Quick update regarding the new Vietnam e-Visa rules:
- All countries can now apply for the Vietnam e-Visa, no longer only 80
- Visa exemption for visa-exempt countries is going up from 15 to 45 days
- 90 days Vietnam e-Visa is now available, costing $50
About Vietnam e-Visa
As of August 15th, 2023, Vietnam visa rules have drastically changed as the long-awaited new immigration laws were finally implemented.
Since the reopening of Vietnam after the pandemic, ways to enter Vietnam were limited to a very small amount of countries being able to get the 30-day e-Visa and the select few being allowed in without a visa, on a short visa exemption.
Now, everything has changed, and Vietnam is ready to welcome more countries, and for much longer periods.
So in this guide, we would like to share our first-hand experience, tips, rules, and what to look out for when you apply for a Vietnam e-Visa yourself. If you don’t want to do this process by yourself, use a service like iVisa (extra cost).
Note: We have a lot of questions answered in the comments at the end of the article, so make sure to check them out if you have any additional questions.
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Vietnam e-Visa SUMMARY
- Available for all countries
- 90 days maximum stay
- Entry through 42 international checkpoints (air, land & sea)
- 30 days Vietnam e-Visa processing fee is 25 USD
- 90 days multiple entry Vietnam e-Visa processing fee is 50 USD
- Non-refundable processing fee under any circumstance
- Three working days usual processing time
- No available extensions as of now
Skip ahead in the article to
Quick links to official Vietnam Immigration sites
- Homepage
- Application form
- Application status search
- List of allowed ports of entry and exit with e-Visa
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Who is eligible for the Vietnam e-Visa in 2024?
Currently, Vietnam e-Visa is available for passport holders of all countries. This is different from the previous rules of only being available to 80 countries.
So if you couldn’t apply for a Vietnam e-Visa before August 15th, 2023, because your country was not on the list, now you can!
What if my country is not eligible for the e-Visa?
If your country is not on the list of countries that can apply for the Vietnam e-Visa, you will need to contact your embassy or the Vietnam Immigration Department.
How long can I stay in Vietnam with the e-Visa?
Since August 15th, 2023, the Vietnam e-Visa allows entry up to a maximum of 90 days with the multiple entry 90 days e-Visa, and up to 30 days, with the 30-day e-Visa.
How far in advance should I apply for the Vietnam e-Visa?
Usually, you will get your Vietnam e-Visa in 3 working days, but we recommend applying for your Vietnam e-Visa at least 10 to 14 days before your planned arrival, so you have enough time if it takes longer.
It took us eight days in total from applying to receiving results, as there were holidays in between, so definitely make sure to plan accordingly.
Note: Vietnam Immigration does not process e-Visa applications during the weekend (Saturday, Sunday) and public Vietnam holidays.
What are the Vietnam e-Visa Requirements?
The basic requirements you need to meet before applying for a Vietnam e-Visa are:
- Passport valid for at least 6 more months after arrival date with at least 2 blank pages
- Photo of passport personal data page
- Portrait photo of yourself (facing forward, no glasses, white background)
- Ability to pay online with a credit or debit card
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How to apply for the Vietnam e-Visa in 2024?
The Vietnam e-Visa application is straightforward, completely done, and paid for online, with results received within three working days.
Below is the step-by-step process for applying for the e-Visa.
Note: The process is very simple, but if you don’t want to go through the process yourself, you can use a service like iVisa to do it for you (for a fee). Click here to check the services offered at iVisa.
Step 1: Visit the official e-Visa application form
>> Vietnam e-Visa application portal
On the homepage of the application portal, change your language to English by clicking the dropdown “Tieng Viet” on the top right of the page.
Afterward, click on Submit Application to get to the application form.
Step 2: Fill out the e-Visa application form
Fill out the information required to apply for the e-Visa:
- Portrait photo
- Passport data page photo
- Personal information (name, sex, date of birth, address, nationality)
- Contact information (phone, email)
- Passport number, type, and expiry
- Intended temporary residential address (address of the hotel you plan on booking)
- Purpose of entry (choose tourism)
- Date of entry
- Date of exit
- Entry and exit checkpoint
Make sure to:
- Write your name entirely (first name, middle, and last name)
- Fill out the intended temporary residential address, as it’s a requirement, and you will be asked to provide information if you leave it empty. You can find the address of your first hotel and use that (even if you haven’t booked yet).
- Double and triple-check all the information
Step 3: Submit the application and pay the fee of $25 or $50
Step 4: Wait for three working days for the result
Step 5: Download the e-Visa and print two copies
>> Vietnam e-Visa application status search
Which photos do I need for the Vietnam e-Visa?
You must upload two photos for the Vietnam e-Visa, a portrait photo of yourself (4x6cm), looking straight without glasses, and a picture of your passport data page (first page) with the image, personal information, and ICAO lines clearly seen.
We took portrait photos of each other with our phones and used a white wall as a background. Some people have also taken quality images of their photos from their passports.
TIP: To be sure that your portrait photo is as it should be, even if you take it with a smartphone, you can use the Vietnamese Visa Photo service from Snap2Pass.
They help you produce a photo that complies with the regulations and size requirements, and they even give you simple tips on how to take your photo.
If you don’t know how or just don’t want to bother with editing, cutting, and preparing the photo, we highly recommend Snap2Pass.
As for the passport photo, make sure to take a top-down shot of the first page containing all the information (as shown in the example) so that there is no glare and everything is clear and easy to read.
How to check the Vietnam e-Visa result?
You need to manually check your Vietnam e-Visa application result on the official website, and we advise you to do it multiple times daily.
It works by entering your registration code, email, and date of birth and then searching for your results. And it either says in processing, granted, or denied.
Do I receive an email with my Vietnam e-Visa?
According to the official website, you will not receive an email with the results of your Vietnam e-Visa application, but we actually received an email as soon as it was done.
The email we received simply said that the results were in, but to check the actual status of the application, we still had to check it on the official website ourselves.
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How long does it take to get the Vietnam e-Visa?
Generally, the immigration department will process your Vietnam e-Visa within three working days, but sometimes it may take up to a whole week or ten days.
Our e-Visa results took eight days to arrive due to public holidays in between, so make sure to plan your trip accordingly.
Why does the Vietnam e-Visa result arrive late?
There are different reasons why your e-Visa result for Vietnam is late, either national holidays, a significant amount of applications, or your payment not being processed yet.
According to some sources, there can be a delay between the time you pay your e-Visa and the time the banks process it. Upon paying your Vietnam e-Visa fee, you will receive an email with a payment confirmation.
However, according to Vietcombank, the payment confirmation can take up to 2 hours, but if it’s delayed further, we recommend getting in touch with them to check what’s up.
Note: Before paying again, make sure that you got a confirmation for the payment either being canceled or failed because otherwise if it goes through, you will be charged twice. So definitely wait for the confirmation, then try to pay again if it fails.
If you have any issues with the payment through Vietcombank, you can contact their payment provider NganLuong at doitac@nganluong.vn or visit their website at https://www.nganluong.vn.
Also, please note that some Vietnam e-Visa applications can be sent for further checks to The Ministry of Public Security, and in case that happens, it can take up to 15 working days to receive the result.
Can I enter Vietnam through a different port of entry than on the e-Visa?
According to the rules of the e-Visa for Vietnam, you can only enter the country in the port of entry you chose on the application, which is also written in the received Visa document.
Although it can happen that you can enter through another airport than the one you have marked on your Vietnam e-Visa without issue, you should try to avoid doing so, as you can be denied boarding your plane by an airline. That is the most common problem, and if you do manage to board the plane, it is then up to the immigration officer at your arrival destination to decide if you are allowed to proceed or not.
