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Vietnam Tourism Entry Information
- updated on 21/05/26
Vietnam Tourist Visa Information 2026
Start here to establish your country's passport validity to enter Vietnam. https://evisa.gov.vn
Once you know if your country is either Visa Exempt or you need to apply for an Evisa you can proceed to complete your entry to Vietnam.
For all foreigners entering Vietnam, you will need to have the following:
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Passport
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Visa - in the case you are required to have. In the case you don’t you need to have one, you do need 6 months validity on your passport and clear pages for stamping.
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Airline ticket/boarding pass
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PAI - The new Pre Arrival Information QR code (FREE) - for Ho Chi Minh only. See explanation here.
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Please note the PAI is new as of 2026 and applies only to those whose first port of arrival is HCMC.
The Vietnam Digital Pre-Arrival Declaration (PAI) can only be completed within 72 hours of your arrival into Vietnam
FAQs – Tips in Plain English
1. What is an e-visa really?
It’s a digital visa linked to your passport. That’s why every detail—name, date of birth, passport number—must match exactly. Even one typo will stop you at check-in.
2. What do I need ready before applying?
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Passport with 6 months’ validity and 2 free pages
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A digital passport-style photo (JPEG/PNG, not PDF)
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A photo of your passport’s main page
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Your entry city, exit city, and first accommodation address in Vietnam
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Your PAI organised
3. When should I apply?
The system says 3–5 working days, but don’t risk it. Apply 2 weeks ahead. This gives you time to correct any mistakes or resubmit if needed.
4. What’s the difference between visa exemption and an e-visa?
If your country is on the exemption list, you get 45 days without applying or paying a fee. If not, you must apply for an e-visa. (Always double-check the official immigration link for updates. - https://evisa.gov.vn/
5. What happens if something goes wrong?
Workarounds exist—VIP letters or flying out to reapply—but they’re expensive and stressful. Better to double-check everything upfront. You will need to contact an Official Travel Agency to arrange this.
NEED AN EMERGENCY EVISA - Should this situation arise What About Vietnam has partnered with a company in Vietnam to arrange this, however you would need to contact Host - Kerry Newsome directly on whataboutvietnam@gmail.com as quickly as possible AS TURNAROUND TIME IS CRUCIAL - The cost is $130 USD approximately and paid direct to the operator. We hope this doesn't happen, but as I have been advised in recent weeks this is happening a lot, I hope this service will assist. Mistakes do happen. Fees requested at airports from other suppliers I have been advised can be 3 times as much as this.
Normal Fees for an EVisa :-
Single Entry - 30 Day E-Visa - Allow at least 3-5 business days for processing.
COST: As at 2024 $25 USD
Multiple Entry - 90 Day E-Visa - allow at least 5-19 business days for processing and queries.
COST: As of 2025 $50 USD (TBC under new system)
Pre Arrival Declaration (new)
Vietnam’s New Digital Pre-Arrival QR Code System (Ho Chi Minh City Only – As of May 2026)
If you are travelling to Vietnam and arriving into Ho Chi Minh City via Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), there is now an additional step you need to complete before arrival.
This is called the Vietnam Digital Pre-Arrival Declaration and it generates a QR code which you present at Immigration on arrival.
Importantly — this is NOT a Visa.
It is a separate immigration declaration process and applies even if:
• you already have an approved Vietnam eVisa
• you are entering visa-free
• you are using a visa exemption
• you are arriving on a Visa on Arrival approval
Think of it as the digital version of the old paper arrival card many countries used to hand out on the plane.
Vietnam is introducing this system to help reduce long immigration queues and speed up arrival processing at the airport.
As of this date, this requirement only applies to arrivals into Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport – SGN). Authorities have indicated it may expand to other airports in the future, but no confirmed rollout dates have yet been officially announced for Hanoi or Da Nang.
Official Government Link
The official government portal is:
https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn/
Please be careful of third-party websites charging fees.
The official declaration is FREE.
Who Needs To Complete It?
Currently required for:
• Foreign passport holders arriving into Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
• Visa-free travellers
• eVisa holders
• Visa on Arrival travellers
• Overseas Vietnamese travelling on foreign passports with visas
Not required for:
• Vietnamese passport holders
• Transit passengers who do not pass through Immigration
When Should You Complete It?
You should complete the declaration within 72 hours of arrival into Vietnam.
Best advice
Do it the day before your flight or during online check-in.
Do NOT leave it until arrival if possible.
Yes, there are QR codes available at the airport to complete it there, but after a long flight the last thing you want is to stand around trying to access Wi-Fi while hundreds of other passengers move through Immigration ahead of you.
What Information Will You Need?
The process is relatively straightforward and only takes a few minutes if you have the following ready:
Passport Details
• Full name exactly as shown in passport
• Passport number
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Passport expiry date
Flight Information
• Airline
• Flight number
• Arrival date
• Arrival airport (Tan Son Nhat – SGN)
Accommodation Details – Important
Your first hotel or accommodation in Vietnam:
• Hotel name
• Address
• Phone number if available
Travel Information
• Purpose of visit
• Intended length of stay
Contact Details
• Email address
• Mobile phone number
VERY Important Tips
1. Your Details Must Match Exactly
Even small mistakes can create delays:
• wrong passport number
• spelling differences
• incorrect arrival dates
• wrong airport
Vietnam Immigration systems are extremely literal. Don’t think it is okay to miss out any information, or skip a step.
Double-check everything before submitting.
2. This Does NOT Replace Your Visa
This is probably the biggest confusion for travellers.
The QR Declaration:
• is NOT a visa
• does NOT grant entry permission
• does NOT replace an eVisa
If your nationality requires a visa to enter Vietnam, you STILL need to organise that separately.
The QR declaration simply tells Immigration you are arriving and pre-loads your details into the system.
Do I Need A Smartphone?
Realistically — yes. I mention this as many people who don’t own or wish to carry a smart phone to Vietnam will need to print the QR code, because once you have completed the submission the system generates a QR code that you will need to show on arrival.
You can:
• save it as a screenshot
• save it in your email
• print a paper copy as backup
I strongly recommend both:
• keep it on your phone
• print a hard copy
Smart Travel advice:- Airport Wi-Fi is not always reliable and nobody wants flat battery panic standing in an immigration queue after a long-haul flight.
Can Airlines Ask To See It?
Some reports now suggest airlines may ask travellers to show the QR code at check-in before boarding flights to Ho Chi Minh City. This is not 100% corroborated and seems to be spasmodic at this stage.
Because procedures are still evolving, my advice is simple:
Treat this exactly the same way you treat your passport and visa.
Have it ready before you leave home.
Which Airports Currently Require It?
As of May 2026, confirmed mandatory implementation applies only to:
• Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
At this stage there is no confirmed mandatory rollout yet for:
• Noi Bai International Airport
• Da Nang International Airport
However, Vietnam authorities have indicated expansion to other international airports is likely in future.
Final Advice
Please don’t let this worry you.
This is simply Vietnam modernising its arrival system and trying to reduce airport congestion.
If you:
• complete it before departure
• double-check your details
• save the QR code properly
…then the process should be very smooth.
And honestly, anything that potentially shortens those Ho Chi Minh immigration queues after a long international flight is probably worth five minutes of preparation.