Vietnam Visa

Last updated: 1st June 2010.

Vietnam Visa Exemptions

  • 30 days exemption: Thailand

  • 21 days exemption: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei

  • 15 days exemption: Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Russia

Nationals of the following countries should speak to their nearest Vietnamese Embassy before attempting to apply for a Vietnam visa:

Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malawi, Palestine, Tunisia, Turkey, Guinea-Bissau, Qatar, Ghana, Omar, Kenya, Algeria, Libya, Angola, Morocco, Tanzania, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Lithuania, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

Vietnam Visa Extensions

The process of extending a visa is pretty straight forward; the 30 day tourist visa can be extended by 30 days, up to three times. Longer extensions are possible, if you ask and, are willing to dig deep. The process takes around 3 working days and costs between 20 – 40 USD. There are many travel agencies, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, that compete to offer the service and prices can vary considerably.

Overstaying a Vietnam Visa

We do not recommend overstaying a Vietnam visa. Although the official fine should be in the region of 5 USD per day this is often not the case. There are numerous rumours flying around the internet, some say you are fine for up to 48 hours overstay. Others say the fines are so small that it is not worth the worry; others suggest that the fines are astronomical. There is one thing for certain though, you’d be making yourself a prime target for a potential scam. Visa extensions are cheap and so simple to arrange, why take the risk?

Order a visa through an agent

In the past, when I have had to order multiple visas or had to apply with complicated support documentation, (Russia), I have often employed the services of a dedicated agency. I have found that the extra cost is offset by the price of a train ticket to London, a couple of days of frantic roaming and hours of waiting in queues. I recently ordered my Russian, Mongolian and Chinese multiple entry visas through an agency and had them all back in my possession in about 14 days. It’s even easier than postal applications, you only have to send your passport once and they do the legwork, this is a lot faster and safer than sending your passport through the post multiple times to each embassy, by recorded delivery from home.

At present Visa HQ can arrange visas and support documentation for most nationalities and destinations worldwide.

Visa on Arrival / Pre-arranged Visa

There is no Visa on Arrival service in Vietnam. However, you can prearrange a visa that will be stamped at immigration on arrival. One well reputed company offering this service is My Vietnam visa.com. The visa is officially issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department and the application process is outlined in Vietnam Immigration Law.

The service is cheaper and simpler than applying through the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK. The basic steps are as follows:

  1. Complete the secure online application form and pay for the service, using a credit or debit card.
  2. My Vietnam visa will process your payment, process the visa and email you an approval letter, from the Vietnam Immigration Department. The document will be in PDF format and should arrive within 2 working days. The visa must be printed from a computer in your home, (colour or black and white). It should be noted that airlines will not allow you to fly to Vietnam without either a valid Vietnam visa or this Vietnam Immigration Approval letter.
  3. You should prepare two passport size photographs and a 25 USD stamping fee for your arrival at immigration.
  4. In Vietnam, at the immigration desk, you will need to complete a short form, present the approval letter, your passport photos, and a 25 USD stamping fee (per person; for each one month single entry tourist visa).

Where can I use a Pre-arranged Vietnam Visa

It should be noted that a Pre-arranged Vietnam visa cannot be used for overland entry into Vietnam. The process is valid for entry to Vietnam at the following entry points:

  • Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi
  • Tan Son International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City
  • Da Nang Airport, Da Nang

Stamping Fee for Vietnam Visa

The stamping fee, is the fee that must be paid on arrival at Vietnam airport when you collect your visa. The fees are as follows:

  • Single entry visa, 1 to 3 months: 25 USD
  • 6 month single entry or 1 – 3 month multiple entry visa: 50 USD
  • 1 year multiple entry visa: 100 USD

My Vietnam Visa Service Charges

Visa Type Regular Service Priority Service
1 month single entry: 19.99 USD 29.99 USD
3 months single entry: 35 USD 50 USD
6 months single entry: 40 USD 55 USD
1 month multiple entry: 23 USD 38 USD
3 months multiple entry:3 months multiple entry: 40 USD 55 USD
6 months multiple entry: 45 USD 60 USD

Vietnam Visa for a Land Crossing

Pre arranged visas are not valid for land based entry into Vietnam. If your plan is to enter Vietnam from one of its neighbouring countries, you will need to either:

  • Arrange a budget flight (and pre-arranged visa)
  • Arrange a visa at an embassy before you leave home
  • Purchase a visa from an embassy within a third country (cheapest in Asia)

The price of a visa varies considerably from country to country, but they are generally considerably cheaper in south-east Asia. This is probably the simplest way to obtain a visa for an overland crossing and turnaround is relatively short. Application forms are available from the individual embassies, using the ‘useful links’ given at the bottom of this page. The visa fee varies from embassy to embassy, changes frequently, and is not openly publicised, you will need to make direct contact to establish the latest fees.

Useful links