So, as much as it is possible to go well for you, we advise you against arriving at a different airport/land border than the one you chose to avoid any issues.
To recap, if you think your travel plans might change, it’s best to put your port of entry to either Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Da Nang airport, as they receive the most significant number of frequent international flights, so you’ll be able to enter there, even if you have to find a flight last-minute.
Our situation was that our e-Visa result arrived late (after eight days), and we couldn’t fly into the port of entry we chose on our application on the date that we wanted, so we had to find another flight on a later date, and lost some days in the process.
Which entry and exit points can I use with the Vietnam e-Visa?
You can use your e-Visa to enter Vietnam through 42 international checkpoints, including airports, land borders, and sea ports.
Airports allowing entry with Vietnam e-Visa:
- Noi Bai Airport (Ha Noi capital)
- Tan Son Nhat Airport (in Ho Chi Minh City)
- Cam Ranh Airport (in the central province of Khanh Hoa)
- Da Nang Airport (in the central city of Da Nang)
- Cat Bi Airport (in the northern port city of Hai Phong)
- Can Tho Airport (in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho)
- Phu Quoc Airport (in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang)
- Phu Bai Airport (in the central province of Thua Thien Hue)
- Van Don Airport (in the northern province of Quang Ninh)
- Tho Xuan Airport (in Thanh Hoa province)
- Dong Hoi Airport (in the central province of Quang Binh)
- Phu Cat Airport (in the central province of Binh Dinh)
- Lien Khuong Airport (in Central Highlands province of Lam Dong)
Landports allowing entry with Vietnam e-Visa:
- Tay Trang International Border Gate in Dien Bien province
- Mong Cai International Border Gate in Quang Ninh province
- Huu Nghi International Border Gate in Lang Son province
- Lao Cai International Border Gate in Lao Cai province
- Na Meo International Border Gate in Thanh Hoa province
- Nam Can International Border Gate in Nghe An province
- Cau Treo International Border Gate in Ha Tinh province
- Cha Lo International Border Gate in Quang Binh province
- La Lay International Border Gate in Quang Tri province
- Lao Bao International Border Gate in Quang Tri province
- Bo Y International Border Gate in Kon Tum province
- Moc Bai International Border Gate in Tay Ninh province
- Xa Mat International Border Gate in Tay Ninh province
- Tinh Bien International Border Gate in An Giang province
- Vinh Xuong International Land and Waterway Border Gate in An Giang province
- Ha Tien International Border Gate in Kien Giang province
Seaports allowing entry with Vietnam e-Visa:
- Hon Gai Seaport in Quang Ninh province
- Cam Pha Seaport in Quang Ninh province
- Hai Phong Seaport in Hai Phong City
- Nghi Son Seaport in Thanh Hoa province
- Vung Ang Seaport in Ha Tinh province
- Chan May Seaport in Thua Thien Hue province
- Da Nang Seaport in Da Nang City
- Nha Trang Seaport in Khanh Hoa province
- Quy Nhon Seaport in Binh Dinh province
- Dung Quat Seaport in Quang Ngai province
- Vung Tau Seaport in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province
- Ho Chi Minh City Seaport in Ho Chi Minh City
- Duong Dong Seaport in Kien Giang province
Is the Vietnam e-Visa fee refundable?
The 25 USD fee for processing the 30 days Vietnam e-Visa is non-refundable under any circumstance, regardless of the outcome.
The 50 USD fee for processing the multiple entry 90 days Vietnam e-Visa is non-refundable under any circumstance, regardless of the outcome.
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Do I need to print the Vietnam e-Visa?
Yes, even though you apply for Vietnam’s e-Visa entirely online, you still need to print it and present the physical copy on your arrival in Vietnam.
What are the common mistakes when applying for Vietnam’s e-Visa?
The most common mistakes when applying for Vietnam’s e-Visa are entering the wrong name and passport number, uploading bad quality or wrong photos, or choosing the wrong port of entry.
For example, there are multiple ports of entry to Ho Chi Minh City, like Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City Seaport, so make sure to select the correct one.
TIP: To be sure that your portrait photo is as it should be, even if you take it with a smartphone, you can use the Vietnamese Visa Photo service from Snap2Pass.
They help you produce a photo that complies with the regulations and size requirements, and they even give you simple tips on how to take your photo.
If you don’t know how or just don’t want to bother with editing, cutting, and preparing the photo, we highly recommend Snap2Pass.
Can you apply for more people at once?
You can not apply for the Vietnam e-Visa for more people at once, so families or groups are advised to fill out a separate application for each person.
What if I have a problem with the Vietnam e-Visa application?
In case you made a mistake or there is a problem with your application for your Vietnam e-Visa, you can send a message to the support agents on the official website and describe the issue, like wrong information, failed payment, or forgotten registration code.
Unfortunately, we don’t know the time it takes for the support agents to answer.
What if I provided invalid information on the Vietnam e-Visa application form?
If your application form misses information or contains invalid data, the immigration department will request to provide further information, or in rare cases, they can also decline you.
If you have to provide additional information for your Vietnam e-Visa, you will be contacted and asked to fill it out, and the processing time will restart once you submit all the valid information.
What do I need to present upon arrival with the Vietnam e-Visa?
Upon entering Vietnam with your e-Visa, you must present a printed copy of the Vietnam e-Visa document you received (print from PDF) and your passport.
Although Vietnam no longer requires proof of travel insurance that includes COVID, we always advise against traveling without valid travel insurance.
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Can I arrive on different dates than stated on the e-Visa?
You can arrive later than the date of entry you put on the application for your Vietnam e-Visa, but you can not arrive sooner.
Take note that when you apply, you must fill in the exact entry date, so once your visa is approved, the days start counting from the entry date you set, even if the visa arrived late.
We put our date of entry for the 2nd of September, and our visa arrived late, on the 5th of September, so we lost three days because of that. And as we were planning to fly to Nha Trang, and the next direct flight was on the 9th of September, so we also lost additional four days because of that.
Thus, we can’t stress enough how important it is to know your travel dates beforehand and apply much sooner than the advertised three working days it takes to receive the visa.
Our final thoughts
It’s evident that as of the beginning of 2024, Vietnam is coming back to the world of travel, with borders open to more countries and for longer periods.
Although the visa-exempt countries for Vietnam are still nowhere near countries like Thailand, it is a great thing that the list got expanded and the duration extended to 45 days.
Vietnam is a country visited by various types of travelers in different stages of life, from vacationers that come for a week or two to those that come for a month and to backpackers or people on their gap year who take a longer time to explore the whole country.
It is refreshing to see the rules change!
NOTE
As you might expect, an overhaul of immigration laws in any country can take some time to go into effect and start functioning properly. And in Vietnam, it’s absolutely no different.
But don’t worry, we’re closely following the situation on the ground, so we’ll update this article accordingly.
We hope that we answered all your questions about the application process and requirements. However, if you have any more questions, drop a comment below and let us know!
Now that you hopefully have your visa, you might want to see what to do in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, go canyoning in Da Lat, do the stunning Ha Giang Loop, go on a Ha Long Bay Cruise, enjoy the Trang An boat ride in the beautiful Ninh Binh, hike the Mua Caves Viewpoint, or visit the gorgeous old town of Hoi An.
We spent a year and a half exploring Vietnam.
And we wrote extensive free guides for destinations across the country.
Must visit places
– Hanoi Train Street
– Ha Long Bay
– Ban Gioc Waterfall
– Ha Giang Loop
– Ha Long Bay Cruise
– Hanoi
– Ho Chi Minh City
– Ninh Binh
– Da Nang
– Hoi An
– Nha Trang
– Da Lat Canyoning
– Dak Lak
– Mui Ne
– Mai Chau
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160 Responses
Hi and Thank you for great content!
