Currently, there are 3 ways to get a visa to Vietnam. You can apply for a visa at Vietnamese diplomatic offices and Embassies/consulates abroad, pre-arrange a visa, or apply for an e-visa. Also, visas are exempt for citizens of countries that have signed a bilateral or unilateral visa-exemption agreement with Vietnam. A visa may be valid for 15 to 30 days, or for 90 days (only for Chilean citizens).

Visas & Customs

Currently, there are 03 ways to get a visa to Vietnam.

1. Apply for a visa at the Vietnamese diplomatic offices and Embassy/Consulate
The basic requirements are as below:

  • Complete the visa application form.
  • Two photos (4cmx6cm or 3cmx4cm white background)
  • Original passport
  • Cash for the visa fee.

Most offices require personal visits to apply for a visa. Only some of them accept applications sent by post (you must provide stamped, addressed envelopes).

2. Apply for a pre-arranged visa
Another way which is much easier to get your visa from a Vietnamese visa agency. They will help you with visa letter issued and stamped in Hanoi or Da Nang, or Ho Chi Minh City by the Vietnamese Immigration Department within the Ministry of Public Security or the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can obtain a visa for a maximum stay of 1 or 3 months at airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang or Nha Trang.

The necessary information to the visa agency includes:

  • Full name
  • Birthday and place of birth
  • Nationality
  • Visa purpose
  • Your passport number
  • Entry and exit dates
  • Arrival airport/borderland

APPLY NOW FOR A VIETNAM VISA

3. Evisa

Since 1 February 2017, Vietnam has introduced an electronic visa system. The e-visa is granted for single-entry visits for up to 30 days to nationals of the following 81 eligible countries and territories:

 

Source: Wikipedia.

Visa exemptions:

