The present invention provides recombinant respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) in which all of the surface glycoprotein genes encoding the attachment protein G, the fusion protein F, and the Small Hydrophobic protein SH are deleted. The genes are replaced by a chimeric gene encoding a heterologous entry protein derived from the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus G protein or GP64 of baculovirus. Alternatively, the replacement proteins are provided in trans. Marker genes such as those encoding -glucuronidase (GUS) and green fluorescent protein (EGFP) are also added to the upstream and downstream side of the hybrid gene for easy detection. These infectious recombinant respiratory syncytial viruses offer alternatives and improvements as vaccine candidates.