Can you still visit Vietnam for maximum 15 days without visa?
Hi Tina, thank you!
Yes, you can visit Vietnam under the visa exemption if you’re from one of the eligible countries. The eligible countries for the visa exemption are listed on the vietnam.travel website: https://vietnam.travel/plan-your-trip/visa-requirements#visa
Good luck!
Hi
I have been following and in touch with you before since before Covid.Ourfamily trip didn’t take place as covid started.So thanks to you during these years I have learnt so much about what we want to visit and do!!! Thanks a lot ..you are great!!!!
I can’t wait until We buy the plane tickets from January onwards for August!!!!!!
Thanks again for all your help…I am hooked on your information
Best regards from Spain
Mar
Hi Mar!
You have no idea how much this means to us! The whole point of this blog is to inspire travel and give as much info and insight into the places we visit.
We’re so happy to hear that you’ll be visiting Vietnam next year, and we can guarantee that you will have a great time in this beautiful country.
Keep an eye out for new articles, as we have some big ones coming out soon. Starting with the Hanoi Ultimate Guide that went out yesterday.
Thank you! 🙂
Greetings from Kuala Lumpur!
Arijana & Matej
Thanks for the article.
I am just wondering if the following scenario would work to stay longer in vietnam.
I could visit vietnam and stay no longer than 15 days.
After that I have read, that you are not allowed to re-enter vietnam for the next 30 days.
So question would be for me:
Would it be possible to re-enter vietnam with a visa after that?
so in the end I could stay in vietnam for 45 days (after a short trip maybe to thailand?
Sounds like a hack? 🙂
Hi John,
We haven’t done this before and can’t really give any verified information about it.
But what you can definitely do, is have a back-to-back visa, so let’s say you apply for 2 visas, one would be for the first 30 days, and then the other for the next 30 days. If you’re visiting for tourism purposes and don’t have a long history of border (visa) runs, you should have no problem.
But essentially, yes, after the 30 days are over, you would need to exit and re-enter the country.
Good luck and have a great trip! 👋
Sunny regards from Chiang Mai,
Arijana & Matej
If I dont have any totally full pages left on my U.S. passport, is there any other way to enter Vietnam? I will be in Dubai and was planning on visiting Hanoi right after that. Planning on leaving Dubai on March 20th. I remember when I obtained the Turkish e-visa, no label was needed to place in my booklet. Help!
Hi Gil,
The stamps you get on arrival and departure (1 each time) combined take up about 1/3 of a passport page.
According to some rules about Vietnam’s passport policy, they require one full page, but you might be able to enter anyway.
The bigger problem would be the airline denying you boarding the flight. We’d check that first with the airline.
Let us know what you decided and the outcome.
Safe travels!
Hello 🙂 Thank you for these informations ! I have two questions about the visa. I leave France on December 30th to go to Hanoi and I arrive there on the 31st in the morning. I have to start the visa on the 31st or I need it to take the flight and I have to start it on the 30th?
My 2nd question is that on the e-visa website when I put the maximum period for example for a start on December 31, they told me that the limit is set to January 30, but then it makes 31 full days? Is it a mistake on their part or is it good?
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Florence 🙂
Since you will be entering the country on 31st December, then your visa can easily be from the 31st and not the time when you board the flight (30th).
30 days from 31st December is actually 30th January, so that’s all good. 👍
Have a great trip!
Sunny regards from Chiang Mai,
Arijana & Matej
Do you then have to pay anything else at the border or is the only fee the $25 for the visa?
Hi Renee 🙂
You do not have to pay anything else at the border, the $25 processing fee you pay when applying online covers everything.
Sunny regards from Chiang Mai,
Arijana & Matej
Does the initial visa cover you the entire time you are there, even if you have flights to other cities within Vietnam? We are flying into Ho Chi Minh, then Phu Quoc and then Da Nang and Hoi An.
Hi Holly 🙂
Yes, indeed, the visa covers your whole stay in Vietnam for 30 days, including domestically flying between cities, as you mentioned.
Have a great time!
All the best,
Arijana & Matej
Hi. I am traveling in February…my flight lands in Hanoi and I take an onward flight to Ho chi Minh….what would be my port of entry for visa?I should apply for 10 days as I am there for 7 days
Hi Rajiv,
Since you are arriving on an international flight to Hanoi, you will clear immigration there, so put your port of entry as Hanoi.
While we personally didn’t have this situation yet, it has been confirmed by many travelers through the years.
Essentially the onward domestic flight at either HCMC or Hanoi airport always means you need to clear immigration and then go to the domestic terminal.
All e-Visas for Vietnam are valid for 30 days, so you apply for 30 days, even if you don’t intend to stay the full duration.
Have fun!
How many times can we exit Vietnam to extend our stay?
Unfortunately, there is no official information regarding how many times you can exit Vietnam and re-enter with a new e-Visa to extend your stay.
There are cases where people have done it repeatedly for almost a year. So it’s really a guess. It depends on the internal immigration rules which we have no knowledge of.
Question.
If I do a border run to Cambodia or Laos by bus, how soon can I re-enter with a new e-visa – is that even possible, or would I have to go to an embassy?
I would need to do 2 border runs as I’ve booked a 10 week air ticket to Vietnam (I didn’t know 3 month visas were no longer available!)
Hi Simon,
Usually, the e-Visa can not be back-to-back, meaning that if your first one expires on 1st February, then your next one needs to be from 2nd February.
This is the last information we have from people that did border runs, so essentially you’d need to stay one night in Cambodia/Laos.
On the other hand, there are people still doing it back-to-back (but maybe use some visa agency).
We can’t really guarantee it for you because it all depends if your e-Visa will be granted for, let’s say, the following scenario: 1st January – 31st January, 31st January – 30th March.. and so on. And it depends again on the officer at the border.
Your best bet is to go to one of the Vietnam Visa Advice groups on Facebook and ask for your specific case there and get it confirmed with the latest information.
We hope this helps!
Warm regards from Thailand,
Arijana & Matej
It seems like I looked everywhere on the Internet and Facebook groups for all of this exact information. Thank you so much now I am more confident in filling out the application and following all the rules of arrival and departure!
Hi Polly, thank you!
Have a great time in Vietnam!
Warm regards from Thailand,
Arijana & Matej
Question
Can you apply for 2 e-visas simultaneously with different entry dates for the same individual?
I will be traveling to Hanoi for 4 days, exit and visit Siem Reap for 3 days and re-enter Saigon for 4 days stay in January, 2023.
Hi Annette,
Yes, you can certainly do that!
Fill out the first one till the end and pay, and then repeat the process.
Hi, how about if the two e-visas have overlapping dates? If I plan to visit Vietnam on 5/6-5/18, travel to Japan from 5/18-5/22, and fly back to Vietnam just to catch a flight home. From what I am seeing on the Vietnam website faqs (below), once you apply for a second e-visa, your first one will become invalid, is that true?
5. What if I want to enter Vietnam before my e-Visa validity period?
You must completea new e-Visa application. The previous e-Visa application will be cancelled once the new e-Visa is issued./.
Hi, you can have overlapping e-Visas, and the second one will not invalidate the first one.
Simply apply for the first one, get it, then apply for the second one.
What’s is the best way to extension visa to 40 days?
I have polish Passport.
Hi Thomas,
There are no extensions available for the e-Visa.
You will need to exit and re-enter the country (apply for a new one beforehand).
Good luck!
Hi and thank you for your informative article.
I have two questions:
How far in advance can you apply for the e-Visa? I.e. can I apply now (in January) for a stay commencing in July?
You mentioned that you can apply for two Visas at the same time, to cover reentry.
