CAMBODIANS will have visa-free access to Vietnam by December 5, Koy Kuong, an undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Post Tuesday.

Cambodia and Vietnam signed a reciprocal agreement on November 4 to allow citizens of both countries to travel visa-free for 14 days.

Koy Kuong said the policy would increase tourism and trade for both countries, but he could not estimate how large the increase would be.

He said Cambodians can now travel without visas to the Philippines, Laos, Singapore and Malaysia.

"We aim to sign visa-free agreements for the 10 Asean members on an individual basis," he said.

"This policy will not allow tourists to stay permanently; they can only stay in Cambodia or Vietnam for 14 days."

Ho Vandy, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, welcomed the move as a way to boost tourism.