VIETNAM VISA GUIDE
You’ve used the Travala.com Vietnam Travel Guide to plan the perfect visit to Vietnam and you’ve booked your discounted hotel accommodation and flights. All that remains is for you to ensure that you are aware of the visa requirements for entry to this fabulous country.
Vietnam Visa Exemptions
Visitors from most countries to Vietnam will require a visa with travellers from only 24 countries, listed below, offered exemptions of between 14 to 90 days. The full list of countries with visa exemptions is below:
90 Days: Chile
30 Days: Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Lao, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
21 Days: Philippines:
14 Days: Myanmar
Temporarily Suspended for visa exemption: Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
In addition, any nationality visiting Phu Quoc Island directly via the Phu Quoc International Airport can stay for 30 days visa free on the condition that they hold a valid outbound ticket and a passport of at least 6-month validity.
Vietnam Visa Types
The type of visa you apply for depends on your purpose of visit (Tourist visa, Business visa, Student/ Internship visa, Working visa, Diplomatic visa) and your length of stay and validity (1 month single entry visa, 1 month multiple entry visa, 3 months single entry visa; and 3 months multiple entry visa, 1 year multiple entry visa)
The popular types of Vietnam visa are:
Vietnam Tourist visa
As the name implies, a Vietnam tourist visa is intended for those visiting Vietnam for the sole purpose of enjoying its splendour as a tourist and can be awarded for varying durations and number of visits.
- 1-month single entry visa;
- 1-month multiple entry visa;
- 3 months single entry visa; and
- 3 months multiple entry visa
Vietnam Business visa
Anyone entering Vietnam on business, including attending conferences should apply for a business visa. Similar to the Tourist visa it allows different durations and frequencies of visit.
- 1-month single entry visa;
- 1-month multiple entry visa;
- 3 months single entry visa; and
- 3 months multiple entry visa.
Vietnam Student/internship visa
Those arriving in Vietnam to study will need to apply for a Student visa upon enrollment. Traditionally this is completed via an agency with potential students first arriving on Tourist visas.
Vietnam Working visa
Visitors entering Vietnam with the purpose of working, such as teachers need to apply for a working visa, It is initially valid for a maximum of 12 months with another 24 month extension possible for those wishing to extend their stay in Vietnam via the LD temporary residence card.
Vietnam Diplomatic visa
Consulate personnel and individuals and visiting members of delegations invited by the Vietnam government ministries are awarded Diplomatic visas which can be awarded for a maximum period of 12 months.
If you are not visiting Vietnam from an exempted country, you will require a visa to enter Vietnam as a tourist. In this section, we will explain the main ways of getting a Vietnam visa for tourists and the differences between them.
How to obtain a Vietnamese Visa
There are three ways to obtain a visa to Vietnam: e-Visa, Visa On arrival and Visa at Embassy.
See the below table to understand the differences between them:
| e-Visa | Visa on Arrival | Visa at Embassy | |
| Applicable Applicants | Travellers from 80 countries arriving by all forms of transport | Travellers to Vietnam arriving by air. | Travellers arriving by all forms of transport |
| How to Submit Application | Online via a Vietnam visa service provider | Online via a Vietnam visa service provider | By post, in person or via a third-party agency |
| Required Fees | Online service fee of $25USD | Varying online service and stamp fees at point of entry | Visa stamping fee.
Other current fees, namely visa approval letter fee, processing, shipping, and handling fee. |
| Processing Time | Usually within 3 working days. | 2 working days for normal service
1 working day for urgent service 2 – 4 working hours for super urgent service |
Normally 4-5 working days
No same-day processing in many embassies Depend on the Embassy/Consulate |
| Get Visa Stamp | At Passport Control upon arrival. | At Visa on Arrival counter after landing in Vietnam airport | At Vietnam Embassy where you have applied for the visa |
Nationals of the 80 countries listed below can again apply for Vietnam’s single entry e-Visa from 1 July 2020 and can access Vietnam via eight international airports.
Full information can be found at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt
Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Chile, China (including Hong Kong and Macau passports), Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Salomon Islands, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor Leste, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Western Samoa.
How to apply
Full details on how to apply for a Vietnam e-Visa can be found at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt, but before applying please ensure that you meet the requirements below.
Vietnam e-Visa Requirements
- A passport with six (6) months’ validity
- A photo in .jpg format of your full passport data page
- A passport photo in .jpg format (4×6, white background, without glasses)
- A valid international credit or debit card
- An email address for support purposes
- A temporary address within Vietnam
- Your entry and exit dates and entry and exit points/airports
Fees
The Vietnam E-Visa costs 25 USD, takes three days to process and is valid for 30 day, single entry.
Please note that those holding a valid e-visa may enter Vietnam at any one of the below international airports, land ports and seaports.
International airports
Visitors to Vietnam holding a valid e-visa and travelling by air can enter Vietnam at any one of the international airports listed below:
- Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
- Cat Bi International Airport
- Cam Ranh International Airport (Nha Trang)
- Can Tho International Airport
- Da Nang International Airport
- Phu Bai International Airport (Hue)
- Phu Quoc International Airport
Landports
Those holding valid e-Visas and arriving in Vietnam at border crossings can enter the county at:
- Bo Y Landport
- Cha Lo Landport
- Cau Treo Landport
- Huu Nghi Landport
- Ha Tien Landport
- Lao Bao Landport
- Lao Cai Landport
- La Lay Landport
- Moc Bai Landport
- Mong Cai Landport
- Nam Can Landport
- Na Meo Landport
- Song Tien Landport
- Tinh Bien Landport
- Tay Trang Landport
- Xa Mat Landport
Seaports
Visitors holding valid e-Visas and arriving in Vietnam by boat can enter the country from the following seaports:
- Chan May Seaport
- Da Nang Seaport
- Duong Dong Seaport
- Hon Gai Seaport
- Hai Phong Seaport
- Nha Trang Seaport
- Quy Nhon Seaport
- Ho Chi Minh City Seaport
- Vung Tau Seaport
Please note that those holding a visa approval letter may enter Vietnam at the below international airports where they will be provided with a tourist or business visa on arrival.
List of Applicable Airports
- Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
- Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong)
- Cam Ranh International Airport (Khanh Hoa)
- Can Tho International Airport (Can Tho)
- Da Nang International Airport (Da Nang)
- Lien Khuong International Airport (Da Lat)
- Phu Quoc International Airport (Phu Quoc)
Applications for a Vietnam Visa on Arrival can be made from over 150 countries.
How to apply
In order to apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival, you must
- Apply online for an approval letter a a trusted travel agents/ tour companies, which can take 3-5 working days to process
- Receive the approval letter by email and print a hard copy. Prepare 2 passport sized photos, your passport (must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry).
- Ensure you have available the stamping fee of 25 USD (for single entry visa) and 50 USD (for multiple entry visa) in cash.
- Submit your documents to receive your visa stamp upon arrival at an international airport in Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hai Phong and Da Nang).
Fees
Fees for Visas on Arrival are dependent on the type and include both a service and a stamping fee. Service Fee for visa approval letter depends on your travel agent/ tour company. Below are stamp fees at the airport:
| Visa type | Stamp Fee |
| Single entry – 1 month | 25 USD |
| Multiple entry – 1 month | 50 USD |
| Single entry – 3 month | 25 USD |
| Multiple entry – 3 month | 50 USD |
| Multiple entry – 12 month (US passports) | 135 USD |
Those wishing to save time upon arrival in queues to have their visa stamped or those planning land based travels across Southeast Asia will want to apply for a Visa at an embassy or consulate.
You have to post or deliver your documents to the embassy or consulate.
FAQs about Vietnam Visa
Do you need a visa to enter Vietnam?
What types of Visas are available for visitors to Vietnam?
Depending the length of stay, Vietnam visas are categorized into: 1 month single entry visa, 1 month multiple entry visa, 3 months single entry visa; and 3 months multiple entry visa, 1 year multiple entry visa.
How can I apply for a Vietnam Visa?
How long does it take to process a visa for Vietnam?
Are there any other exemptions for Vietnam visa?
In addition, any nationality visiting Phu Quoc Island directly via the Phu Quoc International Airportcan stay for 30 days visa free on the condition that they hold a valid outbound ticket and a passport of at least 6-month validity.