Visa Procedures for Vietnam

Overview:

Who Needs a Visa: Most nationalities require a visa to enter Vietnam. Exceptions are listed below:
- Citizens of Kyrgizistan may enter Vietnam for 90 days without a visa.
- Citizens of the following countries may enter Vietnam for 30 days without a visa: Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
- Citizens of the Philippines may enter Vietnam for 21 days without a visa.
- Citizens of the following countries may enter Vietnam for 15 days without a visa: Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Types of Tourist Visa:
- Single-Entry Visas. Valid for 31 days after date of entry; must be used within one year of being issued
- Multiple-Entry Visas. Valid for 31 days after the date of first entry; must be used within one year of being issued. Required for all travellers who will leave and re-enter Vietnam on one itinerary (with the exception of travellers who fly in and connect immediately to an international flight, but never leave the international terminal. Travellers who connect to a domestic flight before connecting to an international flight must still apply for a multiple-entry visa). Additional surcharges may apply.

Methods of Applying for a Visa:

There are two methods of applying for a visa from Vietnam: applying through a Vietnamese Embassy and applying for visa on arrival. Please note that, in order to obtain a visa on arrival, the traveller needs to apply for an invitation letter before the date of travel.

Visa Extensions: Visa extensions are available from 1 month to a maximum of 6 months.

International Entry Points:

International Airports:
1. Noi Bai Internat’l Airport (Hanoi)*
2. Da Nang Internat’l Airport*
3. Tan Son Nhat Internat’l Airport (Saigon)*

Overland Border Crossings:

Cambodia:

1. Vinh Xuong (near Chau Doc) - Khorm Samnor
2. Moc Bai - Bavet

Laos:

1. Cau Treo, Ha Tinh - Nam Phao (Lak Xao), Bokikhamxai Province*
2. Lao Bao, Quang Tri - Dan Savanh, Savannakhet Province
3. Chalo, Quang Binh - Na Phao, Khammouane Province**
4. Nameo, Thanh Hoa - Banleui, Houa Phan Province*
5. Nam Kanh, Nghe An - Nong Het, Xieng Khuang Province**
6. Kontum - Phou Keua

China:

1. Huu Nghi/Dong Dang (near Lang Son) - Huu Nghi Quan, China
2. Lao Cai - Ha Khau, China
3. Mong Cai - Dong Hung, China

* Indicates that visa-on-arrival facilities are available. However, Hoangviet Travel recommends visa on arrival only at international airports or major entry points; at smaller border crossings, this process may be more time consuming.

** Indicates poor road conditions - not advisable for group travel.

Applying For a Visa On Arrival:

In order to obtain a visa on arrival, it is necessary to have an invitation letter from the Vietnamese Authorities, which is available from Hoangviet Travel.

Available Entry Points: Visa on arrival is available at the three international airports (Hanoi, Danang and Saigon).

Requirements:
1. Invitation letter from the Vietnam authorities (see procedure below)
2. Passport ( must be valid for at least six months, and have one full page for the visa stamp)
3. Two recent passport photos
4. USD 25 in cash (USD 50 for multiple entry)
5. Visa application form (available at the airport)

Procedure and Processing Time for Obtaining an Invitation Letter:
Hoangviet Travel can apply for an invitation letter for any clients with a roundtrip booking with us in Vietnam. An application fee will apply: please see current tariff for rates. To apply, submit the following details to info@hoangviettravel.vn :
- Passport details (full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport number, date of issue, date of expiry)
- Dates of travel
- Port of entry
- Specify single or multiple entry

Please allow for at least 7-10 days to process the invitation letter. Urgent visa approvals are available within 5-7 working days, with additional surcharges

Procedure and Processing Time on Arrival in Vietnam:
Hand over the passport, invitation letter, application form, passport photos and fee to the visa counter at the airport. Average processing time is 30 minutes, but this may vary.

NOTE: during the annual TET Festival in late January/early February, Immigrations offices are closed. No applications for invitation letters or approval numbers can be processed during this time. Before and after the holiday, approvals are often delayed due to the volume of applications. All travellers planning to come to Vietnam in this period should submit their applications well in advance.

Applying For a Visa From a Vietnamese Embassy:

Requirements:
1. Visa approval number from the Vietnamese authorities (see procedure below)
2. Passport (must be valid for at least six months, and have one full page for the visa stamp)
3. Two recent passport photos
4. Visa application fee (please contact embassy for current fees)
5. Two visa application forms

Procedure and Processing Time for Obtaining a Visa Approval Number:
1) Applying directly from the embassy:

Please contact your nearest Vietnamese Embassy for procedures and processing times, as they may vary from embassy to embassy.

2) Applying from the embassy with a visa approval number obtained from Hoangviet Travel:

Hoangviet Travel can apply for visa approval numbers for clients who have roundtrip bookings with us. Applying with a visa approval number can mean lower visa fees from the embassy and expedited service.

Step 1: Apply for an approval number from Hoangviet Travel
* Please sumbit the following details:
- Passport details (full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport number, date of issue, date of expiry)
- Dates of travel
- Port of entry
- Please specify single or multiple entry

* Processing time: please allow 7-10 days for processing. Urgent visa approvals are available in 5-6 days, with additional surcharges
* Fees: this service fee is reduced for clients with roundtrip bookings with us, but service full fees apply for hotel-only bookings, and for urgent visa approvals.

Step 2: Apply for the visa from the Embassy. After receiving your visa approval number, please submit the following documents and information to your nearest Vietnamese embassy. Please check for fees and processing time with the embassy nearest you:
- Visa approval number
- Passport (must be valid for at least six months, and have one full page for the visa stamp)
- Two recent passport photos
- Visa application fee (please contact embassy for current fees)
- Two visa application forms

Procedure and Processing Time for Obtaining a Visa:
Please contact the Vietnamese Embassy nearest you for procedures and processing time, as they may vary.

Procedure and Processing Time on Arrival in Vietnam:
Hand over the passport with visa to the visa counter at the airport. Average processing time is 30 minutes.

Important Notes:

Please recheck the dates noted on the visa stamp to make sure that they match the dates of travel, and that it is the correct type of visa (single-entry or multiple-entry). If the wrong date or type is stamped, travellers may be refused entry into the country.

TET Festival: during the annual TET Festival in late January/early February, Immigrations offices are closed. No applications for invitation letters or approval number can be processed during this time. Before and after the holiday, approvals are often delayed due to the volume of applications. All travellers planning to come to Vietnam in this period should submit their applications well in advance.

Click here for Embassies abroad.