However the official FAQ has the following question and answer that would suggest that applying for two consecutive Visas is not possible:
“5. What if I want to enter Vietnam before my e-Visa validity period?
You must complete a new e-Visa application. The previous e-Visa application will be cancelled once the new e-Visa is issued”
Best Regards,
Peter
Hi Peter,
Thank you for the kind words. And thank you for your questions. We’re sure others can benefit from this as well.
1.) Although there is no official information regarding how far in advance you can apply, according to other sources online and the e-Visa application form, you should be able to apply at least 6 months in advance and even more (there is no limit when selecting your visa validity in the application).
2.) Again, there is no official information regarding any e-Visa being canceled because of another application. And it also did not happen for any of the people applying for a consecutive e-Visa, where the second visa goes into the period of the first one. This should cover the scenario where for example, you visit the north of Vietnam for 10 days, go into northern Laos, then re-enter Vietnam after 10 days down south.
Hopefully, this is of some help.
Kind regards,
Arijana & Matej
Hi Peter…in the end how far beforehand have you applied the visa?
Thanks
Mar
Hi! Thank you for the info.
Just want to clarify ( I saw similar post already), however – can I enter Vietnam on single entry visa and after fly locally to other cities? I’m arriving in Saigon and after few days going to Da Nang and after returning to Saigon. Worried that I will not be allowed to travel to Da Nang and back in single entry visa.
Please advise. Thank you!!
Olya
Hi Olya,
Yes, of course, Vietnam is a single country where you can fly between all the domestic destinations as much as you want on a single-entry visa.
Have fun!
Arijana & Matej
Unfortunately auto fill left my surname off the 30 day e-visa application. So I just have my first name and middle name on the application. The Visa has been approved and ready to be downloaded. Will I have any issue with the airline boarding? Or with customs on arrival. I am assuming a visa approved is good to use?
Hi Gary,
Unfortunately, this is a 50-50 situation because it might be fine, but it all depends, as you mentioned, on the airline (the person at check-in) and the immigration officer upon arrival.
In this case, we would likely re-apply for a new visa if there is enough time.
Please note that during Tet (still until 26.1.2023), the immigration department does not work, and no visa application will be processed.
Good luck!
And in any case, please return to this article and update us and everyone else with your experience. It’s very much appreciated because although there are rules, there are still many unknown factors in this visa application and usage process.
Thank you. 🙏
Hi,
I have had encountered many versions of eVisa/landing visa. My query is about the eVisa that I’ve applied successfully via this URL https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu. Which queue do we have line up? The LANDING VISA or the normal IMMIGRATION line?
Thanks in anticipation.
Regards
Hi Vince,
Currently, there is no landing visa (visa on arrival) in Vietnam.
So you line up at the only immigration queue there is, like everyone else.
Have fun!
Thank you so much for the informative post! Most helpful info out there on this issue I’ve found so far.
I’m traveling to Da Nang in 2.5 weeks, and have a connecting flight in Hanoi for two hours…I‘ve already got my visa with Da Nang as my entry point. According to this post, it looks like I’ll have to get a new visa to have Hanoi as my entry point since I’ll likely be going through immigration there? Will they issue another visa even though they’ve already issued one?? Will that nullify the other visa to Da Nang?
Thanks!!
Hi Shelly,
Thank you for the kind words! We’re trying to gather as much first-hand information as possible, as many rules and regulations aren’t always too clear (not for us and many times even for some officials at embassies and airline companies).
Essentially, even with a connecting flight, coming on an international flight into one airport in Vietnam and then flying domestically to another, you will need to go through immigration at the first airport.
For example, you can confirm this by checking the connecting flight rules of Vietnam Airlines, as they have quite a detailed description of the procedures for connecting flights.
Check this link: https://www.vietnamairlines.com/vn/en/travel-information/airports-transit/connecting-flight-information
Your scenario is under point 2.D. or 2.H. (Connecting flights operated by Vietnam Airlines and other airlines), confirming that you must pass through immigration at your first entry point.
With everything said, yes, the safest thing to do is to re-apply for a new visa because the airline you’re flying with will likely deny your boarding because your eVisa does not permit your entry into Hanoi.
And yes, they will issue another visa on top of the existing one, and that one will be the relevant one going forward.
We hope this helps!
Thanks for the detailed and prompt response! This is exactly what I needed for my trip 🙂
Hi Shelly: I am travelling to DaNang via Hanoi, so port of entry should be Hanoi? Did you eventually change your visa?
Does exit point matter with e-Visa? I’m planning to enter through hanoi airport but leave through the Bavet cambodia land border.
The exit point chosen for the Vietnam e-Visa is not important and plays no role, so you can leave where you want.
You do however still have to choose one on the application.
Hi there! Thank you for the information! I wonder if you can please clarify if we need a visa? We are from Canada and will be first visiting Singapore for a week and then flying into Danang for 8 nights. Do we need an e-visa in this case? Secondly, if we do, then can you please clarify if a stamping fee is required once we are issued our e-visa? Thanks so much for your assistance!
Hi Katie 🙂
Yes, as of now, you need to apply for an e-Visa to Vietnam as a Canadian. (you do not qualify for a visa exemption to Vietnam)
The 25 USD fee for the Vietnam e-Visa that you pay while applying covers everything, and there is nothing extra to pay.
But please remember to print out the e-Visa once you do get it, as you do need to present a printed copy at the airport/immigration.
Hi guys! Thank you so much for your detailed info! I have applied for a visa (from Australia), however at the time did not realised they would be closed for the week around their new year celebrations, so I have cut things too close. With maybe only 6 working days for them to process. (It is currently in “processing status”). If for some reason it is not processed in time. Am I able to submit another application upon entry explaining my circumstance? Or what would happen here?
Hi Cheyenne, thank you for the support!
Sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, around Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, every government office, including the immigration office, shut down for a good week or so.
And so a bunch of applications pilled up, and it takes them a long time to go through (it’s a manual process) – can’t know how long.
Regarding your case, you probably can’t speed up the process by submitting another application, as we can only assume that they review them in the order that they received them. So if you apply again, you will likely anyway wait for the “first” one.
Hopefully, you get it in time! 🙏
Hello,
I have a single ticket because I am not quite sure how long I will be staying in Vietnam (3 or 4 weeks) and I have an e-visa I was wondering if I needed a outbound ticket as well to show at immigration?
Thank you
Hi Gert,
So supposedly, there is a rule that you need a ticket out (it doesn’t have to be a flight, can be a bus/train, etc.), but it’s usually only enforced by airline companies upon check-in for your flight.
We just checked in for our flight to Vietnam with VietJet Air a few minutes ago, and nobody checked it, as was the case the previous times.
But the cheapest way to be prepared and to be safe is to book a refundable ticket for a bus, like from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, and then if you don’t end up using it, try to refund it. It’s what most people do.
And if you want to just wing it, try to check-in for your flight without a ticket out, and if they ask, you can book one right then and there easily on 12Go.asia.
Immigration on the other hand, never really cares.
Good luck!
Hi, does the evisa letter need to be printed in color? Will a black and white one also be acceptable? Thank you!
Hi Jeff,
We just arrived back in Vietnam 2 days ago, and it got accepted just fine in black and white. 👍
Sunny regards from Da Nang ☀
Hi there,
This question might have already been asked, but is the 30 day multiple entry VISA no longer available?
I’m
Travelling to Vietnam in a few weeks but plan on going to Cambodia, Philippines, and Singapore, and then back to Vietnam. How do I go about this? Thank you for your reply
Hi Renay,
Unfortunately, you are correct that the 30-day multiple-entry visa to Vietnam is currently unavailable.
As of February 2023, the only visa available for entry to Vietnam is the 30-day single entry e-Visa.
