Paying a visit to Vietnam may mean that you have to get a visa beforehand. Whether you need a visa for Vietnam or not depends on your country of residence. However, even those who are exempt, may only stay in Vietnam without a visa for a short period of time. For long stays, everyone, regardless of their nationality, needs a Vietnam visa.
Do I Need a Visa for Vietnam?
Citizens of most countries need a visa for Vietnam, unless those who are from a country exempt from visa requirements, as listed below.
Countries Exempt from Vietnam Visas
Citizens from the following countries are exempt from holding a Vietnam visa, provided that they will only stay for a short-term period:
- Belarus* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Brunei (visa-free travel for up to 14 days)
- Cambodia (visa-free travel for up to 30 days)
- Chile (visa-free travel for up to 90 days)
- Denmark* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Finland* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- France* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Germany* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Indonesia (visa-free travel for up to 30 days)
- Italy* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Japan* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Kyrgyzstan (visa-free travel for up to 30 days)
- Laos (visa-free travel for up to 30 days)
- Malaysia (visa-free travel for up to 30 days)
- Myanmar (visa-free travel for up to 14 days)
- Norway* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Philippines (visa-free travel for up to 21 days)
- Russia* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Singapore (visa-free travel for up to 30 days)
- South Korea* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Spain* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Sweden* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
- Thailand (visa-free travel for up to 30 days)
- United Kingdom* (visa-free travel for up to 15 days)
*Citizens of these countries must wait at least 30 days between visits if they want to re-enter Vietnam.
Can I Get a Vietnam Visa On Arrival?
Yes, anyone who needs a visa for Vietnam can also get it on arrival at one of Vietnam’s international airports:
- Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi
- Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City
- Danang Airport in Da Nang
- Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong
You can only get a Vietnam Visa On Arrival if you will enter through one of the airports listed above. If you are entering through any other port, you have to get a regular visa.
Do I Need a Transit Visa for Vietnam?
If you are transiting in an airport in Vietnam, you do not need a Vietnam Transit Visa if:
- You have a ticket for a connecting flight within the next 24 hours
- You will not leave the airport international transit area
- You have the necessary documents for your final destination (passport, visa, etc)
On the other hand, if your connecting flight is further than 24 hours away or you would like to enter Vietnam while you wait, you will have to get a visa.
You can also get a visa on arrival, as long as you have obtained the Letter of Approval beforehand.
Do I Need a Visa for Long Stays in Vietnam?
If you are from one of the countries listed above (Countries exempt from Vietnam Visas), you still have to apply for a visa if you want to stay in Vietnam for longer than your visa exemption allows.
What Can I Do If I Need a Visa for Vietnam?
If you are subject to visa requirements, you can submit a Vietnam visa application through one of the following ways:
- In-person, at an Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam abroad. Find a list of the Vietnamese Embassies and Consulates here.
- Collect the required documents
- Submit the documents and pay the Vietnam visa fee at the Embassy/Consulate
- Wait for the visa to be processed
- Collect your passport and learn about the visa decision.
- If your application is approved, the Vietnam Visa will be stamped on your passport
- Online, if you are from one of the eligible countries for an eVisa listed above
- On Arrival. You first have to get a Letter of Approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department. You can get the LoA through one of the travel agencies or visa application agencies that operate with the permission of the Vietnam Immigration Department.
Traveling to Vietnam Without a Visa
If you are from one of the countries exempt from a Vietnam visa for short stays, then you can travel with just your passport, which must be valid for at least another six months.
However, keep in mind that you cannot stay for longer than the days your visa exemption allows. If you need to stay for longer, you can apply for an extension of your stay at one of the Immigration Offices in Vietnam or apply for a visa from an Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam in your country.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam From US?
Yes, if you are from the USA, then you must have a Viatnamese visa before you can enter the country. As a US citizen, you can apply for a Vietnam Visa in any of the following ways:
- At an Embassy or Consulate. You have to choose the Viatnamese diplomatic representation responsible for your jurisdiction:
- Vietnam Embassy in Washington DC
- Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco
- Consulate General of Vietnam in Houston – Texas
- As a US citizen, you are eligible to get an eVisa.
- On Arrival, as long as you have a pre-obtained Letter of Approval