Vietnam Entry and Travel Requirements

Vietnam Entry Requirements are the set of rules that every person arriving in Vietnam must follow in order to access Vietnam smoothly. These requirements also specify all the documents that travelers wishing to visit Vietnam must obtain prior to the intended travel.

Among the most important documents required for Vietnam are a valid passport and a visa. The type of Vietnam visa required depends on some factors like the traveler's nationality, travel reason, and the planned duration of stay in Vietnam.

Eligible travelers from around 80 different countries can enjoy electronic visa applications. In contrast, nationals of over 150 countries need to obtain a visa from an embassy, including for short-term tourism-related stays. Only a few countries can visit Vietnam visa-free. Moreover, all passengers who tranist through Vietnam, remaining in the airport transit area and staying there no longer than 24 hours, do not need to have a visa.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Vietnamese authorities introduced the additional requirements, which remained one of the most stringent rules across the Southeast Asian continent.

In March 2022, the Government of Vietnam decided to reopen the country's borders to foreign travelers. Until recently, travelers wishing to arrive in Vietnam had to meet a number of requirements, including performing pre-departure tests, completing the health declaration form, and buying travel insurance.

As of 15 May 2022, the country's authorities removed all remaining entry requirements. Currently, travelers planning a trip to Vietnam only need to have a valid travel document and a relevant visa.

Important: Do remember to monitor any changes to Vietnamese travel requirements! Due to the still-evolving coronavirus situation, the entry rules may change at short notice.

Who can enter Vietnam?

Vietnam allows entry for all foreign nationals, regardless of vaccination status. Travelers arriving in Vietnam do not have to meet any covid-related entry requirements anymore.

Documents check-list for entering Vietnam

• valid travel document
• valid Vietnamese visa
• travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage (optional)

Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements

Testing requirements

As of 15 May 2022, travelers to Vietnam no longer need to provide a negative Covid-19 test report to enter the country. Nevertheless, in case of any covid-like symptoms (cough, sore throat, fever, body aches, loss of taste/smell, breathing difficulty, etc.), a traveler must notify the health agency at the border gates. In such a situation, taking a Covid-19 test may be inevitable.

Vaccination requirements

Since the border's reopening in March 2022, Vietnam authorities do not require visitors to confirm their vaccination status.

All travelers, including non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated, are allowed to enter Vietnam. There is no differentiation between vaccinated and unvaccinated arrivals. All visitors to Vietnam fall under the same entry protocol regardless of their immunization status.

Quarantine requirements

The quarantine requirements have been scrapped in Vietnam. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Health requires all arrivals to self-monitor their health within 10 days from the date of their arrival in Vietnam. In case of any Covid-19 symptoms, e.g., fever, cough, runny nose, fatigue, loss of sense of smell, etc., they must immediately notify the nearest medical facility for further instructions.

Traveling from Vietnam

There are no specific exit requirements that a person must meet to leave Vietnam. Nevertheless, please remember to check with your airline the requirements to board the flights as well as the rules applicable during the flight. You may need to submit a valid Covid-19 test to be allowed on board and wear a face mask during the entire flight. These rules may differ depending on the airline you will be traveling with. Moreover, you should get familiar with the recent entry requirements of the country of your next/final destination.

Traveling to Vietnam

The plans for the full reopening of Vietnam (by June 2022) were already announced in October 2021. The Vietnamese Government adopted the strategy of small steps deciding to reopen the Phú Quốc island firstly to international tourism in November 2021. It was the first significant step that led the country to end the prolonged 2-year lockdown. The Vietnamese borders were finally reopened in mid-March 2022, with certain rules travelers had to meet to enter the country.

The Vietnamese authorities gradually lifted the requirements to remove all of them in mid-May 2022 finally. As of now, a traveler planning to visit Vietnam only needs a valid passport (or another equivalent travel document) as well as a valid visa.

After arriving in Vietnam, make sure to follow the protective measures and advice of local authorities to ensure your safety.

Entry Rules for Children

Since all the Covid-19 restrictions have been dropped in Vietnam, children do not need to meet specific requirements to enter the country either. They are subject to the same entry rules as adult travelers, i.e., every minor traveler needs to hold a valid passport and valid visa. Their parents are responsible for ensuring that the underage travel companions have all the necessary documents for travel to Vietnam.

Transit through Vietnam

Passengers transiting through Vietnam do not need to provide pre-departure tests to make a tranist stop anymore. Nevertheless, a negative coronavirus test may be required for the country of the final destination. Moreover, you may need to obtain a visa in order to tranist through Vietnam if you wish to leave the tranist zone. Make sure also to check the visa policy and entry requirements applicable in the country you wish to visit next.

Visa requirements

Visa-exempt countries

Vietnamese immigration policy allows nationals of 7 different countries to visit Vietnam visa-free. Nationals of the following countries can travel to Vietnam simply with a valid passport:

• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Thailand

Visa exemption only applies to short-term visits, which may vary from 2 weeks up to 3 months according to the traveler's nationality. For more extended stays in Vietnam or relocation purposes, all foreign travelers must apply for a relevant visa, e.g., a work permit or long-term visa, at the nearest Vietnamese embassy in their home countries.

Visa Exemption for Phú Quốc

The biggest Vietnamese island, Phú Quốc, allows all foreign visitors visa-free. The island has its own international airport through which arrivals can enter without a visa. Travelers may travel to Phú Quốc and stay without a valid visa for a maximally 1 month (30 days). For longer stays, a traveler must apply for a visa.

Vietnam eVisa

Since 2017, travelers from certain countries may take advantage of the electronic visa system to obtain an eVisa to Vietnam. The system has enabled getting a Vietnamese visa entirely online without needing to visit an embassy in person or handle piles of paperwork.

Currently, citizens of over 80 different countries and territories may apply online for a visa to Vietnam. Vietnam eVisa is issued as a single-entry visa and allows its holder to stay in Vietnam for maximally 30 days. A traveler may use an electronic visa for tourism, business, or tranist purposes.

Embassy or Consular Visa for Vietnam

Travelers from over 150 countries are required to obtain a visa for Vietnam from the embassy or another diplomatic post. It applies to any travel purpose, including short-term tourism-related visits. A consular or embassy visa will also be necessary to relocate to or work in Vietnam. Application for such a visa must be made before visiting Vietnam and, in most cases, requires providing supporting documentation. For this purpose, a visa applicant must visit an embassy in person.

Travel Insurance

Presenting proof of valid medical or travel insurance, including the Covid-19 treatment, with a minimum coverage of USD 10,000. is no longer mandatory. However, while you may not be required to show evidence of insurance at the border, travel insurance for Vietnam is highly recommended. Medical care in Vietnam can be expensive. Travel insurance can provide valuable assistance if your travel plans are disrupted by cancellation or delays. For these reasons, it's always a good idea to consider purchasing travel insurance before any international travel.