Practical Visa Guide
This is the direct, scam-free walkthrough I wish I had when I first applied. If you hold a typical Western passport and want to stay legal in Vietnam without paying shady “service fees,” start here.
If you’re living in Hanoi, Da Nang, or Ho Chi Minh City and need a predictable way to stay legal, this guide is for you. I’m writing for people with common Western passports who want to avoid overpriced agents and get the Vietnam E-Visa done right the first time. I’m not selling “express” anything; I’m laying out what works in 2026.
Bookmark https://evisa.gov.vn/. That is the Vietnam evisa official website. Everything else is either an agent or a straight-up scam charging triple for the same form. The portal is clunky, but it works, and you get the real government receipt. If a site quotes $80 or promises “express” next-day approval, close the tab.
Never upload your passport to a random “visa helper” you found on social media. Those third-party sites do not speed up processing; they re-enter your data into the same system and pocket the markup. If you insist on paying someone, at least know they are just middlemen with no special powers.
Official fees are fixed by the government: $25 USD for a single-entry Vietnam E-Visa and $50 USD for a multiple-entry Vietnam E-Visa. Pay once via the portal’s card processor. No cash-on-arrival, no “priority surcharge,” no add-ons.
Expect 3–5 business days. Weekends and Vietnamese public holidays do not count, so build buffer time. Do not book a non-refundable flight two days after applying and then rage-email the embassy when approval lands on day five. The system issues a PDF approval letter—print it or save it offline before boarding because some check-in counters still ask to see it.
The standard Vietnam 90 day E-Visa lets you stay up to 90 days from the start date printed on the approval letter. There is no extension button in the portal. If you need more time, you exit and re-enter on a fresh E-Visa.
Single entry is exactly that—once you leave, the visa is finished. Multiple entry lets you come and go during the validity period, but you still cannot exceed the total validity window. If you plan a quick trip to Cambodia or Thailand mid-stay, pay the $50 once and avoid juggling back-to-back applications.
Visa runs still work, but they cost time and money. Expect at least one full day lost, plus flights and a night in a guesthouse if schedules don’t line up. Immigration officers have seen every “I’m just popping out for a sandwich” story. Keep your paperwork neat, avoid overstays, and don’t play games with backdated exit stamps.
Apply for your next Vietnam E-Visa before leaving the country if possible, and pad your timing so you are not stuck waiting abroad for approval. Border staff will not accept screenshots of “submitted” applications; you need the approval PDF in hand.
Prices bounce around, so I won’t quote fares. Here are consistent, low-drama routes frequent travelers use:
Fly to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur for reliable schedules, or hop to Vientiane when Vietairlines/Bamboo promos pop up. Land buses to Laos exist but eat two days—fine if you love hammocks, not great if you work online.
Quick flights to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore are the least painful. Da Nang’s airport is calm, immigration is quick, and round-trip promos appear often. Macau is an occasional wildcard if you spot a deal.
Bangkok is the workhorse route with multiple daily flights. Phnom Penh is close but rarely cheaper once you add ground transfers. Kuala Lumpur and Singapore stay predictable with plenty of low-cost carriers.
Wherever you go, book flights that give you at least a full business day cushion to receive the new E-Visa. Sitting in a hostel lobby refreshing your email at 2 a.m. is avoidable.
Go to the official portal, fill the online form, upload your passport scan and photo, pay the fee, then wait for the approval PDF. No embassy visit needed.
The official fee is $25 USD for single entry or $50 USD for multiple entry, paid online at the time of application.
Expect 3–5 business days. Weekends and Vietnamese public holidays do not count toward processing time.
Most Western passport holders are eligible for the Vietnam E-Visa. Always check the official eligibility list on the portal before applying.
There is no online extension button. You exit the country and apply for a fresh E-Visa to re-enter.
Yes. Print it and keep a digital copy. Some airlines check before boarding, and immigration officers prefer a hard copy.
If you know you will leave and re-enter within the validity window, pay $50 once for multiple entry and avoid juggling multiple applications.
Don’t risk it. Airlines can refuse boarding without an approval letter. Reschedule or wait until the PDF arrives.
Vietnam’s E-Visa system is predictable if you use the official portal, budget 3–5 business days, and keep your paperwork clean. Pay the $25 or $50, print your approval, and build buffer time into any visa run. If you are setting up in Hanoi long term, these pieces will save you headaches.