No. COUNTRY

TYPE OF PASSPORT

Duration of stay

Diplomatic

Official/ Service/ Special

Ordinary (for official purpose) Ordinary
1 Afghanistan (Islamic State) X X 30 days
2 Albania (Republic) X X 30 days
3 Algeria (People’s Democratic Republic) X X 90 days
4 Angola (Republic) X X 30 days
5 Argentina (Republic) X X 90 days
6 Armenia (Republic) X X 90 days
7 Azerbaijan X X 30 days
8 Bangladesh (People’s Republic) X X 90 days
9 Belarus (Republic) X X 30 days for Diplomatic and Service passport 15 days for other passports
10 Brazil (Federative Republic) X X 90 days
11 Brunei Darussalam X X X 14 days
12 Bulgaria (Republic) X X 90 days within 180 days period from the date of entry
13 Cambodia (Kingdom) X X X 30 days
14 Chile (Republic) X X X 90 days (for ordinary passport – from 11/8/2017)
15 China (People’s Republic) X X X 30 days
16 Côte D’Ivoire X X 90 days
17 Colombia (Republic) X X 90 days
18 Costa Rica (Republic) X X 90 days
19 Croatia (Republic) X X 30 days
20 Cuba (Republic) X X X 30 days
21 Cyprus (Republic) X X 90 days
22 Czech (Republic) X 90 days
23 Denmark (Kingdom) X X X 15 days
24 Dominican (Republic) X X 90 days
25 Ecuador (Republic) X 90 days
26 Egypt X X 90 days
27 El Salvador (Republic) X X 90 days
28 Estonia (Republic) X 90 days within 180 days period from the date of entry
29 Finland (Republic) X X X 15 days
30 France (Republic) X X X 03 months within 6 months period from the date of entry for Diplomatic passport 15 days for other passports
31 Germany (Federal Republic) X X X 15 days
32 Hungary (Republic) X X 90 days
33 India (Republic) X X 90 days
34 Indonesia (Republic) X X 14 days for Diplomatic and Official passport 30 days for ordinary passport
35 Iran (Islamic Republic) X X 30 days for Diplomatic passport 90 days for Official passport
36 Iraq (Republic) X X 90 days
37 Israel X 90 days
38 Italy (Republic) X X X 90 days within 6 months period for Diplomatic passport 15 days for other passports
39 Japan X X X 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport 15 days for other passports
40 Kazakhstan (Republic) X X 30 days
41 Korea (Democratic People’s Republic) X X 30 days
42 Korea (Republic) X X X 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport 15 days for other passports
43 Kyrgyzstan (Republic) X X X 30 days
44 Kuwait X X 90 days within 06 months period from the date of entry
45 Laos (People’s Democratic Republic) X X X X 30 days
46 Liberia (Republic) X X 90 days
47 Macedonia X X 03 months within 06 months period from the date of entry
48 Malaysia X X X 30 days
49 Malta X 90 days
50 Mexico (United States) X X 90 days
51 Moldova (Republic) X X 90 days
52 Mongolia X X 90 days
53 Montenegro X X 90 days
54 Morocco (Kingdom) X X 90 days
55 Mozambique (Republic) X X 90 days
56 Myanmar (Union) X X X 30 days for Diplomatic and official passport 14 days for Odinary passport
57 Nicaragua (Republic) X X 30 days
58 Norway (Kingdom) X X X 15 days
59 Pakistan (Islamic Republic) X X 90 days
60 Panama (Republic) X X 90 days
61 Paraguay (Republic) X X 90 days
62 Peru (Republic) X X 90 days
63 Poland (Republic) X 90 days within 180 days period from the date of entry
64 Philippines (Republic) X X X 30 days for Diplomatic and official passport 21 days for ordinary passport
65 Romania X X 30 days
66 Russia (Federation) X X X 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport
67 Serbia X X 90 days
68 Seychelles X X 90 days
69 Singapore (Republic) X X X 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport 30 days for Ordinary passport
70 Slovak (Republic) X 90 days
71 Slovenia (Republic) X X 3 months within 6 months period from the date of entry
72 South Africa (Republic) X X 90 days
73 Spain (Kingdom) X X X 90 days within 180 days from the date of entry for diplomatic passport 15 days for other passports
74 Sri Lanka (Democratic Socialist Republic) X X 90 days
75 Sudan (Republic) X X 90 days within 180 days period from the date of entry
76 Sweden (Kingdom) X X X 15 days
77 Switzerland (Confederation) X 90 days
78 Tanzania (United Republic) X X 90 days
79 Thailand (Kingdom) X X X 30 days
80 Tunisia (Republic) X X 90 days
81 Turkey (Republic) X X 90 days
82 Ukraine X X 90 days for Diplomatic and Official passport
83 United Arab Emirates (UAE) X X 90 days
84 United Kingdom (UK) X X X 15 days
85 Uruguay (Republic) X X 90 days
86 Uzbekistan X 60 days
87 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic) X X 90 days

Note: For foreigner who enters Viet Nam as unilaterally visa-exempted: the entry date must be at least 30 days from the previous exit as a unilaterally visa-exempted person. Otherwise, that person is required to have an appropriate visa to enter Viet Nam.

Customs

Customs procedures in Vietnam are simple and quick. To enter Vietnam, visitors must complete the form. A reasonable amount of clothing and personal belongings for the purpose of the trip may be brought into Vietnam. Items listed below must be declared on entry:

  • Luggage exceeding duty-free concessions
  • Addictive medication
  • Professional equipment temporarily imported and re-exported.
  • Foreign currency exceeding 7,000 USD or it’s equivalent in other currencies or more than 15,000,000 VND in cash.
  • Goods prohibited for import/export, weapons, ammunition, explosives, military weapons, toxic chemicals, firecrackers of all kinds, toys with a negative impact on education, cigarettes beyond the quantity stipulated, drugs, wild animals and plants, documents related to national security.

Passengers are given a duty-free allowance for not more than 1.5 liters of liquor with above 22% alcohol, 2.0 liters of liquor below 22% alcohol; 3.0 liters of alcoholic beverages; 400 cigarettes; 100 cigars; 500 grams of raw tobacco; 05kg of tea; 03 kg of coffee.
Other items, other than those mentioned above, with a total value not exceeding VND 5,000,000.

Source: collected by An