Vietnam Visa, Entry & Arrival Requirements

Understand Vietnam’s visa and entry rules before travelling to Hue. Check visa-free eligibility, apply for the official e-visa, prepare the right documents and avoid common arrival mistakes.

Vietnam’s entry process is generally straightforward when your documents are prepared correctly. The most important step is to confirm which rule applies to your passport: visa-free entry, an electronic visa or another visa arranged through a Vietnamese diplomatic mission.

Hue does not have separate immigration requirements. Once you have legally entered Vietnam, you can continue to Hue by domestic flight, train, bus or private transfer without obtaining another visa.

Information last reviewed: 15 September 2026. Immigration rules can change, so always confirm your eligibility on an official Vietnamese government website before departure.

First, Find the Entry Route That Applies to You

Most leisure travellers enter Vietnam in one of three ways:

Visa-free entry: Available to citizens of eligible countries for a limited number of days.

Vietnam e-visa: The most practical option for many travellers who are not covered by an exemption or who need a longer stay.

Another visa category: Required for certain nationalities, longer stays or purposes such as employment, study and some business activities.

Your eligibility depends on the passport you use, your travel purpose, intended length of stay and sometimes your arrival point. Advice given to another traveller may therefore not apply to you.

Visa-Free Entry

Vietnam currently grants eligible passport holders different visa-free periods under unilateral and bilateral agreements. These arrangements do not all have the same conditions or maximum stay.

45-Day Exemption Under Resolution 44

Citizens of the following countries may enter Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days, subject to standard entry conditions:

Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

This policy is scheduled to remain effective until 14 March 2028.

45-Day Tourism Exemption Under Resolution 229

A further 12 European countries currently receive visa-free stays of up to 45 days when visiting Vietnam for tourism:

Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.

This tourism programme is scheduled to remain effective until 14 August 2028.

Vietnam also maintains separate bilateral exemptions for a number of other nationalities. Because permitted stays and passport conditions vary, check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list rather than relying on an old article or social media post.

Important: Visa-free entry is still limited to its approved duration. Extend your permission legally or leave Vietnam before the permitted stay expires.

The Official Vietnam E-Visa

Vietnam’s electronic visa is available to citizens of all countries and territories, subject to immigration approval. It can be issued for up to 90 days as either a single-entry or multiple-entry visa.

Single-entry e-visa: US$25

Multiple-entry e-visa: US$50

Maximum validity: Up to 90 days

Official application portal: evisa.gov.vn

The application fee is non-refundable, including when an application is refused. Use only the official government portal, as commercial websites may charge significantly more without improving your chance of approval.

Single Entry or Multiple Entry?

A single-entry visa is normally sufficient if you will remain in Vietnam throughout your trip. Choose multiple entry if you plan to leave for another country and return during the same visa period—for example, a side trip to Laos, Cambodia or Thailand.

A single-entry visa generally ends when you leave Vietnam, even if its original expiry date has not yet passed.

Complete the Application Carefully

Your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and passport expiry date must match your current passport exactly. Even a small spelling or number error can create problems at airline check-in or immigration.

Use the passport that you will carry on the journey.

Upload a clear image of the passport information page.

Provide a compliant portrait photograph.

Select the correct single-entry or multiple-entry option.

Confirm your intended arrival checkpoint is eligible for e-visa entry.

Save your application code and download the approved visa before travelling.

Apply well before departure. Processing times can vary, especially around public holidays or when an application requires correction. Avoid making non-refundable travel arrangements that depend on an unapproved visa.

Choosing Your Arrival Point

E-visa holders must enter through a border checkpoint approved by the Vietnamese government. Confirm that the airport, land crossing or seaport in your application matches your actual itinerary.

Travellers heading to Hue commonly complete immigration at one of the following locations:

Da Nang International Airport: A major international gateway approximately two to three hours from Hue by road.

Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat Airport: Immigration is completed in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City before connecting to a domestic flight to Phu Bai Airport.

Phu Bai International Airport: Relevant when arriving on an eligible direct international service.

Chan May Port: Used by some cruise itineraries visiting Hue and central Vietnam.

If your first flight lands in Da Nang, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, that is where you enter Vietnam. Your onward journey to Hue is domestic and does not involve a second immigration procedure.

Passport and Arrival Checklist

Before travelling, make sure you have:

A passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date.

At least two blank passport pages.

An undamaged passport in acceptable condition.

Your approved e-visa or proof that your passport qualifies for visa-free entry.

A printed copy and an offline digital copy of your e-visa.

Your first accommodation address and contact details.

Your onward or return itinerary if requested by the airline or immigration officer.

Travellers with more than one nationality should use the same passport for the visa application, airline booking, entry into Vietnam and departure.

Pre-Arrival Information Declaration

Foreign travellers entering through Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh or Phu Quoc international airports are strongly encouraged to complete Vietnam’s pre-arrival information declaration.

It may be completed within three days before arrival or upon arrival through the official portal: prearrival.immigration.gov.vn.

This declaration does not replace a visa or visa exemption. Travellers entering through another checkpoint should follow the latest instructions provided by their airline and Vietnamese immigration authorities.

At the Immigration Counter

Present the same passport used for your visa application. Keep your visa confirmation accessible and answer questions about your accommodation, travel plans and departure date clearly.

Before leaving the counter, check the permitted stay or exit date recorded by immigration. If anything appears incorrect, ask an officer immediately rather than trying to resolve it later.

After You Arrive in Hue

Hotels and licensed accommodation providers normally register foreign guests with the local authorities. You will be asked to present your passport and valid entry permission at check-in.

If you stay in a private home, apartment or other non-hotel accommodation, confirm that the host will complete the required temporary residence registration.

Keep a secure digital copy of your passport and visa, but carry the original when it is required for domestic flights, official procedures or hotel registration.

Situations That Need Extra Attention

Children Travelling to Vietnam

Every traveller, including a child, needs a valid travel document and the appropriate visa or exemption. Families should also carry relevant consent or guardianship documents when a child is travelling without both parents.

Phu Quoc Visa Exemption

Phu Quoc has a special visa-free arrangement under specific conditions. It does not automatically grant permission to continue to Hue or elsewhere on mainland Vietnam. Travellers planning to leave Phu Quoc should obtain the correct Vietnam-wide entry permission in advance.

Cruise Passengers

If your ship calls at Chan May Port, confirm the required entry document with the cruise operator before departure. Requirements may depend on whether you disembark independently, join an organised shore excursion or continue travelling in Vietnam after the cruise.

Work, Study and Volunteering

Tourist entry permission does not automatically authorise employment, long-term study or every form of volunteering. Contact a Vietnamese embassy, immigration authority or qualified sponsor when your purpose is not ordinary tourism.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying through an unofficial website that imitates the government portal.

Entering a name or passport number incorrectly.

Choosing a single-entry visa before a regional side trip.

Arriving through a checkpoint that is not approved for the issued e-visa.

Renewing a passport after applying and travelling with mismatched documents.

Assuming a visa can simply be purchased after landing at the airport.

Waiting until the final days before departure to apply.

Remaining in Vietnam beyond the authorised stay.

The safest approach: Confirm your eligibility, apply through the official portal, check every passport detail and carry both printed and digital copies of your documents. A few careful checks before departure can make arriving in Vietnam remarkably smooth.

Official Resources

Vietnam Immigration Department e-Visa Portal

Vietnam Pre-Arrival Information Declaration

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Visa Exemption List

Entry decisions remain at the discretion of Vietnamese immigration authorities. If your circumstances are unusual, contact the nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate before travelling.