Learn About Vietnam Tourist Visa Requirements

Overview of Vietnam Visa Types and Categories

Vietnam offers several different visa categories depending on your reason for traveling to the country. Understanding which type matches your situation is the first step in learning about visa requirements. The Vietnamese government recognizes distinct purposes for travel, and each purpose has its own visa classification.

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Tourist visas are designed for people visiting Vietnam for leisure, sightseeing, and vacation purposes. Business visas serve people traveling for work meetings, conferences, or trade activities. Transit visas are for travelers passing through Vietnam on the way to another destination. Student visas are for those enrolled in educational programs. Temporary Residence Cards are longer-term documents for people staying extended periods. Each category has different documentation requirements, validity periods, and entry conditions.

The most common visa type for leisure travelers is the tourist visa, which typically allows stays of 30 days or 90 days depending on which specific tourist visa you obtain. The 30-day single-entry tourist visa permits one entry into Vietnam within a 30-day window from the date of issue. The 90-day tourist visa allows for more flexibility if you plan a longer vacation or want to stay for multiple months.

Processing times vary based on how you obtain your visa. Standard processing through the embassy or consulate typically takes 5 to 10 business days. Rush services can complete processing in 1 to 3 business days but usually involve higher fees. Understanding these timelines helps you plan when to start the visa process before your intended travel date.

Practical takeaway: Identify your primary reason for traveling to Vietnam—tourism, business, study, or transit—before gathering documents. This determines which visa category you need to research further.

Required Documents for Tourist Visa Applications

The Vietnamese government requires specific documentation from all visa applicants. Having the correct documents prepared before you begin saves time and reduces the chance of delays or rejections. The list of required items is fairly consistent across different countries, though some embassies or consulates may request additional materials based on individual circumstances.

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The passport is the foundational document. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date from Vietnam. The passport should have at least one blank page for the visa stamp. If your passport expires within six months of your planned trip, you should renew it before submitting a visa request.

A passport-style photograph is required with most visa applications. This photo should be recent (typically taken within the last six months), in color, and measure 4 by 6 centimeters. The photo must show your face clearly against a white background. You should wear normal clothing—not uniforms or costumes. Many photo shops can provide passport photos in the correct size and format.

A completed visa application form is mandatory. The Vietnamese government provides official forms that must be filled out by hand or printed after completing them online. The form requests personal information such as your full name, date of birth, passport number, and travel dates. You must answer questions about your occupation, purpose of travel, and intended destinations within Vietnam. Accuracy on this form is important—errors or inconsistencies can delay processing.

Proof of onward travel demonstrates that you plan to leave Vietnam after your visit. This typically means a return airline ticket or evidence of travel to another country after your Vietnam stay. Some applicants provide booking confirmations for flights departing Vietnam on specific dates. This document reassures the government that you are not planning to stay permanently.

Proof of accommodation shows where you will stay during your visit. Hotel reservation confirmations, letters from Vietnamese contacts if staying with friends or family, or invitations from organizations work for this purpose. The accommodation proof does not need to cover your entire stay—a booking for at least part of your time in Vietnam typically satisfies this requirement.

Practical takeaway: Create a checklist of required documents and gather everything before submitting your application. Having complete documentation prevents processing delays.

Where to Obtain Your Tourist Visa

Vietnam operates embassies and consulates in most major countries around the world. These official government offices process visa requests directly. Locating the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country is the starting point for understanding your options.

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Vietnamese embassies are typically located in capital cities. Consulates are situated in major cities within countries where Vietnam maintains diplomatic relations. For example, the United States has Vietnamese embassies in Washington, D.C., and consulates in several major cities including San Francisco, Houston, and New York. If you live far from an embassy or consulate, you may need to travel to submit your application in person or use mail-based submission services.

Many embassies and consulates now allow you to begin the visa process online through their official websites. You can download the application form, review the current requirements, and check processing times without visiting in person. Some missions allow you to mail your documents with a prepaid return envelope, reducing the need for travel. Others require an initial in-person visit for photo and fingerprint collection, though some now handle these steps through partner service centers in various cities.

Third-party visa service companies operate in many countries as middlemen between applicants and embassies. These private companies charge fees beyond the official visa cost in exchange for handling paperwork submission and document review. Using a service company may be convenient if you cannot visit the embassy or consulate yourself, but it is not required. You always have the option of submitting your application directly to the official embassy or consulate without using a private service.

Online visa services represent another option. Various websites offer to process Vietnam tourist visas without requiring you to visit an embassy. These services work by having you submit documents online and mailing your passport to them for processing. They then submit your application to the relevant Vietnamese mission. These services charge fees on top of the official visa fee. Research any company's reputation and verify that they work through official channels before sending your documents.

Arrival visas—sometimes called "visas on arrival"—can be obtained when you land in Vietnam if you enter by air. This option requires advance coordination with a visa company or agent, who arranges for immigration authorities to issue your visa when you arrive at the airport. You pay the visa fee upon arrival. This method works if you have not obtained a visa in advance, but it carries risk if there are complications.

Practical takeaway: Check the official Vietnamese embassy or consulate website for your country to learn about current processing methods, fees, and timelines before deciding whether to apply directly or use a service.

Visa Fees, Processing Times, and Validity Periods

The cost of a Vietnam tourist visa varies depending on your nationality and the type of visa you request. Most countries pay between $25 and $100 USD in official government visa fees for a tourist visa. Single-entry 30-day tourist visas typically cost less than 90-day or multi-entry visas. Fees may differ slightly between embassies in different countries, so checking your specific embassy's website provides the most accurate pricing.

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Additional fees apply if you use third-party processing services or private visa companies. These service fees typically range from $20 to $50 on top of the official government fee. Rush processing—where applications are processed in 1 to 3 business days instead of the standard 5 to 10 days—involves higher service fees, sometimes adding $30 to $100 to the total cost. Overnight mail service or courier delivery also adds costs to the overall price.

Standard processing times through embassies and consulates average 5 to 10 business days from the date you submit your complete application. Rush processing completes in 1 to 3 business days. These timelines assume all documents are correct and complete. Missing or incorrect information delays processing beyond standard timelines. Planning to submit your application at least two weeks before your intended travel date provides a safety margin for standard processing and potential complications.

A tourist visa's validity period—the time during which you can use the visa to enter Vietnam—differs from the duration you may stay once inside the country. A 30-day single-entry tourist visa is typically valid for 90 days from the date of issue. This means if your visa is issued on January 1st, you must enter Vietnam by March 31st. Once you enter, you may stay for 30 days from your entry date. A 90-day tourist visa is valid for 90 days from issue, and once you enter, you may stay for 90 days.

Multi-entry tourist visas allow you to leave and re-enter Vietnam multiple times during the visa's validity period. These visas are useful if you plan to visit