Vietnam, Do I Need a Visa? A Guide to the Requirements for Travelling to Vietnam

Updated: on 30 January 2024

As experts in creating unforgettable itineraries for travelers in Asia, we are often asked “If I am traveling to Vietnam, do I need a visa?”. Whether you are planning to travel to this unforgettable Southeast Asian nation to bask on beautiful beaches, explore the incredible countryside and culture, or hang out in the country’s spectacular cities we are here to explain everything you need to know about the requirements for travelling to Vietnam. During COVID, Vietnam was quick to impose strict restrictions on entry, but since then the entry requirements in Vietnam have become much easier, especially for those applying for an E-Visa online. Whether you require a visa or not depends on your nationality, what you intend to do while you are in Vietnam, and the length of time you wish to stay. Around 80 countries are eligible for Vietnam tourism entry including Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, and most of Europe. There are three main ways you can obtain a Vietnam tourist visa

• by post or in person from a Vietnamese Consulate or Embassy in your home country
• on arrival at the border or an airport
• online before you travel.

A Vietnam tourist visa is valid for either 30 or 90 days and you can apply for single or multiple entries. There are also options to extend visas once in the country. However, visa extensions may involve enlisting the help of an agency to cut through the red tape. The process can take at least a week and you will need to apply before your current visa expires. Charges for this may vary depending on the agency you choose to help you and the length of the extension you require, but as a rule of thumb agencies in Danang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hue are the more reliable - although it is also worth noting that additional costs are likely if you are applying for an extension outside the city you were stamped into when you arrived in Vietnam too.

Vietnam tourist entry requirements for a Vietnam Tourist E Visa

The easiest option for ensuring you cover all the Vietnam tourist entry requirements is to apply online for a Vietnam Tourist E Visa. This type of visa permits single entry to the country for a period of up to 30 days. The visa allows the holder to enter Vietnam at any of the approved air, land, and seaports, but the intended port of entry needs to be supplied at the time of application. The process typically takes three working days, and you will be required to provide a clear scan of your passport identification pages along with a high-resolution digital passport photo taken within the past six months. Once you have completed your application and before submitting, it is important to double-check that all the information you have supplied is correct as the fee is non-refundable.

NB: Make a note of the registration number on your application as this will be required to access the PDF file you will need to download and print. Here is a Vietnam Tourist E Visa application checklist:

• Visit the Vietnam Immigration Department’s official website:
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu
• Carefully fill out the online visa application form including your details as they appear on your passport and travel documents, the dates you intend to stay in the country, the purpose of your visit, and any other required information.
• Upload a passport photo that conforms to all the usual passport photo rules and a clear scan of the photo page of your passport.
• Check that all the information is correct and pay the processing fee.
• Wait 2-3 working days for your Visa Approval Letter, download it and print out two copies.
• Make sure you have your passport, Visa Approval Letter, and two recent passport photos to present to the Immigration Officer when you arrive in Vietnam.

Price for Vietnam Tourist E Visa: Single Entry – USD 25; Multiple Entry – USD 50.

Requirements for a Vietnam Visa on Arrival

A slightly more complicated way to enter the country is by applying for a Vietnam Visa on Arrival. This is also a more expensive way to cover the Vietnam tourist visa requirements as it is a two-part process, both of which you will have to pay for. Firstly, you will need to pay a fee to an agency to get a Visa Pre-Approval Letter, and secondly, you will be required to hand over a Stamping Fee when you arrive in Vietnam.

The price for Visa Pre-Approval Letter: Single-Entry – Around USD 17 for 30 days and USD 25 for 90 days. Multiple-Entry – Around USD 20 for 30 days and USD 65 for 90 days.
And the price for a Stamping Fee: Single-Entry USD 25. Multiple-Entry USD 50.

Note: Prices may vary for visitors from the Middle East, Africa, and several Asian countries. Applicants for a Vietnam Visa on Arrival will need an undamaged passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the planned date of departure from Vietnam as well as two 4cm x 6cm passport photos taken within the past 6 months (white background, looking at the camera, without headwear or glasses). Those eligible for the Vietnam Visa on Arrival include:

• Visitors who are travelling on tours operated by a Vietnamese travel agency.
• People who need to enter the country because of an emergency such as visiting a sick relative.
• Travellers entering Vietnam from a country that does not have a reliable Vietnamese visa-granting agency.
• Tourists who have been travelling overland through several countries before crossing into Vietnam.

Note: The online part of the Vietnam entry visa on arrival takes two days on average, although there are options for a one-day or four-hour express service if you are prepared to pay extra.

Visa Free Travel to Vietnam for 26 Nationalities with the Visa Waiver Agreement

Vietnam also has visa waiver agreements with the following countries granting arrivals with passports from the following countries with visa free stays in country as follows:

No.	Country	Visa-Free Stay Allowed
1	Chile	90 days
2	Panama	90 days
3	Cambodia	30 days
4	Indonesia	30 days
5	Kyrgyzstan	30 days
6	Laos	30 days
7	Malaysia	30 days
8	Singapore	30 days
9	Thailand	30 days
10	Philippines	21 days
11	Brunei	14 days
12	Myanmar	14 days
13	Belarus	45 days
14	Denmark	45 days
15	Finland	45 days
16	France	45 days
17	Germany	45 days
18	Italy	45 days
19	Japan	45 days
20	Norway	45 days
21	Russia	45 days
22	South Korea	45 days
23	Spain	45 days
24	Sweden	45 days
25	United Kingdom	45 days
26	Kazakhstan	30 days

As Vietnam tourist visa requirements are subject to change, we at Secret Retreats are constantly monitoring the situation and will update any information on our website as and when anything changes. It is important to check with the government and other trusted websites before arranging travel, or you may contact us, as we are always happy to offer any information you require. We would always strongly recommend all travellers to Asia to protect their travel plans with reputable and reliable travel insurance.
Secret Retreats recommends this travel insurance for all holidays to Asia here.

Secret Retreats is here to ensure every moment you spend in this remarkable country is an amazing experience that will remain with you for a lifetime. If you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact a member of the Secret Retreats team at dream@secret-retreats.com.