Vietnam Entry Requirements For Tourists In 2026
Vietnam's entry rules have changed significantly in the last few years, with a universal electronic visa, longer stays, and an expanded list of visa free nationalities. If you are planning a short trip for tourism or business, or advising clients who are, it is easy to get confused by outdated blogs and third party visa sites that no longer match the current system.
This guide explains how entry to Vietnam works for short stay visitors, including how visa free stays and the 90 day e visa interact, what documents you should carry, and what typically happens at the border. It is written for travelers of many citizenships, including United States, Canadian, United Kingdom, and European passport holders, but the core message is that your exact rules depend on the passport you carry, and that you must confirm details with official sources before you book or travel. This is general information, not legal advice, and final decisions always rest with Vietnamese consular and border authorities.
Entry Snapshot
For most short stay trips, you will enter Vietnam in one of three ways, depending on your nationality and travel plan. If you hold a passport from one of roughly 29 visa exempt countries, you may be able to enter visa free for between 14 and 45 days. If you are from most other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and many non European states, your main option is a Vietnam e visa, valid for up to 90 days and available online to citizens of all countries and territories.
Longer or more complex stays, for example work, study, or repeated business trips spread over many months, usually require a traditional visa issued through an embassy or consulate, or a special long term exemption card in narrow categories.
Who Can Visit And For How Long
Vietnam separates visitors into broad groups based on citizenship. The first group includes citizens of visa exempt countries, who can enter without a visa for a limited stay. As of late 2025, that list covers around 29 countries. It includes most of Western and Northern Europe, several additional European Union states, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and a mix of regional partners, with allowed stays that range from 14 days at the short end to 45 days for many European and regional passport holders.
A second group includes travelers from most of the world, for example United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, many African and Middle Eastern states, and several Asian countries not covered by exemptions. If you fall into this group, you normally need a visa, and for simple tourism or business visits the easiest route is the national e visa, which Vietnam now offers to citizens of all countries and territories for stays of up to 90 days, with the option of single or multiple entry.
If you are used to the Schengen style 90 in any 180 day rule, Vietnam works differently. A standard e visa gives you permission to stay in Vietnam for up to 90 days in total, counted from the date you enter until the date you leave that is printed on your visa. For example, if your e visa is valid from 1 January to 30 March, and you arrive on 5 January, you can stay until 30 March as long as you do not overstay and your passport remains valid. If you choose a multiple entry e visa, you can leave and reenter Vietnam during those 90 days, for example to visit Cambodia or Thailand in the middle of your trip, but the overall 90 day clock does not reset.
If you need more than 90 days in Vietnam, you will have to plan more carefully. Some travelers apply for longer validity multi entry visas through embassies or consulates, sometimes valid for six months or longer. Others structure their travel into separate trips with time outside Vietnam between visits. Both approaches can be sensitive, especially if you have a pattern of near continuous stays, so if you are planning long or repeated visits, you should check directly with a Vietnamese embassy or consulate, or seek advice from a qualified immigration attorney before you rely on this guide.
Visa Options And Common Exemptions
For short stay visitors, there are three main ways you may enter Vietnam.
The first is visa free entry. If your passport is on the visa exemption list, Vietnam waives the need to apply for a visa, and you can stay for the number of days specified for your nationality, most commonly up to 45 days for many European and regional travelers under recent government resolutions that extend exemptions through at least March 2028. You must still meet standard entry conditions, for example a valid passport, no entry ban, and a clear travel purpose. If you want to stay longer than your exemption allows, you will usually need to leave before your limit and reenter on an e visa, or obtain a visa in advance.
The second is the national e visa. From mid August 2023, Vietnam opened its e visa system to citizens of all countries and territories, with e visas valid for up to 90 days and available as single or multiple entry. You apply online through the official Immigration Department portal, upload passport and photo images, pay a non refundable fee, and then check your result using the registration code that the system assigns. Official guidance suggests that most applications are processed within about three working days, but times can vary, especially around holidays or if additional checks are needed, so you should apply well before you plan to travel.