There have been talks of visas changing in the following weeks/months, which everyone has been eagerly waiting for, but nothing is certain as of yet.
For your situation, you need to apply for 2 visas for those two separate entries (remember to choose the correct entry port).
Have fun!
Hi,
I would like to know if I can request 2 evisas at the same time?
I intend to arrive in Ho Chi Minh, leave the next day to Cambodia and return to Vietnam like a week after with a flight to Hanoi then leave from Ho Chi Minh.
Would they accept two simultaneous requests:
* evisa-1 : from 9 to 10 May 2023
* evisa-2: from 15 May to 28 May 2023
?
Or should I have left Vietnam and do it only once I am in Cambodia for the evisa-2?
Thanks
Hi Nicolas,
Yes, they will very likely accept, as this is a very normal situation.
Please note that no matter the dates you put in the application process, your eVisa will always be valid for 30 days. So you can put the first one to be active from an even earlier date.
And please apply for both eVisas in advance, not on the spot.
Hope this clears it up!
Wonderful,
Thanks a lot for the clear and fast reply.
Hi there, looking for a little advice. Me and my girlfriend arrived in Vietnam yesterday (6th Feb) and have entered without a visa. We’re UK citizens so are entitled to the 15 day exemption. Can we still apply for an e-visa to extend our stay?
Hi Jake,
When you enter Vietnam via a visa exemption, you cannot extend your stay by applying for an e-Visa while in the country. Of course, you can still apply for the e-Visa, but you need to re-enter the country to actually use it (be stamped in).
Hope this helps!
Thanks! Do we need to wait 30 days to apply for the e-visa? or can we apply to come back into Vietnam after a couple of weeks away.
You can apply for two visas in advance, one for your first visit and another for your second visit. No need to wait for the first one to “expire” or similar.
Hello,
For an eVisa does the 30 days start from the date the visa was issued or the date upon initial entry into Vietnam?
Also in regards to departure port I am flying from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh International to pick up my flight back to Sydney, Australia. I assume that Ho Chi Minh should be my departure point on the eVisa application., can you please confirm.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Kate,
The eVisa is valid for the dates that you put on the application, so if you put on the application for it to be valid from the 1st of April, that’s when its validity will start. You can only enter the country on or after that date and before the expiry date.
Your flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is domestic, meaning you will exit Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City. So yes, you would put Ho Chi Minh City as the departure port.
Sunny regards from Da Nang ☀
Hey
So glad to of stumbled across this post, wondering if anyone can help.
We have UK passports & we fly to Ho chi min on the 2nd of March, we then leave via Hanoi on 9th March to South Korea & Japan then back to Hanoi on the 16th March. We were hoping to travel to Thailand & Laos before flying home from Ho chi min on the 5th April.
This means 3 entries into Vietnam spanning more than 30 days and after looking into the visas I don’t know if this will be possible?
Reading this thread it looks like we’d possibly be able to take advantage of the visa waiver for the initial entry then would it be possible to get 2 separate Evisas for the other 2 entry’s or is it too much over lap?
Any advice is much appreciated
Thanks
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
There used to be a rule that you couldn’t re-enter Vietnam on a visa exemption before a period of 30 days had elapsed since your last entry with a visa exemption.
That rule has been removed, so you can enter Vietnam on a visa exemption, exit, and re-enter on a visa exemption even on the same day.
You won’t be breaking any rules, so you essentially don’t need to apply for any e-Visa for your particular case, as you won’t be in Vietnam for more than 15 days on any of those entries.
Sunny regards from Da Nang,
Arijana & Matej
Oh fantastic news!! Thanks for coming back to me so quick.
Just found so much conflicting information online and nothing official so was worried!
Thanks again
Amanda
Glad to be of help! Have a great trip! 👋☀
Hi,
Thank you for a very informative post. I am in the process of applying for the e-visa. I heard from a friend that if you use some of the visa processing services (where you pay a lot more) you get speedier process at the airport. Is that the case? And anyway, how long can you expect the immigration process to take at the airport?
Many thanks
Gudrun
Hi Gudrun,
We don’t recommend any visa processing services.
The airport process is the same for everyone with an e-Visa, and there’s no way for anyone to make it “speedier” for you.
The immigration process at the airport can take up to 30 minutes when it’s a really long queue, but usually, you’ll be through in about 15 minutes.
For example, on our arrival in Ho Chi Minh City two weeks ago, more flights landed simultaneously, so all the immigration counters were occupied, and the place was packed, but we were done in 15 minutes.
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for a speedy and useful answer.
How can you enter Vietnam for 3 weeks from Australia and then use car/driver to Cambodia for a week and one back to. Gif am for day 31-35, which is outside the Vietnam 30 day visa?
Hi Colleen,
Essentially you would need to apply for 2 e-Visas, the first one covering the first part and the second one covering the second part.
For example, if your first entry is 1.4.2023, and your second entry is 24.4.2023, then these are the dates:
– e-Visa 1: Validity from 1.4.2023 – 1.5.2023
– e-Visa 2: Validity from 24.4.2023 – 24.5.2023
Hi there,
Similar question maybe to many of the above, but I realised recently that my stay in Vietnam from the 2nd of March to the 2nd of April is actually 31 days instead of 30. I’m looking at booking a flight to Bangkok in-between. Maybe from the 13th to the 15th of March. If I do so, will I be able to apply for two separate e-visas for 30 days? One being from the 2nd of March – 13th of March and the second being from the 15th of March – 2nd of April?
Thanks in advance !
Martin
Hi Martin,
Hopefully, you haven’t booked your flights before getting the e-Visa. 😅
If you have, then yes, you can apply for another e-Visa that would start after the first one.
Example:
– e-Visa 1: 2nd March – 1st April
– e-Visa 2: 15th March – 14th April
In case you already have your flights booked for 2nd March and 2nd of April, a better option would be to leave Vietnam towards the end of March and then fly back on the 2nd April (still get the second visa), when your flight out is (if that is the case). Just a thought.. I’d do anything to avoid that flight in between.
Good luck!
Matej
Hello. I’ve a similar question to some above.
I’m thinking about travelling from may 7 to may 17 to Vietname then exiting on may 17 to Cambodja and entering again on may 20 in transit at the airport to exit again on may 20. Do I need 2 e-visas?
If I need 2 visas and if I apply wrongly for 1 e-visa from may 7 to may 20 (instead of may 17) I still can apply for a 2nd visa from may 20 to may 20?
Thank you.
Hi Paula!
If you’re flying from Cambodia to Vietnam (HCMC, Hanoi, or other international airports..) and then flying out the same day, you don’t need another visa, as you should be in international transit at the airport.
But if you’re exiting Vietnam to Cambodia and re-entering Vietnam from Cambodia through the land border, yes, you need to get 2 e-Visas.
Then you would simply apply for 2 e-Visas that cover your visit:
– e-Visa 1: validity starting 1st May
– e-Visa 2: validity starting 15th May
Kind regards
Hello there,
Many thanks for this useful tool I have stumbled across. My question is regarding my trip to Vietnam from the UK arriving on 18/03/23 at HCMC Airport, then leaving vietnam on 22/03/23 to travel to Thailand and Cambodia. I return To HCMC Airport on the 22/04/23 and leave Vietnam for the UK on 25/04/23. Can I use my visa exemtion to cover the whole trip or will I need an evisa as well.
Many thanks
Hi Stephen,
Since you’re from the UK, you can use the visa exemption (15 days) for both of your stays in Vietnam:
– 18th March to 22nd March (5 days)
– 22nd April to 25th April (4 days)
You’re good to go! Have fun! 👋
Hi,
After reading some of the other comments, I’m still a bit confused about overlapping and/or back-to-back evisas to cover my 6 week stay in VN.
