Vietnam Travel Without a Visa

By Andrew Lewis on 23 Sep 2023

Tourist visas are constantly evolving and changing to meet the needs of modern travelers and a fast-paced, interconnected world. Whereas it used to take weeks to months to process, now most travelers can get tourist visas within days or minutes. Some countries have even eliminated tourist visas for official passport holders to make visiting more accessible and straightforward.

If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, you may be wondering if you can get a visa on arrival or visit without needing to get a tourist visa at all. We’ve got the answers you’re looking for on how to travel visa-free to Vietnam.

Vietnam Visa Exemption 

The Vietnam government offers visa exemption for citizens of 25 countries, depending on the duration and purpose of their stay. The visa-free stay period ranges from 14 days to 90 days. If your country is not on the visa-exemption list, you will need to apply for a visa.

Can I Travel to Vietnam Without a Visa?

The United States is not on the visa-exemption list, therefore US citizens cannot travel to Vietnam without a valid visa .  You’ll also need a valid passport, as well as other documentation. (Learn more about Vietnam visa requirements here.)

Which Countries Don’t Need Visas for Vietnam?

The visa-exempt countries are:

  • Belarus
  • Brunei
  • Cambodia
  • Chile
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Indonesia
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • Norway
  • Panama
  • Philippines
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Thailand
  • United Kingdom

Vietnam Visa on Arrival

Visitors from the following countries can get a visa on arrival and stay for the indicated number of days:

  • Thailand: Less than 30 days
  • Malaysia: Less than 30 days
  • Singapore: Less than 30 days
  • Indonesia: Less than 30 days
  • Cambodia: Less than 30 days
  • Lao: Less than 30 days
  • Philippines: Less than 21 days
  • Myanmar: Less than 14 days
  • Brunei: Less than 14 days
  • South Korea: Less than 15 days
  • Japan: Less than 15 days
  • Russia: Less than 15 days
  • Sweden: Less than 15 days
  • Denmark: Less than 15 days
  • Finland: Less than 15 days
  • Norway: Less than 15 days
  • United Kingdom: Less than 15 days
  • France: Less than 15 days
  • Germany: Less than 15 days
  • Spain: Less than 15 days
  • Italy: Less than 15 days
  • Belarus: Less than 15 days

Getting a Permanent Residency in Vietnam

There are other options for foreigners who want to reside in Vietnam for an extended period of time.

A permanent residence card (PRC) which is granted to foreigners who fall into one of the following categories:

  • A person who fights for the freedom and independence of the Vietnamese race, for socialism, for democracy and peace and for science but who is suppressed
  • A person with distinguished services contributing to the work of building and protecting the Vietnamese Fatherland
  • A person being the spouse, child or parent of a Vietnamese citizen residing permanently in Vietnam
  • A five-year visa exemption certificate which is granted to Vietnamese overseas, foreigners who are spouses, children of Vietnamese overseas, or Vietnamese citizens. The visa exemption certificate acts as a long-term visa for its holders to visit Vietnam at any time within five years.

A Vietnamese citizenship which can be acquired by foreigners who meet the following conditions:

  • Have full civilization action about full capacity as the regulations of Vietnam law
  • Obey the Constitution and laws of Vietnam; respect the traditions, customs and habits of Vietnamese nation
  • Know Vietnamese enough to integrate into Vietnamese community
  • Have resided in Vietnam 5 years or more by the time of application for naturalization
  • Have ability to ensure living in Vietnam

How Do I Get a Vietnam Visa?

Vietnam offers an electronic visa (E-visa) for citizens of 80 countries, including the US, which allows them to enter Vietnam for up to 30 days for tourism or business purposes. The e-visa is valid for single entry only and can be used at certain international airports, land ports, and seaports. A new option of 90 days validity for multiple-entry that has just been released for a fee of US$50.

The E-visa can be applied for online. In addition to mandatory Vietnam government fees of US$25 for the 30-day e-visa and US$50 for the 90-day, Entriva charges amongst the industry’s lowest handling fees, starting at just $50.

Be Visa-Ready for Vietnam

Obtaining a visa is an essential part of planning your trip. At Entriva, we can easily and efficiently help you with every aspect of getting a Vietnam visa. Start your visa application process.

For more information on other aspects of travel to Vietnam, including local laws, health and safety, local culture and customs, and entry and exit requirements, visit our Vietnam content hub.