Applying for a visa can be a hassle and it will become quite a pain if you do not know the right steps to go. If you want to avoid all that, you are reading the right article!

We have divided this article into 4 sections to explain you everything you need to know about visa to enter Vietnam.

Some good news for you, it is much easier than you thought!

1. Who needs a visa

2. Types of visa

3. How to get a Visa on Arrival (VOA)

4. How much to pay for a Visa on Arrival (VOA)

Let's get started!

1. Who needs a visa

Technically, all foreign visitors need a visa before entering Vietnam. If you wish to be exempted from a Vietnam visa for your stay, you must be a citizen or national of countries having the exemption agreement with Vietnam.

List of countries exempted a Vietnam visa:

·     Visa-free for 30 days: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar

·     Visa-free for 21 days: Philippines

·     Visa-free for 15 days: Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Russian, Sweden, Norway, Finland, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain (*)

·      Visa-free for 14 days: Brunei

Note: If citizens from (*) countries wish to re-enter Vietnam under visa exemption program again, the second visit cannot be earlier 30 days from the first visit.

Exception:

·     The visitors to Phu Quoc Island may stay without a visa for no more than 30 days.  This visa waiver program is also applicable to those traveling to the island through any international ports of entry (air and sea).

·     The holders of APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) are granted visa-free access to Vietnam for no more than 60 days.

·     The citizens of Armenia, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Dominican, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Hungary, India, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Myanmar, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay, Venezuela holding diplomatic or official passport may stay in Vietnam, visa-free, for maximum of 90 days.

·     The citizens of Angola, Azerbaijan, China, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Myanmar holding diplomatic or official passport are granted visa-free entry for 30 days

·     The citizens of Afghanistan, Albania, Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, Nicaragua, Romania holding diplomatic or official passport are exempted a visa to Vietnam for 30 days. 

·     The citizens of Czech, Estonia, Germany, France, Israel, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland holding a diplomatic passport are granted a 90-day stay without a visa in Vietnam.

·     The citizens of Uzbekistan holding a diplomatic passport are exempted from a Vietnam visa for 60 days.

·     The citizens of Iran are allowed to visit Vietnam without a visa for 1 month if holding a diplomatic passport.

Attention: whether you are required a visa or not, your passport should be valid for no less than 6 months before your trip and at least 1 month after the visa expiry date as well as have at least one empty visa page left.

If you are not from any of these countries or you want to visit Vietnam longer than authorized period of stay, please arrange a visa in one of 2 ways: apply in person/by post at a nearby Vietnam Embassy, or you can apply online through travel agents to be issued a visa on arrival at the airport. Travel with Leon would be more than happy to assist you with this matter!

2. Types of visa

06 popular types of Vietnam visa are:

• Tourist visa (DL)

• Business visa (DN1, DN2)

• Student/internship visa (DH)

• Investor Visa (DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4)

• Working visa (LD1 – LD2)

• Diplomatic visa (NG)

Vietnam Visa types by Length of Stay and Validity

By this criterion, Vietnam visa is normally categorized into:

• 1-month single entry visa

• 1-month multiple entry visa

• 3 months single entry visa

• 3 months multiple entry visa

• 6 months multiple entry visa

• 1-year multiple entry visa

Vietnam Visa types by ways to apply

• Regular Visa

• Visa on Arrival

To sum up this part, the best scenario for you would be a Visa on Arrival 1 or 3 month single or multiple entry!

3. How to get a Visa on Arrival (VOA)

Important note: The Visa on Arrival is only applicable for travellers who enter Vietnam via plane, if you enter Vietnam by any other means of transportation, please contact your Vietnam Embassy for a Regular Visa!

Before your arrival (recommended to do this at least 1 month prior to your arrival)

Step 1 — Fill out the online application form  (you will need to know your arrival date and the name of the airport at which you will arrive)

Step 2 — Pay the visa Application fee online

Step 3 — Within two business days, you will get an email with your official Vietnam visa Approval Letter issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department

Step 4 — Print the Approval Letter and prepare two passport photos

On the day of your arrival

Have the following documents ready in your hands once you leave the plane:

1. Your passport with a minimum of 6 month validity and 1 visa page left

2. Printed form of your Vietnam visa Approval Letter

3. Printed and completed Entry-Exit form

4. Stamping fee in cash either USD or VND

Proceed to the Arrival Hall and look out for the Landing Visa Counter (in Vietnamese: Cấp Visa tại chỗ), handle all the documents to the Immigration officier who will then arrange the Visa on Arrival Stamp into your passport. It normally will take you 15-30 minutes for this procedure.

Once you finished all this, our Experience Specialist will welcome you with a friendly smile and you will not have to do anything except enjoying your trip to the fullest!

4. How much to pay for a Visa on Arrival (VOA)

There are two fees to pay for this process, the first is our Application fee which you will pay after submitting the online application form and the second is the official Tariff Stamping fee that you will pay in cash to the Immigration officier at the Landing Visa Counter. 

Important note: There is no ATM and the Immigration officier will not accept payment by card. You should have the official Tariff Stamping fee ready in cash.

The prices are as below: