How to prepare your arrival in Vietnam – touristic stay?
To travel to Vietnam, the 3 entry requirements are quite simple to meet:
- Hold a passport with a validity date of more than 6 months with respect to the date of entry into the Vietnamese territory.
- Have the appropriate visa according to your nationality.
- Be able to present a proof of departure from the territory at the end of your stay.
In the event that one of the three conditions previously mentioned is not met, then it is highly likely that entry into the Vietnamese territory will be refused.
Who needs a visa?
Viet Nam has facilitated the entry conditions for many countries, including nationals of the following European countries:
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway.
The persons holding one of these passports may enter with a 45-day visa waiver.
For tourists of other nationalities it is mandatory to apply for a 90-day visa (see below).
When and how to apply for the visa?
Visa application can be made at any time, but the processing time of 3 working days can be easily extended in case of holidays in Vietnam. In addition, in case of error in the application, you will need to modify your initial application or make a new one (and pay a second time for the new application).
Therefore, we strongly recommend travelers to request their plane tickets to avoid additional stress a few days before your departure.
To do this, here is the official website and you will need a scanned copy of your passport as well as a recent identification photo. Be careful this photo should be different from the one in your passport. In case of error, you will often receive an email citing an error in the first and last names, but actually this can also be due to a problem with the photo.
Attention: the entry point mentioned in the application is extremely important as it must be respected and this is verified, for the exit there is more flexibility, but we advise you to put the one you have planned and respect it to the maximum.
If you need help, we will be happy to assist our clients with tge visa application, or we can recommend a specialized agent for these requests.
Proof of departure from the territory
As in a trip to Europe for non-European people, Vietnamese law requires that tourists can justify their departure from the territory at the end of the 45-day exemption or the 90-day visa.
This requirement is not necessarily verified at the point of entry into Vietnamese territory, but at the check-in point of your flight to Vietnam.
Please note that airlines increasingly apply these checks and have the right to refuse you check-in or boarding if you are unable to provide such proof.
Therefore, when you travel for a long period of time, it is essential to buy an exit ticket, either by bus or by plane, although it will not necessarily be used.
Point of entry to Vietnam
There are several entry points to Vietnam, by land and by air.
Most popular airlines fly to Ho Chi Minh Airport – Tan Son Nhat Airport
Hanoi airport – Noi Bai Int Airport
Danang airport – Da Nang International Airport
By land, note Lao Bao near Hué, in central Vietnam – Lao Bao Landport
By bus from Cambodia to go to Ho Chi Minh – Moc Bai Landport Ba Vet and by boat from Phnom Penh to go to Chau Doc – Song Tien Landport.
For an easy trip, we are here to assist you in all stages and even to accompany you step by step for the visa application.
Wishing you a great trip to Vietnam with Senteurs du Vietnam.