If you are a United States, Canadian, United Kingdom, or Schengen area passport holder, this e visa route is now the standard way to enter Vietnam for tourism or typical business trips, and you should be cautious about using third party agents unless you are sure they are submitting applications through the official system on your behalf. The safest option is usually to use the official portal directly.
The third path is a traditional visa issued by a Vietnamese embassy or consulate. This is more common for people traveling on non tourist purposes, such as work or study, for those who need longer or more flexible multi entry visas than the standard e visa provides, or for travelers who qualify for special exemption cards under recent regulations that target investors, experts, and other contributors to Vietnam's economic development. These categories often involve complex documentation and evolving rules, so if you think you might fit into them, you should work directly with an employer, sponsor, or legal adviser.
Documents You Should Prepare Before Travel
Regardless of how you plan to enter, you should prepare a small set of core documents before you travel to Vietnam. Border officers and airline staff may not ask for everything every time, but having these ready reduces your risk of last minute problems.
Key items usually include:
- A passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your planned arrival date, with at least one or two blank pages for stamps.
- A printed or easily accessible copy of your e visa approval, if you are using the e visa route.
- Proof of onward or return travel within your allowed stay, especially if you are entering visa free or on a short stay.
- Proof of accommodation, such as hotel bookings for the first part of your trip, or an invitation letter with contact details if you are staying with friends or family.
- Evidence that you can support yourself during your stay, for example recent bank statements, a letter from your employer, or a credit card with available limit.
- Travel insurance details, particularly medical coverage, which is not always a formal entry requirement but is strongly recommended.
Vietnam and many partner governments advise that your passport should have at least six months validity remaining when you enter, and United States guidance specifically notes that U S travelers must have six months remaining and at least one blank page available for stamps.
Onward or return travel is a common point of confusion. Vietnamese immigration law focuses more on your overall compliance with stay limits than on a specific proof of onward ticket rule, but both airlines and border officers have wide discretion to ask for evidence that you will leave before your permission expires. Reports from travelers, regional advisories, and embassy guides show that proof of onward travel is more likely to be checked if you are entering under a short visa exemption or if your plans seem vague, and that lack of proof can sometimes lead to denied boarding or extra questioning. In practice, you should be ready to show a flight, train, or bus ticket out of Vietnam or out of the region within your permitted stay.
Proof of accommodation and funds is part of the same risk assessment. Official guides from partner embassies note that you should be able to show where you are staying and that you have sufficient money to cover your expenses, and that you may be refused entry or returned at your own cost if you cannot satisfy immigration officers that your stay is lawful and adequately funded.
If your situation is straightforward, these checks are often quick and routine. If anything about your travel pattern is unusual, for example a one way ticket with no clear onward plan or repeated near maximum stays, you should assume that officers may look more closely at your documentation and be prepared to answer questions calmly and honestly.
What To Expect At The Border
Most visitors arrive in Vietnam at major international airports such as Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, Noi Bai in Hanoi, or Da Nang. The exact layout differs, but the basic steps are similar.
After you land, you will follow signs for immigration and passport control. Separate lanes usually exist for Vietnamese citizens and foreigners. If you are entering visa free or on an e visa, you will normally queue in the foreign passport line, wait for a border officer to call you forward, present your passport, and, if applicable, your printed e visa confirmation. Officers may take your fingerprints and photograph, review your documents on screen, and ask simple questions about your trip, such as how long you plan to stay, where you will stay, and what you intend to do.
If you are using an e visa, the officer will check your details in the electronic system, confirm that the visa is valid for your entry date and chosen border gate, and then stamp your passport with an entry stamp that shows the date and the latest date you can stay. Having a printed copy of your e visa, even if you carry a digital version, makes it easier to resolve any confusion about dates or permitted entry points.
At land borders, for example when you arrive by bus from Laos or Cambodia, procedures can feel less formal but the core steps are the same. You will disembark, go through exit formalities in the country you are leaving, then walk or ride through to the Vietnamese side, where you present your passport and visa or claim a visa free entry if you qualify. Not every land or river checkpoint accepts e visas, so you must choose a border gate that is explicitly listed on the official portal when you apply, and make sure your actual route matches that plan.