I’ll be arriving from the US to VN on Mar 15th and departing April 30th. I understand that I’ll need to exit VN and re-enter after 30 days. Is it possible for my 2 e-visas to overlap since I’m not sure exactly which day I will make this border run?
Visa 1: March 15-April 14
Visa 2: April 12-May 11
Is it also possible to have back to back visas?
Visa 1: March 15-April 14
Visa 2: April 14-May 13
Would I be able to apply online for these evisas one after the other?
Thanks so much!!!
Hi Lee,
We completely understand.
Yes, you can apply for overlapping and back-to-back visas.
So your example of the first visa being valid from March 15th to April 14th and the second valid from April 14th to May 13th, is all good.
You are able to apply for them one after the other.
This situation is quite common as so many people come to Vietnam for a week or two, then go to Cambodia or Thailand for a week and then return for either another week or two, or to simply fly out.
You’re good to go. 👍
Thanks for the quick reply!
Just to clarify… In my first example, there is an overlap of several days where the first e-visa ends on April 14 and the second e-visa begins April 12. Is this allowed? Thanks so much!
Hello,
Do I apply for an e-visa for my
2 kids the same way as I would for myself so that these are 3 separate applications? Or, will I be filling out their info under my application? Thank you!
Hi David,
While you can fill out the information that you’re traveling with your children on your application, that is not how to apply for the e-Visa for them.
You indeed need to apply for your children with separate applications.
Have a great time in Vietnam! 👋
Hi there. My daughter’s visa hasn’t been processed in time for her flight to Vietnam tomorrow. If she enters under the 15 day stay non-visa option does her 30 day visa become valid once it actually arrives or will she have to leave after 15 days? If she does have to leave, can she return to Vietnam almost immediately? Any advice would be hugely appreciated.
Hi Victoria,
Yes, she has to leave Vietnam after 15 days and re-enter to extend her stay. And yes, she can re-enter again straight away (same day).
Good luck!
So grateful that I found your site. Thank you so so much for replying so quickly. Hugely appreciated. ☺️
Hi, so I was granted my visa and I have reviewed it and everything looks okay. However, I was checking a screen shot I made of the Visa form I filled in and I found out that I entered the incorrect nationality at birth, which is supposed to be different from the current nationality. Will I have any issues on arrival? Since the nationality at birth is not indicated on the granted visa form so I presume it will be okay. Please advise.
Hi Ryan,
This is essentially guesswork, as it’s something for which you can’t find any official information anywhere.
Since you were granted the visa already, and presuming that the granted visa states the country of which passport you have now, and with which you will enter, you should (emphasis on should) be fine. The airline staff and immigration officers simply check your passport and your visa, and if it checks out, you’re in.
The best way to go about this would be to send a message to immigration, but it’s questionable if and when you will get a response.
So in conclusion, you should probably be fine, but you never know about these things.
Please let us know how you went about this and the result, so we can share it with others.
Hello
I am inVietnam April 20 to May 6.
I have applied for this Visa.
We are exiting Viernam in April 26 for 4 days to go to Siem Reap. We fly back into Danang on April 30th.
I have read you can get a VOA at Danang airport.
How do we handle this scenario with visa now in 2023? I read so many conflicting things.
Thank you.
Emily
Hi Emily,
If you’re exiting Vietnam and returning later, you need another e-Visa.
Currently, as of 21st March 2023, there is no VOA (Visa on Arrival) for Vietnam, and you need to get an e-Visa (unless your country is one of the visa-exempt ones).
Have a great trip!
Hello,
I have a 30 day e-visa that will expire soon, but I’d like to stay longer. Since I understood that extending the current visa is very difficult (or impossible), I have applied for a new e-visa, to be valid starting from the same date as the old one will expire. Therefore, could I:
– Go to Hanoi airport, with some cheap one way flight ticket
– Exit through the immigration
– Miss the flight intentionally
– Stay for a while in the airport
– And then re-enter via the 2nd (new) visa
Does this sound feasible?
Thanks!
Hi Vlade!
Well, sooner or later, someone has to try this. 🤷♂️
We can’t recommend this as we never heard of anyone doing it. While it does sound like it could work, you can’t be certain what the officials at the airport will do with you.
Please let us know if you will actually do it. And again, we don’t and can’t recommend it.
Good luck!
Thank you very much for a quick reply!
Yes, I haven’t found any other info if someone else has attempted this, but yes I fully understand that this is not recommended and I agree with you.
I guess that they could look for a stamp from another country before re-entering, so if I don’t have it, it could be interpreted that I have never left the country and thus create a problem.
Only other quick solution I had in mind was to head to Ha Giang (I planned to do the loop anyway) and use the opportunity to cross into China (luckily I don’t need a visa for China). However, that border crossing doesn’t seem on the list of ‘port of entries’ and in any case my port of entry and exit on my 2nd visa is ‘Hanoi airport’ so not sure how or if it would work?
Well, if you’re willing to fork out about $150, there could be a return flight you could take from Hanoi to either Bangkok, Chiang Mai, KL, or similar.
Found some here, but it depends on your visa options: return flight from Hanoi to Thailand, China, Malaysia..
Hi,
I already bought my ticket to Viet Nam, I did not know that the e-visa is only for 30 days.
I will depart on 5/24/23 and then return to the US on 6/25/23.
What should I do? Can you please help?
Hi Thypac,
You should try to change the return flight to 2 days sooner if possible.
If that’s not possible or it costs too much, you would either have to fly out somewhere (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or similar) and return after 2 days for your flight out of Vietnam. If you really want to save money as much as possible, you could potentially leave your baggage (if you have a big bag) in a hotel/homestay in Vietnam and fly out and back in with just your cabin bag. Click here to find the cheapest flights for your case.
On the other hand, if you’re finishing your trip in the south of Vietnam, another option is crossing over to Cambodia for those 2-3 days.
There’s frequent buses from HCMC to Phnom Penh that you can take. So might as well then just add a few days in Phnom Penh or if you want to split your trip, head north to Siem Reap and visit Angkor Wat.
If you’re finishing your trip in the central or north Vietnam, the only option by land is to Laos. From Da Nang/Hoi An/Hue it’s not a long journey (back in a day), but from Hanoi it’s a like a 24 hours bus ride..
In any case, at this moment, you can not extend your stay in Vietnam unless you exit and re-enter the country.
Hopefully this helps you out!
Hi there, really good read. Just wanted to comment as after reading this I think I know the answer, but if I’m right then other people may have a similar question. If I’m wrong then be great to know.
We are arriving into HCM on a 30day Evisa and then planning to leave Vietnam before it expires, spend a few days in Cambodia and then travel over land back into Vietnam a few days before we fly out from HCM again.
I think I’m right in saying that we can now re-enter Vietnam on the new 15 visa free entry (UK passport) without having to spend on 2 Evisas. Giving us upto 45 days in total for the cost of 1 Evisa. Also the hassle of deciding the border we will come back over, the day etc…
If I’m wrong then I know buying 2 Evisas isn’t going to break the bank, but could be a way around it and save ourselves €50
Hi Ash,
You are correct!
In your case, as a UK passport holder, if you plan to re-enter Vietnam from Cambodia and stay less than 15 days, the cheapest and most hassle-free thing to do is to just arrive on the visa exemption.
Have a great trip. 🙂
Hi, is it possible to get a 2nd evisa that starts within the time frame of the first evisa e.g. evisa 1 expires 30th May but evisa 2 starts on the 27th May. If this is not possible, then would the 2nd evisa have to commence from the 30th May or the 31st May.
Hi Kacper, yes, this is possible.
