Vietnam Visa - Things to know before your travel

Most visitors still need to apply for a Vietnamese visa in order to enter the country. In general, Vietnamese visa is inexpensive in comparison to many other countries. The visa fees range between US$75 and US$150 if an application is sent directly to the Embassy or US$25-55 if the visa has been pre-approved.

For those who fly to Vietnam, visa on arrival (VOA) is the most convenient, economic and time-saving alternative. With VOA, you receive an electronic approval letter, which allows you to board the plane and obtain the visa stamp at Vietnam airports. This method of application works for both tourist and business visas, with a stay of up to 3 months.

 VISA EXEMPTION UPDATES

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has given the nod to a new regulation allowing overseas Vietnamese and their families to enter Vietnam without visas as of September 1, and the visa exemption decision meets overseas Vietnamese aspirations..

5-day visa free: Many travelers emailed us about the The 5-day visa-free stay scheme which was announced in 2002 and it seems to have been wishful thinking, however, we have never heard it used.

Visa tips:

1. Visa regulations are often changing, so check carefully before you are due to travel. Usually, it is possible to extend visas within Vietnam but not during the Party Congresses.

2. Visa extensions are often done with less than 1 week on your ongoing visa, and after 3 extensions, you must get a new visa. The fee is about 18-35USD.

3. It is advised that you apply for a visa to Vietnam one or two weeks in advance to avoid unwanted troubles or unnecessary express fee.

Need help on Vietnam Passport and Visa?

If this page did not answer your questions on visa to Vietnam, or you need more information on visa, don't hesitate to drop us an email. We will get back to you shortly. 

MAKE YOUR TRIP TO DISCOVER VIETNAM ATTRACTION HERE!

EXEMPTION OF ENTRY VISA TO VIETNAM (Updated on April 2013) COUNTRY TYPE OF PASSPORT Duration of stay Date of entry into force Diplomatic Official/ Service/ Special Ordinary (for official purpose) Ordinary Seaman Armenia x x 90 days 06-Aug-12 Afghanistan (Islamic State) x x not stipulated 26-Feb-88 Albania (Republic) x x not stipulated 1-Oct-56 Algeria (People's Democratic Republic) x x 90 days 2-Jan-95 Angola x x 30 days 3-Apr-08 Argentina (Republic) x x 90 days 13-Nov-99 Azerbaijan x x 01 month 21-Aug-10 Bangladesh (People's Republic) x x 90 days 10-Jul-99 Belarus (Republic) x x not stipulated 24-Nov-93 Brazil (Federative Republic) x x 90 days 8-Jul-09 Brunei Darussalam x x x 14 days 1-Aug-07 Bulgaria (Republic) x x 90 days 12-Dec-10 Cambodia (Kingdom) x x x not stipulated for Diplomatic & Official passports/30 days for Ordinary passport 30-Nov-79 5-Dec-08 Chile (Republic) x x 90 days 25-Jun-05 China (People's Republic) x x x 30 days 15-Mar-92 Colombia (Republic) x x 90 days 28-Mar-12 Croatia (Republic) x x 30 days 27-Mar-10 Cuba (Republic) x x x x not stipulated 31-Aug-81 Czech (Republic) x 90 days 13-Feb-00 Denmark (Kingdom) x x x 15 days 1-May-05 Dominican (Republic) x x 90 days 29-Sep-07 Ecuador (Republic) x x 90 days 19-Sep-07 Egypt x x 90 days 8-Aug-11 El Salvador (Republic) x x 90 days 30-May-11 Finland (Republic) x x x 15 days 1-May-05 France (Republic) x 03 months 1-Jul-05 Hungary (Republic) x x 90 days 1-Aug-93 India (Republic) x x 90 days 23-Mar-95 Indonesia (Republic) x x x 30 days 19-Sep-98 Iran (Islamic Republic) x 01 months 1-Jun-94 Iraq (Republic) x x 90 days 1-Dec-01 Israel x 90 days 06-Dec-12 Italy x 90 days 20-Jan-12 Japan x x x 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport/15 days for ordinary passport 1-May-05 1-Jul-04 Kazakhstan (Republic) x x 30 days 11-Apr-10 Korea (Democratic People's Republic) x x not stipulated 1-Oct-56 Korea (Republic) x x x 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport/15 days for ordinary passport 13-Jan-99 1-Jul-04 Kyrgyzstan (Republic) x x x not stipulated 15-Jul-81 Laos (People's Democratic Republic) x x x x 30 days 17-Jul-77 5-Mar-04 Malaysia x x x 30 days 25-Nov-01 Mexico (United States) x x 90 days 4-Feb-02 Moldova (Republic) x x 90 days 23-May-03 Mongolia x x 90 days 6-Feb-00 Montenegro x x 90 days 1-Sep-00 Morocco (Kingdom) x x 90 days 19-Dec-04 Mozambique (Republic) x x 90 days 9-Feb-09 Myanmar (Union) x x 30 days 11-Aug-98 Nicaragua (Republic) x x not stipulated 14-Mar-83 Norway (Kingdom) x x x 15 days 1-May-05 Pakistan (Islamic Republic) x x 90 days 2-Mar-07 Panama (Republic) x x 90 days 4-Nov-02 Paraguay (Republic) x x 90 days 26-Oct-08 Peru (Republic) x x 90 days 2-Jun-06 Philippines (Republic) x x x 21 days for ordinary passport 1-Apr-00 Poland x 90 days 14-Mar-12 Romania x x not stipulated 1-Dec-56 Russia (Federation) x x x 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport/15 days for Ordinary passport 20-Feb-1994 (amended 02-Jan-2005) 1-Jan-09 Serbia x x 90 days 1-Sep-00 Seychelles x x 90 days 02-Dec-12 Singapore (Republic) x x x x 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport/30 days for Ordinary passport 10-May-97 1-Dec-03 Slovak (Republic) x 90 days 24-Feb-07 Slovenia x x 90 days 23-Jan-11 South Africa (Republic) x x 90 days 23-Jun-07 Spain (Kingdom) x 90 days 31-Aug-10 Sri Lanka (Democratic Socialist Republic) x x 90 days 19-Sep-03 Sweden (Kingdom) x x x 15 days 1-May-05 Switzerland (Confederation) x 90 days 16-Aug-09 Tanzania (United Republic) x x 90 days 23-Feb-11 Thailand (Kingdom) x x x 30 days 20-Feb-04 Tunisia (Republic) x x 90 days 21-Jan-09 Turkey (Republic) x x 90 days 7-Jun-07 Ukraine x x x x 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport/30 days for Ordinary (official purpose) and Seaman passports 6-Dec-93 United Arab Emirates (UAE) x x 90 days 22-Jul-11 Uruguay (Republic) x x 90 days 15-Jun-08 Uzbekistan x 60 days 4-Jun-10 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic) x x 90 days 17-Nov-06 Bilateral agreements, which have been signed but not yet entered into force Bolivia x x 90 days 25-Sep-12 Costa Rica x x 90 days 04-Jul-12