MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ON VISA EXEMPTION FOR HOLDERS OF DI…

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, hereinafter called the Parties;

DESIRING to further expand their bilateral cooperation:

HAVE AGREED on the following with respect to holders of diplomatic passports.

ARTICLE 1

Citizens of the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic Vietnam holding valid diplomatic passports, shall be permitted to enter into exit from and transit to the territory of the other Party through g international ports without visas.

ARTICLE 2

Citizens referred to in Article 1, shall be permitted to stay in the territory of the other Party for a maximum of 50 days from the date of entry. This duration of stay may be extended by the competent authorities of the respective Party upon a written request of the other Party.

ARTICLE 3

Each Party shall reserve the right to prevent the entry or shorten or terminate the duration. of stay of citizens of the other Party if such citizens are considered unacceptable or persona non grata 

ARTICLE 4

Citizens of each Party and members of their families, holding valid diplomatic passports appointed to work in Diplomatic, Consular Offices or International Organizations located in the other country, shall be permitted to enter into this country without visas and slay for a maximum of 30 days, during which time they should obtain the necessary authorization from the competent authorities of the Receiving State. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sending State shall notify the diplomatic mission of the Receiving State before such persons assume their duties.

ARTICLE 5

The Parties shall proceed to an exchange of their respective valid passport specimens through diplomatic channels within thirty days after the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding. Any Party modifying its passports shall present a specimen of the new passport to the other Party within 30 days prior to its use.

ARTICLE 6

This Memorandum of Understanding shall be enforced in conformity with the Constitution, current laws and regulation of each Party.

ARTICLE 7

This Memorandum of Understanding shall become binding 30 days after its signing and shall remain enforced unless one Party officially notifies the other Party of its desire to suspend or terminate this Memorandum of Understanding at any time. In such a case, the Memorandum of Understanding shall remain valid until 30 days after the date on which one Party receives the official notification of the other Party expressing the desire of the latter to suspend or terminate the validity of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Done in Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on 20 January 1997, in English.

Entry into Force: February 19, 1997