How to get a visa for Vietnam?

Classic Visa and eVisa, find out all steps to get a visa and travel to Vietnam.

Through this guide, discover, depending on the duration of your stay, whether or not you are required to apply for a visa for Vietnam.

We will discuss the difference between traditional visa and eVisa. Then we will also take a look at the steps to be taken and the documents necessary for your stay in this country of Asia.

Is a visa required to travel to Vietnam?

You have decided to go to tourism in Vietnam and visit its high places ( Halong Bay , Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park or Hue the former imperial city? Know that it is the duration of your stay that will condition the obligation of your visa tourism.

As in many countries, short stays for French nationals allow an exemption . Also, as long as you come to Vietnam for up to 15 days and 14 nights, you do not need a visa for Vietnam.

Good to know: due to the epidemic COVID-19 at the time we write these lines, the visa exemption for Vietnam is suspended , even for short stays. This concerns both French, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, German, English, Spanish and Italian nationals.

What type of visa choose for Vietnam?

You need to make a request e- Visa for Vietnam ? You actually have the choice between 4 solutions:

• The simple entry visa, whose French are exempted (excluding health crisis), allows one time to enter the territory and stay there for a maximum of 15 days and 14 nights;
• The visa with simple entryfor a stay greater than 16 days and 15 nights;
• There is also visa with double entry, which allows twice to enter Vietnam. However, you can choose, for a stay of less than 15 days, to make an entry by taking advantage of the visa exemption and make a visa application for the second entry;
• I mean, the multi-entry visa, it allows to penetrate 3 or 4 times in Vietnamese territory.

Beyond these considerations of durations, there are three types of visas:

• The visa stickingplaced on the passport;
• The flying visae-mail or e-mail;
• And the visa on arrivalestablished upon your arrival in Vietnam.

What is the validity of a visa for Vietnam?

Single or multi-entrance visa can be valid between 30 and 90 days .

What is the visa price for Vietnam?

The price is determined by the visa type for Vietnam and the duration of the stay. There are two possibilities with Vietnam, namely the arrival visa and the visa before departure.

To obtain a visa upon arrival, you must:

• Arrive by Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang Airport;
• Have an invitation letter from immigration services, that you get via a travel agency or a specialized agency. The cost of this letter varies according to the provider.

If you have chosen the visa upon arrival, the price is $25 for a simple entry and $50 for a multi-entry visa.

If you have chosen to take your step upstream, the price is higher:

• 85€ for a single one-month entry visa;
• 115€ for a simple 3-month entry visa or a 1-month multi-entry visa;
• 165€ for a 3-month multi-entry visa.

What documents are required for a tourism visa in Vietnam?

To go to Vietnam and get your passport, you will need to present a number of documents. If you go directly to the embassy, here are the elements (we will go back to this guide on eVisa).

A passport

You must submit your passport to obtain your visa for Vietnam. The validity of this document depends on your stay. For a simple entry visa of up to 15 days or for two entries, your passport must be valid for 6 months.

For a stay of more than 16 days with a single entry or multi-entry stay, this time your passport must be valid 1 month after the exit of Vietnamese territory.

A photo of identity

The photo must be entered on the visa application form. This photo must be in color and on clear background.

A NA1 form

This visa application form for Vietnam aims to inform the authorities about your identity and the nature of your stay.

An envelope

For a visa request by mail, you must provide a Chronopost envelope or a non-tubbed envelope with a recommended slip without pre-filled and unpasted reception notice.

A check on the order of the Vietnamese Embassy

This check must be attached for your visa request by mail. For a request directly to the Embassy, you can pay by cheque, bank card or cash.

A copy of the flights and a residence program

If you are considering requesting a multi-entry visa for Vietnam, you will need provide a copy of the airline tickets and the program indicating the reasons for your multiple entries on the territory.

How to complete the visa application form for Vietnam?

You must indicate the following information:

• Name, first name, sex, place of birth, date of birth;
• Current and original nationality;
• Religion;
• The place of work;
• Address and telephone number;
• The names of parents, spouses, brothers, sisters and children and information about them;
• Passport number;
• The date of last entry to Vietnam and the desired date of entry;
• The nature of the visa (simple or multi-entrance);
• Dates of entry and exit of Vietnamese territory;
• The form of the visa: sticking, flying or on arrival;
• The reason for the stay and the address of stay.

When do you apply for a visa for Vietnam?

It is on the form that you will be able to indicate the desired validity date for your visa. Also, it is not the application date that is taken into account, so you can fill out your form well in advance of your stay. According to the Embassy of Vietnam, it is possible to make your request up to one year before the start of the trip.

According to the embassy, the processing time is one week for 30-day visas and 10 days for 3 month visas . An express procedure is possible, so the deadlines are 3 days and one week .

Do you need insurance to travel to Vietnam?

To date, Vietnam does not impose travel insurance . Yet, more and more countries force travel to contract. They were 4 before the coronavirus crisis, they are today about 20.

However, we draw your attention to this lack of obligation. Travel insurance remains a very useful coverage that covers costs that can be high (hospitalization, care, repatriation, etc.). Do not hesitate to take the time to compare the various travel insurances to find protection adapted to your budget and the prices in the country you visit.

The e-visa in Vietnam: how does it work?

To go to Vietnam, it is possible to make an online request to get an eVisa. This time, you do not need to move to the embassy or send a mail with an envelope, everything is done directly on the internet.

This solution has been proposed since February 1, 2017 and offers a significant advantage: its price. This visa costs only $25. However, there is a limit: it only applies for one-month stays with an entry .

Visit the official website for your eVisa request or call a specialist such as RapidVisa to be accompanied in your approach. You must submit the following:

• A good quality color scan of your passport identity page. This passport must be valid 7 months after the date of entry;
• A good quality scan of your color identity photo. A photo with French standards will be accepted (35 mm X 45 mm);
• Information about your stay: arrival airport (eVisa is only accepted for arrivals by plane*), the name and address of your first hotel in Vietnam and the reason for your stay (tourism or business).

The deadline for receiving your eVisa for Vietnam is 3-5 working days .

* Only arrivals at Cam Ranh International Airports, Can Tho, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Phu Bai, Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City offer an eVisa.

Do we need a visa for Vietnam for a stopover?

To go to Vietnam, it is not useful to have a visa for a stay of less than 15 nights. Therefore, if you make a stopover of a few hours or even a day, you do not need to submit a visa.

Note that visa exemption is removed during the health crisis , find out before you leave.