Vietnam Embassy Sitemap

Types of Visa to Vietnam

Tourist visa (short staying time)

This is what you need to enter and stay in Vietnam within a short period! Normally, it is available for one-month single-entry visa (maximum stay in Vietnam for one month). Tourist visa may be extended once for 30 days after your arrival in Vietnam. If you plan to spend more than a month in Vietnam, or if you plan to exit Vietnam and re-enter from other countries, for eg., Cambodia, Laos or China, you will need a three-month multiple-entry visa with approval from local agents.

Diplomatic and Official Visas

- No fees unless otherwise agreed upon between Vietnam and applicant’s country
- On applying for this visa, the applicant must submit an official letter from the concerned agencies of local government, foreign embassies or consulates accredited to the applicant’s country, international organizations, or other accredited organizations based in that country

Business Visa

Business visas are usually valid for three or six months, allowing multiple entries and the right to work in Vietnam. One-year business visas are also possible with special permission. To get a business visa, you often need a letter from a business sponsor in Vietnam. Getting a business visa has now become cheap and easy, although prices almost double those of a tourist visa. It is generally easier to apply for a business visa once in Vietnam, after having arrived with a tourist visa.

Student visa

A student visa is usually arranged after your arrival. It’s acceptable to enter Vietnam on a tourist visa, enroll in a Vietnamese language course and then apply at the immigration department for a change in your visa status. In reality, the easiest way to do this is to contact a travel company and have them help you make the application.

Extended Visa vs. non-extended Visa (In terms of extension times)

If you’ve got the dollars, they’ve got the rubber stamp. If you need to stay some more time out of your visa validity, you can get the Immigration Dept extend your visa. Tourist-visa extension costs only around US$10, but it is easier to pay more and sort this out through a travel agency in a more simple way. Getting the stamp you can be a bureaucratic nightmare. The procedure takes two or three days and you can only extend once for 30 days. In theory, you should be able to extend your visa in any provincial capital. In reality, it goes most smoothly in major cities, such as HCMC, Hanoi, Danang and Hue, which cater to mass tourism.

Single Entry Visa vs. Multiple entry (or Re-Entry) Visa (In terms of entry times)

It’s possible to visit Cambodia, Laos or any other country from Vietnam and then re- enter Vietnam without having to apply for another visa. However, you must apply for a re-entry visa before you leave Vietnam. If you do not have a re-entry visa, you will have to go through the whole Vietnamese visa procedure again. Re-entry visas are easiest to arrange in Hanoi or Hochiminh City, but you will almost certainly have to ask a travel agent to do the paperwork for you. They charge about US$25 for this service and can complete the procedure in a day or two.

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categories Types of Vietnam Visa | Nhungvnb | datetime November 15, 2008 2:07 pm

14 Comments

  • By Hamid mansory, December 15, 2008 @ 10:07 am

    I am going on the world cruise on 18/01/2009 & the ship will arrive to Vietnam on 13/03/2009 !
    tourist visa is only valid 30 days ,we will arrive to Nha Trang ,can I get on line letter of approval and then get the visa on arrival to this port?all this for short visit 8.00am to 5.00pm 9hr.visit!!!
    what do you recommend?

  • By admin, December 15, 2008 @ 5:11 pm

    Dear Hamid Mansory,

    Visa on arrival is only valid if you travel by air to Vietnam. In your case, you’d better apply for visa code which is used to pick up your visa at the Vietnam Embassy in your area.
    The application is simple as follows:
    - You apply online at http://www.vietnam-visa.com/page/2.html (the arrival date is the date you enter Vietnam)
    - Send email to confirm that you require visa code and provide us the exact Vietnam Embassy that you would like to pick up your visa
    - Settle payment
    - Receive your visa code after 2 or 3 days (except weekend days) via email
    - Print it out, and bring it + your passport + 2 photos to the Vietnam Embassy/ Consulate in your area to pick up your visa (pay some stamping fee)
    And now, you are ready to travel to Vietnam

    Good luck!

