Visa Procedure in Vietnam

 

 

Most visitors to Việt Nam need a visa to enter the country. Visas are exempted for the citizens of the countries, which have signed a bilateral or unilateral visa exemption agreement with Việt Nam, tourist visa may be valid for 15 to 30 days.

Tourist visa can only be obtained in Vietnamese embassies, consulates abroad. Otherwise, you can get a visa at the border gates if you are invitees of some Vietnamese competent organs or you are travelling on a package tour organized by Vietnamese travel companies. To apply for a visa, the requirements are as follows:

 

 

 

  • Entry permit form (which can vary from one Vietnamese embassies or consulate abroad to another) - There are two categories of this form: for foreigners and for Vietnamese overseas.
  • Two photos (4cmx6cm or 3cmx4cm)
  • Original passport
  • Visa fee.

You should send your application and photos to a Vietnamese embassy or consulate abroad, which is most convenient to you. On your requirement, the reply will be returned by post (you must provide stamped envelopes with your name and address).


It is easier to get your visa from a Vietnamese travel agency. The nehossary information to the travel agency include:

  • Full name
  • Birthday and place of birth
  • Nationality
  • Job
  • Number of your passport
  • Entry and exit dates
  • Country you plan to receive your entry visa from the Vietnamese embassies or consulates

Vietnamese overseas are required to provide more information:

  • Year and reason to leave Việt Nam
  • Leave Việt Nam by means
  • Full names and addresses of relations in Việt Nam

Visa exemption:

- Up to February 06, 2009, Việt Nam inked 56 visa exemption agreements and treaties with 55 countries, 54 of them have come into effect. The following is the List of visa exemption agreements between Việt Nam and other countries.

 

Order

Country

Date of entry into force

Categories of passports covered

1

Argentina

13/11/1999

Diplomatic passports, official passports

2

Albania

1/10/1956

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports, Group Passports for official mission

3

Algeria

02/01/1995

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

4

Afghanistan

26/2/1988

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

5

Bangladesh

10/7/1999

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports for Vietnamese citizens

Diplomatic Passports, International Passports with "official" seal for Bangladesh citizens

6

Belarus

24/11/1993

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

7

Brazil

12/2/2005

Diplomatic passports

8

Brunei

1/11/1997

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

9

Bulgaria

1/6/1966

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports; Group Passports or Ordinary Passports for official mission

10

Cambodia

30/11/1979

Diplomatic and Official passports; Diplomatic and Official Lassez-passezs

11

Chile

25/6/2005

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

12

China

15/3/1992

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports, Ordinary Passports for official mission

13

Cuba

Currently in force

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports, Ordinary Passports for official mission, Seaman’s Passports for Vietnamese citizens

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports, Service Passports or Maritime Passports for Cuban citizens

14

Czech

13/2/2000

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

15

Dominica

29/9/2007

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

16

Ecuador

29/9/2007

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

17

France

1/7/2005

Diplomatic passports

18

Hungary

1/8/1993

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

19

India

23/3/1995

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

20

Indonesia

19/9/1998

4/12/2003

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

Ordinary Passports with valid periods of at least 6 months

21

Iran

1/6/1994

Diplomatic passports

22

Iraq

1/12/2001

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

23

Japan

1/5/2005

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

24

Kyrgyzstan

Currently in force

Diplomatic passports, Official passports, Ordinary Passports for official mission

25

Laos

17/7/1977

05/3/2004

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports, Ordinary Passports for official mission,

Ordinary Passports with valid periods of at least 6 months

26

Malaysia

25/11/2001

Diplomatic passports, Official passports, Ordinary Passports

27

Mexico

4/2/2002

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

28

Moldova

23/5/2003

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

29

Mongolia

6/2/2000

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

30

Montenegro

1/9/2000

Diplomatic passports, Official passports, Special passports

31

Morocco

19/12/2004

Diplomatic passports, Official passports, Special passports

32

Mozambique

9/2/2009

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

33

Myanmar

11/8/1998

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

34

Nicaragua

Currently in force

Diplomatic passports, Official or Service passports

35

Pakistan

2/3/2007

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

36

Panama

4/11/2002

Diplomatic passports, Official passports for Vietnamese citizens

Diplomatic passports, Official passports, Special Passports, Consular passports

37

Democratic People's 
Republic of Korea

01/10/1956

01/4/1966

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports; Group Passports for official mission

Ordinary Passports for official mission

38

Peru

2/6/2006

Diplomatic passports, Official passports for Việt Namese citizens

Diplomatic passports, Special passports for Peruvian citizens

39

Philippines

19/02/1997

16/2/1999




1/4/2000

Diplomatic passports

Official Passports, Holders of Ordinary Passports having an invitation to join ASEAN activities organized by ASEAN Secretariat or Governmental agencies

Ordinary Passports with valid periods of at least 6 months, together with return air tickets or air tickets for leaving the country

40

Paraguay

26/10/2008

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

41

Romania

1/12/1956

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports; Group Passports or Ordinary Passports for official mission

42

Russia

20/2/1994

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

43

Serbia

1/9/2000

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

44

Singapore

10/5/1997

01/12/2003

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

Ordinary Passports with valid periods of at least 6 months, together with return air tickets or air tickets for leaving the country

45

Slovakia

10/8/1992

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

46

South Africa

23/6/2007

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

47

Republic of Korea

13/1/1999

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

48

Sri Lanka

19/9/2003

Diplomatic passports, Official passports

49

Thailand

10/5/1997

9/7/2000

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

Ordinary Passports

50

Tunisia

20/1/2009

Diplomatic Passports, Special passports

51

Turkey

1/10/1998

Diplomatic Passports

52

Ukraine

6/12/1993

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

53

Uruguay

15/6/2008

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

54

Venezuela

17/11/2006

Diplomatic Passports, Official passports

CUSTOMS

Customs procedures in Việt Nam are quick and simple. To enter and exit Việt Nam, visitors are required to fulfill the arrival - departure declaration.

Customs Information

1.- Passengers are given duty free allowance for not more than 1.5 liters of liquor with above 22 degrees of concentration of alcohol and two liters of liquor below 22 degrees of concentration of alcohol; 400 cigarettes; 100 cigars; 500 gram of raw tobacco.

- Other items which are allowed in accompanying baggage are duty free with value not over VND 5,000,000.

- Passengers bringing goods exceeding the amount as above stated are required to fill in the declaration form No. HQ/2002-PMD and pay duty(ies) according to Việt Namese laws.

2. Passengers whose goods are not subject to customs declaration on page 4, 5 (For customs declaration) do not have to declare.

 

CURRENCY

Vietnamese đồng (VND) is the official currency in Việt Nam.

- Paper notes include: VND 500,000; 200,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200 and 100. Coins include VND 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500 and 200.

Cheques with value as Vietnamese đồng include: VND 1,000,000 and 500,000.

- Foreign currencies and tourist cheques can be exchanged into Vietnamese đồng at banks or foreign exchange agencies.

- Credit cards are popularly used, especially in cities and big tourist centers.
Vietnamese đồng can be changed into foreign currencies at the airport