The ₹2,050 Visa That Opens Vietnam – Priya wants to visit Ha Long Bay and Hanoi’s Old Quarter. She’s an Indian passport holder. Does she need a visa?
Answer: Yes, absolutely.
Unlike Thailand (visa-free for Indians up to 60 days) or Indonesia (visa-on-arrival), Indians must have a valid visa to enter Vietnam. As of 2025, Indian citizens are eligible for the 90-day e-Visa (single/multiple entry).
But here’s the good news: The government fee for a Vietnam e-visa for Indian passports is 25 USD (approximately 2,066 INR). The entire process happens online. No embassy visit required. No sending the passport anywhere. Just upload documents, pay online, and receive a visa PDF in your email within 3-7 days.
This comprehensive Vietnam visa for Indians guide covers everything: e-Visa application step-by-step, Visa on Arrival process, costs comparison, processing times, the Phu Quoc visa exemption loophole, embassy visa for longer stays, and common mistakes that delay approvals.
All Indian citizens require a visa to enter Vietnam. Indian nationals are currently not eligible for Vietnam’s visa exemption policy.
This applies to:
Exception: Indian citizens directly visit Phu Quoc from a country outside Vietnam and then leave Phu Quoc for another country. The Phu Quoc visa exemption allows a 30-day stay (explained below).
Many Indians ask: “I have a 10-year U.S. visa. Can I enter Vietnam without a separate visa?”
Indian passport holders need a visa to visit Vietnam, even if they hold a valid U.S. visa. The same applies to a Schengen visa, a UK visa, or any other country’s visa. A separate Vietnam visa is mandatory.
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Vietnam E-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days, single or multiple entry.
Advantages:
Best for: Tourists, solo travellers, families, first-time Vietnam visitors
Visa on arrival requires a pre-approved visa letter before boarding the plane. Upon arrival at the Vietnamese airport, you need to present this letter along with your passport to get the visa stamp and enter Vietnam.
How it works:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Cost: Approval letter ~$20-30 + Stamping fee $25 = Total $45-55 (₹3,690-4,510)
Best for: Last-minute travellers, those entering only via Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City airports
Apply at the Embassy of Vietnam in New Delhi or the Consulate in Mumbai/Kolkata.
When needed:
Process:
Cost: ₹3,000-4,500 depending on visa type
Best for: Expats, long-term visitors, business visas requiring company sponsorship
Indian Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the arrival date. A passport has at least 2 blank visa pages.
You’ll need:
From 08:00 on 11/11/2024 (GMT+7), the Vietnam Electronic Visa Portal will operate on two new domains: https://thithucdientu.gov.vn and https://evisa.gov.vn.
Use ONLY official government websites:
Avoid commercial websites charging $50-100! The official fee is only $25.
Information required:
Upload documents:
Double-check that all information matches your passport EXACTLY. Spelling mistakes cause rejections.
E-visa fee is paid via an electronic payment gateway as prescribed by the Immigration Department. The fee will not be refunded if the application is refused.
Payment: Visa/Mastercard/other international cards accepted
After submission, you receive the registration code via email.
Provide the required information, including registration code, email and date of birth, to check and print your e-Visa result at evisa.gov.vn.
Processing: An e-Visa is processed within 05 – 30 working days after the Vietnam Immigration Department receives the completed application. Most approvals within 3-5 days.
Approved e-Visa sent to email as PDF.
You will need to print out your eVisa before travelling to Vietnam, as you must have a physical copy when you land at the airport.
IMPORTANT: Print multiple copies. Keep one in carry-on, one in checked luggage.
In 2024, around 80% of Indian visitors to Vietnam (about 501,427 people) chose the online e-Visa, while only 3% (15,043 travellers) used the Visa on Arrival option.
✅ Lower total cost ($25 vs $45-55)
✅ No airport queues
✅ Can enter via land/sea borders
✅ Official government process
✅ Go straight to immigration witha printed visa
✅ Last-minute urgent travel (can get approval letter same day)
✅ If official e-Visa portal has technical issues
✅ Prefer agency handling everything
Our recommendation: For Indian citizens, the e-Visa is by far the most convenient, flexible, and widely accepted option—perfect if you want a stress-free arrival in Vietnam.
Valid 90 days from the start date you specify. Can enter Vietnam once during this period.
Example:
Best for: Standard 7-15 day Vietnam trip, no plans to visit Cambodia/Laos and return
Vietnam e-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days, single or multiple entry.
Example:
Best for:
Worth the extra $25? If there’s even a 30% chance you’ll re-enter Vietnam, yes. Saves the hassle of reapplying.
Indian citizens directly visit Phu Quoc from a country outside Vietnam and then leave Phu Quoc for another country get a 30-day visa exemption.