  • By Arturo Gutierrez, March 12, 2009 @ 7:11 am

    Hi, Im going to take a cruise that starts in Shanghai and ends in Singapore. Along the way we make 3 stops in Vietnam that are continious (April 30 - Danang / May 1st - Nha Trang/ May 2nd - Ho Chi Min city, so my question is : Do I need to get a Multientry Visa or am I ok with just getting de 1 entry visa?
    Thanks with any help provided

  • By admin, March 12, 2009 @ 3:31 pm

    Answer to Arturo Gutierrez,

    As you are planning to enter Vietnam by cruise, visa code (pick up at Vietnam Embassy and Consulate in your country before coming to Vietnam)is the best choice. If you just stop in 3 places in Vietnam-Danang, Nha Trang and Hochiminh city once and then go out Vietnam without re-enter, you are suggested to apply for visa code-single (one entry). In case you want to come to Vietnam many times, you are required to use visa multiple.

  • By Frank, March 31, 2009 @ 7:50 pm

    Hello,

    I already have the 30-days tourist visa, however my travel schedule has changed and the period in Vietnam will be different.
    Is there any way to change the period? Otherwise I only have 10 days :-(

    How much does it cost? Do I have to apply for a new visa?

  • By admin, April 1, 2009 @ 3:45 pm

    Answer to Frank,

    You can enter Vietnam after the date cited on the visa. For instance, if your dates cited on your visa was 14th April to 14th May, it means you can enter Vietnam even 4th May to 14th May. If now you want to enter Vietnam in totally different time, you need to apply for a new visa with a new dates on it. The service fee for the new visa will be similar to the old one.

  • By CG, April 7, 2009 @ 11:14 pm

    I have a question. I have a single entry visa to Vietnam (US passport holder) from 30 May to 29 June. I have a ticket already from HCMC to US on 29th June.

    I was hoping to travel to Cambodia and then catch a budget flight back to HCMC to catch my return flight. Do I need multiple entry visa for this? I understand that if I don’t leave the transit area I don’t need a visa, BUT since I am flying on one ticket and leaving on another ticket my bags may not get checked all the way through and I heard there are no check-in counters in the transit area, so I would HAVE to leave.

    Anyone know? Thank you!

  • By admin, April 9, 2009 @ 2:16 pm

    Answer to CG:
    We would like to inform that you don’t need multiple entry visa because when you come back from Cambodia, you only stay in transit area and your bags will check all the way through in check-in counters in the transit area. Please don’t worry because it’s not a problem at all. Have a good time in Vietnam! Regards!

  • By Jo Schmo, May 16, 2009 @ 5:46 pm

    I bought a tourist visa from Vientiane in Laos, it cost me 65 US dollars for a 1 day express service. However, I realized that it was only for 15 days, a D Class visa. Is this normal?

    The travel agent in Laos reassured me that its the dates of travel but now Ive entered Vietnam and I got stamped for 15 days.

    Anything I can do about this?

    Yours in irritation.

  • By admin, May 18, 2009 @ 11:13 am

    Answer to Jo Schmo,

    Now you are in Vietnam, if you want to stay more than 15 days, you should find a nearest travel agency to extend your visa. It will take about 5-10 days. Please click this link http://www.vietnam-visa.com/blog/vietnam-visa-extension for more.

  • By HHM, November 28, 2009 @ 8:52 am

    This summer (summer 2010), I plan on studying in Ho Chi Minh City at USSH; I’ll be studying Vietnamese but the course is only for 8 weeks (unless I apply for the 4 month course).

    I’ve been to VN before but I was only there for a month and a half and the reason I went was to visit my friend’s family and tour, so I had a travel visa and then I renewed it.

    This time, I’ve been told I’ll need a student visa, but from what I’ve learned about student visas, you have to select a degree. Since I’m not even studying the full year, what type of degree would I apply for?

    Also, if I want to stay longer than the 8 week course and visit my friends in HCMC, would I apply for a travel visa again?

  • By admin, December 2, 2009 @ 3:50 pm

    To HHM,
    If you want to stay on Vietnam longer than 8 week for your course and visit, you can apply for a tourist visa for 3 months.
    Kindly regards,
    Sammy Bui

Other Links to this Post

  1. The validity of Vietnam visa | Vietnam Visa Service — December 22, 2008 @ 4:54 pm

  2. Indo Article Directory » The validity of Vietnam visa — January 16, 2009 @ 10:45 am

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