Hi,
I applied for my Evisa through Vietnamvis.govt.vn, I was approved but after some more in depth research I learned that this is not the official website it is a 3rd party(although, I am reading that many many people have used this site and it has worked). I am wondering if anyone has used this site or should I re apply on the official site? My question is if it is just a 3rd party site and it will work, is there any harm in applying again?
Hi,
Although we don’t recommend applying for the Vietnam e-Visa through any 3rd party site, as you can very easily do the same process on the official site and for less money, there are many sites online that will provide that service for you that are reliable. They simply do the process for you and add a service fee on top of the official $25 USD, and that’s it. So it’s up to the individual if they want to pay more and do the same process more or less.
And no, if you already got the Vietnam e-Visa document through them, and you can check the result on the official site (find the link to the Visa search in the article), then you are good to go. No reason to re-apply.
Have a fun trip! 🙂
I am a BNO holding living in HK, Can I apply e-visa?
In another way, can I apply VOA for my trip? Thanks.
Hi,
We can’t confirm this, as it’s a special case, and we can’t find 100% trusted information.
On the other hand, Visa agency sites we found online say that you can either use your BNO or Hong Kong passport.
But please check this with a visa agency.
And please note that there is currently no VOA (Visa on Arrival) available for Vietnam, only the e-Visa is available.
Hi,I’m sure you answered this question before, but just to clarify, if I get an e visa through the official site and pay $25, is there a stamping fee when I arrive in Vietnam?
Hi, the Vietnam e-Visa fee of $25 covers all the costs, and you do not need to pay anything extra on arrival.
Hi I’ve applied for an evisa on 30th of April. Today is 8th of May and everytime I check the portal it says processing.
My flight is on 17th of May any idea what can I do in this situation. I am flying from the UAE.
Nationality: Indian.
Hi, please always check Vietnam’s holidays and understand that on national holidays, no visa processing is done.
April 29th and 30th, and May 1st to May 3rd are all National Holidays in Vietnam.
It is very likely you will receive it today.
Is there an alternative way it hasn’t come today also and I just have 8 days more to go before the ticket.
Hi, hopefully you already got the visa.
Hi, I’m sure you have already replied regarding this kind of enquiry but we just want to confirm as it doesn’t seem quite clear. We are a family of 7 from the UK visiting Vietnam (into Hanoi) on the 26th July. On the 9th August we fly from Danang to Siem Reap Cambodia for 3 days. On the 12th of August we fly back to HCMC for a further week. Can we enter Vietnam on a 15 day free entry visa first then apply for the evisa for going back into Vietnam from Cambodia? Or do we need 2 visas each for both trips?.
Thank you.
Hi Cheryl,
As UK nationals, you can use a visa exemption for both visits.
There used to be a limit about having to wait 30 days between re-entering the country with a visa exemption, but that is no longer the case.
Have fun!
The Viking cruise info says I cannot enter Viet Nam via river with an E-visa. Is this true?
If you want to enter from Cambodia to Vietnam (Chau Doc) by river cruise, you will be entering the country at the Song Tien landport.
I forgot to add that I will need a double entry visa for Viet Nam.
Hi Arijana & Matej,
Thank you for all your help and time spent, you guys are awesome!
1. Would you know if visa runs can be done within a day or do I have to stay in Cambodia for some time to be back to Vietnam?
2. Do you think I can apply for 3 consecutive e-visas before I arrive to Vietnam (requiring 2 visa runs)? Or should I apply for the 2nd and 3rd e-visa while in Vietnam on the 1st e-visa?
3. When entering Vietnam, will I need to provide evidence of:
a) hotel booked for the entire 30 days (currently I only booked a hotel for the first night and plan to workaway the rest, meaning – live with hosts..);
b) departure ticket (I plan to take your advice on a bus ticket from HCMC to Phnom Penh)?
Your answers would be so appreciated, thank you so much in advance xx
Hi Nikol, thank you for the kind words!
1. Visa runs can be done within a day.
2. You can apply for 3 consecutive e-visas, but we recommend applying for a new one after you get the previous one approved.
3. a) You do not need to show proof of having a booked hotel. b) The departure ticket is something you will need to show to the airline before boarding a flight to Vietnam, and not immigration.
Hopefully this clears it up a bit. 👋
Hi,
Im from Philippines, planning to fly to Vietnam with the 21 days visa exemption. But I want to stay longer. Is it correct that this only possible if I exit VN within 21 days and re enter again using visa exemption? Or do I need to apply for e-visa for the second visit?
Thank you.
Hi Harold,
As of now (28th June 23), yes, there is no way to extend your stay in Vietnam without exiting and re-entering the country.
Since you’re from Philippines, you can exit the country and re-enter on another visa exemption (no e-visa).
Have fun!
Hi,
I received my approved e visa, everything on the e visa letter is correct, but just been told by my cruise company that my exit point is now Vung Tau seaport, no longer Ho Chi Minh seaport, which is what I put on my application. Do I need to redo my e visa?
Thank you.
Hi, the exit point does not matter. The most important thing is that the entry port on your visa matches where you will enter. Nobody checks or cares for the exit point.
Have a blast!
Hi! I have just tried all possible browsers on my laptop and couldn’t finish my visa application. Every time the payment page was not reachable. Do you know if that’s normal? Payment page being down? Many thanks in advance!
Hi Giedre,
One would assume that the visa payment system wouldn’t go down that easily, but it’s highly likely.
Please try again at a later time, and if it still doesn’t work, contact support at the provided email.
Hi, excellent site with very useful information.
One thing I can’t seem to find is information on arriving in Ha Long Bay on an international cruise. Ha Long Bay is our first stop in Vietnam. We arrive at the Ha Long Bay International Port for an overnight stay. For the E-visa application is this Hai Phoug Seaport as this is the closest major city? The cruise line is not being helpful.
thanks in advance for any advise.
Hi Lawrence,
Please check if the arrival port of your cruise is Hon Gai port. That seems to be exactly what you mention – Ha Long Bay International Port.
Hon Gai port is a sea border gate in Ha Long, part of Quang Ninh province.
It is very likely you are arriving there.
Your Visa application page looks different to the one on the Vietnam Embassy website.
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/
Yes that’s correct.
This article has up-to-date information, valid from August 15th 2023 onwards, when the new website was introduced. And the new website replaces the old one you’re refering to.
You will find many other sites still linking to the old website, as it can still be used during the transition period.
Also, the information is a bit different on the new one (it asks for more details, like previous visit). But it was partially updated on the old form, as well.
We are still waiting until the start of September to fully update the article with photos and in-depth details of the new platform, as changes are still happening, and bugs still being fixed.
Hi, I am unable to Download my E-Visa from the e-Visa Portal (https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/tra-cuu-thi-thuc)
Kindly advise what is the next option as every time i click on Print Visa Option the Page goes back to the Home page.
I tried reaching the Vietnam Consulate on their given numbers but unable to connect with anyone.
Have you applied on the old portal or the new portal?
Hi there! I’ve visited Vietnam many times in the last two years and have had no issues applying for & receiving the 30-day tourist visas in a timely manner. For my upcoming return (flight scheduled for September 5th) I waited for August 15th to apply for the 90-day multiple entry visa as I will be leaving the country & returning at least once in a 3 month period. I applied on August 15th without issue, received a confirmation email, saw that the $50 was charged to my credit card. Since then I have not received the usual email informing me that my results are ready with the link to the website & registration number to check results. I have gone to the website that they initially provided on my confirmation email and tried to enter in the application number & captcha to check the processing progress but once entered I don’t see any results load. Please let me know if you or anyone you know have run into similar issues with the new visa process! I have just over one week until I’m expected to arrive in Hanoi.
We have not encountered this before. But one thing you can assume is that it went for further inspection, which can take additional time. Now this may or may not be the case, but it’s likely, as they are getting more strict.