Seaport entry, including cruise calls, is often handled in coordination with cruise lines. In some cases, the cruise company arranges group visas or visa waivers for passengers who stay with organized shore excursions, while independent travelers need individual visas or e visas. You should never assume that a cruise booking automatically covers your visa needs. Always check the documentation that your cruise line provides, and confirm with them or with a Vietnamese consulate if you are unsure.
Throughout, remember that Vietnamese border officers have broad discretion. Even if your documents are technically in order, they can limit your stay duration, impose conditions, or in rare cases refuse entry if they believe your stated purpose is not credible or that you pose a compliance or security risk. Honest, consistent answers and complete documentation reduce that risk, but cannot remove it entirely.
When Rules Are Different
Several situations can make Vietnam's entry rules more complicated than the standard short stay tourist or business visit.
If you plan to work, study, volunteer, or engage in long term business activities, you will usually need a specific work or residence visa, often tied to an employer or sponsor and issued under detailed regulations that change over time. Relying on a tourist e visa while engaging in activities that look like work can create serious immigration problems, including refusal of future visas.
If you are a long term resident of Vietnam, a dual national, or someone of Vietnamese origin who also holds another passport, you may be eligible for special passports, residence cards, or visa exemption certificates. These categories can offer multi year, multi entry stays with more flexible rules, but they are subject to strict eligibility checks and documentation, and they are not always applied consistently.
Rules can also differ for minors traveling alone or with only one parent, for travelers with prior overstays or deportations, and for people with serious criminal records. In these cases, you may face additional questions or may be required to obtain specific permissions before travel.
If any of these situations apply to you or to a traveler you advise, you should treat this guide as background information only. You should contact the nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate, or consult a qualified immigration attorney, before you make firm plans, and you should get written confirmation of any special permissions or exemptions.
Where To Confirm The Latest Rules
Vietnam's entry rules are actively managed and can change quickly as the government adjusts tourism and immigration policy. Before you book flights or non refundable arrangements, you should confirm current requirements directly with official sources that match your citizenship and your planned route.
For the mechanics of visas and e visas, your primary reference should be the Vietnam Immigration Department, including the main portal and the official e visa site. These sites publish current lists of visa exempt countries, e visa conditions, approved border gates, and system notices, including domain changes for the e visa portal.
For broad overviews of who can use e visas or visa free entry, and for travelers looking for plain language summaries, the official Vietnam tourism visa information page is a useful complement, as long as you treat it as a guide and not a substitute for checking the underlying regulations.
If you are a United States, Canadian, United Kingdom, or European traveler, your own government's foreign travel advice pages, such as the U S State Department's country page for Vietnam, provide additional perspective on passport validity, risk factors, and any current security advisories.
For complex cases, such as long term stays, work or study, criminal history, or unusual combinations of citizenship and residence, you should contact a Vietnamese embassy or consulate directly. They can advise which visa category fits your situation and what documentation is required, but they will not provide legal advice, and they always reserve the right to change requirements or refuse applications.
Before You Book
Vietnam is more accessible than it has been in years, with a universal 90 day e visa system and an expanded list of visa free countries, but that accessibility comes with details that you cannot ignore. Before you commit to flights, you should decide whether you qualify for visa free entry or need an e visa, make sure your passport will still be valid for at least six months, and confirm that your planned length of stay fits within the limits of your chosen permission.
Once your plan is clear, apply for the correct visa through the official portal if you need one, keep copies of your approvals and bookings, and prepare simple proof of onward travel, accommodation, and funds. At the border, expect a straightforward but serious process where officers may ask questions and where they have final authority over your stay.
If your circumstances are unusual, do not assume that what worked for another traveler online will work for you. Use this guide as a starting point, then verify the details against official Vietnamese and home government sources, and seek qualified legal advice when your situation is complex. Carry more documentation rather than less, keep your answers honest and consistent, and you will give yourself the best chance of a smooth arrival under Vietnam's current entry rules.