The Vietnam visa process differs slightly to other countries in South East Asia. Unlike Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, in which most nationalities can arrive at the airport, pay the fees and receive a 30 day visa-on-arrival, obtaining a 30 day visa for Vietnam requires a little bit more preparation. Some nationalities can apply for an online e-visa via the official government website. The e-visa in an electronic travel document that is authorised by the Vietnamese government and will be provided to you in PDF format by email. The e-visa lasts up to 30 days and can be used for people entering by land, air or sea. If you are not eligible for the online e-visa, you will need to apply for and process your Vietnamese visa in person at your nearest Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate. If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding visa and entry into Vietnam, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Vietnam offers a 15 day visa exemption for passport-holders of many countries, meaning that you may not require a visa if your stay in Vietnam is for 15 days or less. There are pros and cons to this type of visa. On one hand, this visa exemption policy is very convenient for anyone wishing to enter Vietnam on short notice or for a brief visit – the holidaymaker. The 15 day visa exemption is entirely free and easy to obtain when entering the country by land or air. On the other hand, many travellers, particularly backpackers, who choose to enter on the visa exemption policy find that it simply isn’t long enough. Many end up running out of time to see the things they wanted to see, rushing and travelling to a strict schedule, which, lets face it, isn’t the most enjoyable or economical way to travel. Furthermore, it would be complicated and costly, if at all possible, to extend or renew the visa exemption. Not all countries are eligible, and for some countries the visa exemption actually lasts longer than 15 days. Please refer to the chart below to find out if you are eligible.
For nationals of Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom – if you initially entered Vietnam using the visa exemption policy, you cannot return again using the visa exemption policy within 30 days of your departure, meaning you have to be out of the country for 30 days. For nationals from other visa exempt countries not listed, you may re-enter Vietnam using the visa exemption at anytime. So, for nationals of those countries listed above, if you were planning to use the visa exemption period, visit another nearby country for a short time, and then come back again using the visa exemption, then sorry, this is not possible! You can, however, enter Vietnam using the visa exemption period, depart and then return again on a paid visa (1 month, 3 month or longer), within any time frame after your departure. You can obtain a normal paid visa by applying for the online e-visa via the official government website, if you’re eligible. If you are not eligible for the online e-visa, you will need to apply for and process your Vietnamese visa in person at your nearestVietnamese Embassy/Consulate.