For situations like these, unfortunately you would need advice from someone in one of the dedicated Facebook groups.
Facebook Group: Vietnam Visa Advice
Hi great content thank you. I used the new website and applied for the e-visa, 3-4days later it says Result Returned and I have a valid visa. However I cannot see anywhere to download or print, the only options are “Detail” or “Process” which means nothing. Do I have to wait longer for the download tab to appear? Any advise? Thank you
Hi Lina,
Visit the “Search profiles” page on the website. This link leads you there: https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn/bocongan/tracuu
Enter your application code and the captcha, and you should be able to get it.
Have you received your visa document on email?
on my multi enter visa from (8 sep 2023) there is no port entry pay like 50$ for 3 months. because is maybe multi entry
Hi, yes, we assume the same thing. It would definitely make sense. 🙂
I just received my 90 day multiple entry eVisa for Vietnam. I need this since I need to a same day self-transfer in Vietnam on my way from Japan to Thailand.
My eVisa does not contain any statement about a required point of entry as in your sample above.
Because of the long wait for the application (over 1 week), I had to re-book my flight. The new flight transfers through Hanoi instead of the “Intended Port of Entry” in my application (SGN). I cannot find any updated information confirming that any port of entry is now OK for someone arriving on a 90 day, multiple entry eVisa. Guess I’ll find out in Hanoi tomorrow!
Hi JB. Any updates on what happened? We are still not 100% sure about the 90 days multiple entry eVisa being allowed in any port. But it would make sense!
Hi, thank you for the very informative article!
I applied for an e-visa from the new portal.
I visited the “Search profiles” page on the website and it said my visa was approved.
But I am unable to Download my e-visa from the new Portal, because when I press the VISA download button, an error(403 error) appears.
Also, I haven’t received my visa document on E-mail.
If you know, could you tell me what to do?
thank you.
Have you managed to do it at a later time?
Hi, we booked flights but no hotel yet for a trip 5 months from now. Can we put any hotel address even though it will likely be some other hotel? Do we have to provide proof of reservation at that hotel when we arrive? Also, the form looks a bit different in that it asks “name of hosting organisation” and address. This this where the hotel info goes? There’s no option for in country residential addresss. Thanks!
Hi. You can input any hotel name/address, it does not matter. You do not need to provide proof of reservation.
If you are visiting by yourself, and not part of an organized tour by an organisation, you do not need to enter that info.
I am wondering do I need to apply a new E-visa if I choose my passport type as official passport instead of ordinary passport?
Hi Horace, It’s possible you will be contacted to make a change to the application.
If you have enough time to wait, please do wait before applying for a new e-Visa.
Hello, I wasn’t sure if this is a re-post (I didn’t see it posted earlier), but I would like to confirm if I just need a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa for my situation?
-flying into SGN airport, then later flying to PQC (Phu Quoc) airport later that day.
-spending a couple days in Phu Quoc.
-then flying from PQC airport back to SGN airport, where we’ll spend a handful of days in Vietnam.
-then flying out of Vietnem from SGN airport.
Thanks!
Hi Kevin. Due to large amounts of spam comments daily, we approve each comment manually to ensure safety for our readers.
Your travel itinerary for Vietnam does not require a multiple-entry visa, as you will enter Vietnam (pass through immigration) already in Saigon. And then both of your flights from Saigon to Phu Quoc and back are domestic.
Have a great trip! 🙂
Hello
Re Vietnam evisa – December 2023 – Questions for Cruise Ship passengers.
For Temporary Residential Address question – we are not staying in a hotel, do we just put the name of the ship (Diamond Princess) and the address as the name of the entry port?
Hi Caz, yes exactly, that’s what you should do.
Hello there! I applied and got my e-vsia through the old portal. I was wondering on the e-visa, is your surname after your first and middle name (given name) by any chance?
For eg. on my E-visa my named showed the format of “Connie Chen”. Connie is my given name, and Chen is my surname, is that format correct?
since on the old portal it told me to enter the full name unlike the new portal which separates surname and given name. Just would like to confirm, thank you!
Hi Connie, that is okay.
Hi there,
The port of entry is no longer listed on the visa since the August changes were implemented. Do you know if you can now enter through any port?
I was initially supposed to enter through Hanoi and that was what I input when applying for the visa. I now want to enter by land. I’m wondering if this is now okay since the entry point has been removed? Any help would be appreciated!
Kind regards,
Angela
Hi Angela. If the port of entry is no longer listed, you are free to enter on whichever of the official ports of entry.
Thanks for this super helpful guide!
This may be a very basic question. Should I book my flight before applying for a 90 day visa, or the other way around?
I don’t see any reason my visa wouldn’t get approved, but just want to check if there’s any risk of booking flights that would have me in Vietnam for more than 45 days (the amount I’m allowed without a visa as a UK citizen) and then my visa not be approved? I don’t want to have to spend lots of money changing my flights.
It seems it’s quite safe to book my flights first, with the assumption my 90 day visa will be approved. I just want to check!
Thanks 🙂
Hi Alex.
Since the visa results are not always positive, it’s smart to first apply and get the visa, before booking your flights. This stands for all countries, not just Vietnam. Even though it’s highly unlikely it’s going to happen.
Have a fun trip!
Hi there
Can you please advise us on our 30 day visa? We are looking at entering into Vietnam at HCMC on 18 March and exiting from Hanoi on 17 April. To our calculations that is 30 days in Vietnam and exiting on the 31st day.
Is this allowed? Do I just put my entry & exit dates on the visa application?
Hi Johanna,
Yes, your calculations are correct, that is 31 days.
It is allowed, as you can simply apply for the 3-month visa (costs 50 instead of 25 USD), but it covers this situation. Yes, simply put your entry/exit dates in the application.
Have a great trip!
Thanks for the info. Great article.
Just wondering, is it possible to string two 90 day evisas together? Like, apply for the second one already before I even enter on the first one? I like to be able to basically fly out quickly on the first visa and fly back in with the second visa maybe a day or so later.
Thanks
Hi Sabine. Yes, you can do that, as there is no rule against it. Just remember that if you keep doing it, at some point, the immigration officers might start asking questions.
Hi there.
very helpful website. Thanks for all the info.
Looking for an answer to a visa situation;
– we are flying into HCMC
– then we take a cruise to Angkor Wat (from HCMC)
– then we fly back to Vietnam from Riem Reap to Hanoi
– then we will travel for anothe 2 weeks in Vietnam
– and finally fly back to the US from HCMC
I have applied for a Xltientry visa, but on the application i entered as “exit checkpoint” HCMC.
I just received the docs from our river cruise and they state on there exit point as beeing Song Tien Landport.
Does the exit point really matter ? there is no details on what they call exit checkpoint; is it the first exit or last exit point ?
Would you have any info on this ?
Thanks.
Hi Jean Marc,
Exit points are usually not important at all when it comes to what’s written on your visa. It only matters that it’s one of the official ones you can use with an e-Visa (which Song Tien Landport is).
We’d say you’re good to go.
Happy travels!
Thank you very much for this. I’ve been having problems getting on to the Vietnam government application web page and I put it down to the Tet holidays. The address I have used the last two times (within about the last year) seems to be removed, gone, unavailable or whatever and your detailed blog has got me through to where I need to be. Mind you, I haven’t done it yet so there’s still the peotential for it all to go pear-shaped!
Anyway, thanks again and I’ll put the address I’ve been trying to use below, in case this info can help anyone else.
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu
Hi Geoff, glad to be of help!
Tet could definitely be a reason for that. It’s common things slow down or stop working during that time.
We just checked and both the old and new site are online and accessible. The one you linked is the old one. Please use the new one linked in the beginning of the article.
Happy travels!