Requirements:
Example itinerary:
What you CANNOT do:
Best for: Indians planning a beach holiday in Phu Quoc only, already in Southeast Asia
Not ideal for: First-time Vietnam visitors wanting to see Hanoi/HCMC/Ha Long Bay
Processing time: 3–7 business days
Real experience: Most Indians receive approval in 3-5 days if the application is correct.
Delays happen if:
Recommendation: Apply at least 2 weeks before travel. Earlier if during holidays.
We can assist you to get a visa within 1 working hour or even at weekends through private agencies (not official government).
Cost: $50-150, depending on urgency
When to use: Forgot to apply, last-minute trip, emergency travel
Common mistakes:
Solution: Take a fresh photo at a professional studio, specify “Vietnam visa photo requirements”
If your passport says “Rajesh Kumar” but you write “Rajesh Kumarr” = rejected.
Solution: Triple-check spelling matches passport exactly, including middle names
Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Solution: Renew passport before applying if expiring soon
Blurry photos, shadows, cut-off edges = rejection.
Solution: Scan in good lighting, ensure the entire passport page is visible
Selecting dates in the past or illogical (exit before entry) = rejected.
Solution: Double-check calendar, ensure dates make sense
Documents to show:
You do not need to queue at the Visa on Arrival counters. You can bring your printed e-Visa and passport directly to the immigration counter.
Process:
Common questions:
We provide an Arrival Fast Track / VIP Fast Track service. Perfect for those who want priority, comfort, or want to avoid the queues — especially in busy airports or during holidays.
What is it: Dedicated staff escorts you through immigration, skipping queues
Cost: $30-50 per person
Worth it? If arriving during peak hours (mornings, Chinese New Year, summer holidays) and value time over money.
After entering Vietnam by E-visa, you can request an agency/organisation/relatives in Vietnam to guarantee your stay and apply on your behalf for a new visa at the Vietnam Immigration Department.
Process:
Cost: $100-150, depending on extension duration
Limitations: Cannot extend the e-Visa to a work visa. Would need to exit and apply for a proper work visa from outside Vietnam.
Before Applying:
✅ Passport valid 6+ months beyond arrival date
✅ At least 2 blank visa pages in the passport
✅ Fresh passport photo (4×6 cm, white background)
✅ Clear passport scan (information page)
✅ Credit/debit card for payment
✅ Hotel booking/address in Vietnam
Application Process:
✅ Visit official evisa.gov.vn (NOT commercial sites!)
✅ Fill form carefully (match passport spelling EXACTLY)
✅ Upload photo and passport scan
✅ Review all information before submitting
✅ Pay $25 (single) or $50 (multiple)
✅ Note registration code from email
After Approval:
✅ Print e-Visa PDF (multiple copies)
✅ Keep one copy in a carry-on bag
✅ Keep one copy in checked luggage
✅ Download PDF to phone (backup)
At Vietnam Airport:
✅ Have printed e-Visa ready
✅ Original passport
✅ Go directly to immigration (NOT the Visa on Arrival counter!)
✅ Show e-Visa + passport to officer
✅ Answer questions simply and honestly
Processing time varies from 3-7 working days. An e-Visa is processed within 05 – 30 working days after the Vietnam Immigration Department receives the completed application. Most Indian applicants receive approval within 3-5 days if application is complete and correct. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel to allow buffer time.
After entering Vietnam by e-Visa, you can request an agency, organization or relatives in Vietnam to guarantee your stay and apply on your behalf for a new visa at the Vietnam Immigration Department. However, this is technically a new visa application, not an extension. Cost is approximately $100-150 and takes 3-7 days to process inside Vietnam.
Yes, Indian passport holders need a visa to visit Vietnam, even if they hold a valid U.S. visa. Vietnam does not recognise other countries’ visas for entry. Indian citizens must obtain separate Vietnam visa regardless of holding US, Schengen, UK or any other visa.
Indian citizens directly visit Phu Quoc from a country outside Vietnam and then leaving Phu Quoc for another country can stay visa-free for 30 days. Must fly directly to Phu Quoc International Airport from abroad and cannot travel to mainland Vietnam without obtaining proper visa. Only works for Phu Quoc island stay.
Yes. Vietnam E-visa valid for maximum of 90 days, single or multiple entry and can be used at all official entry points including 16 land borders, 33 airports and 13 sea ports. Popular land crossings from Cambodia and Laos accept e-Visa. However, Visa on Arrival only works at international airports.
The fee will not be refunded if the application is refused. You must apply again with corrected information/documents and pay new $25 fee. Common rejection reasons include unclear photos, passport validity under 6 months, spelling errors or incorrect dates. If refused, check email for rejection reason before reapplying.
Visa requirements and fees are subject to change by the Vietnamese government. Information reflects November 2025 policies. Always verify current requirements on official evisa.gov.vn before applying. Processing times are estimates and may vary. Individual circumstances may affect visa approval. This guide provides general information, not legal immigration advice.
Eccentric Blogger, Traveler and Consultant.
