13.6-fold, according to customs data.