Vietnam visa & passport guide
Everything Indian passport holders need to visit Vietnam — visa type, fees, processing time, documents, and the step-by-step application process.
Vietnam Visa for Indian Passport Holders
Indian passport holders need a visa for Vietnam. The standard route is the Vietnam eVisa, applied for online through the official Immigration Department portal, which now allows a stay of up to 90 days with single or multiple entry. Approval usually comes by email in about 3 to 5 working days, and you print the eVisa to show at check-in and at immigration in Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City.
Visa Type
eVisa (single or multiple entry, up to 90 days). Embassy/consulate visas are also available for longer stays or other purposes. Visa on arrival is only for travellers holding a pre-arranged approval letter through a sponsoring agency and is not the recommended route for ordinary tourists.
Visa Fee
eVisa: approx USD 25 for single entry and USD 50 for multiple entry, roughly Rs 2,100 to Rs 4,300 depending on the exchange rate. Payment is by card on the official portal and is non-refundable even if the application is rejected. Agents typically charge Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 extra as service fee.
Processing Time
Typically 3 to 5 working days for eVisa. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel, and earlier around Tet (late January to February) and peak Indian holiday season.
Stay Duration
Up to 90 days from the entry date shown on the eVisa, single or multiple entry as chosen. Overstaying attracts fines and exit delays.
Passport Validity
At least 6 months validity from your date of arrival in Vietnam, with a minimum of 2 blank pages for stamps.
Documents Required
- Original passport valid 6 months beyond arrival with 2 blank pages
- Scanned colour copy of the passport bio-data page (clear, full page, no glare)
- Recent passport-size photograph, 4x6 cm, white background, front facing, no spectacles
- Confirmed return or onward air ticket
- Hotel or homestay booking confirmation with address in Vietnam (needed for the portal form)
- Intended date of entry and the exact port of entry (for example Noi Bai Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat HCMC, Da Nang)
- International debit or credit card for the online fee payment
- Recommended to carry: bank statement of last 3 months and travel insurance, occasionally checked at immigration
How to Apply
- 1Go to the official Vietnam eVisa portal (evisa.gov.vn / evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn) and create an account. Avoid look-alike websites that overcharge.
- 2Fill the application with details exactly as in your passport, and upload the photo and passport bio-page scan in the required format.
- 3Select single or multiple entry, your intended entry date and your entry and exit checkpoints.
- 4Pay the fee online by card and save the registration code sent to your email.
- 5Track the status using the registration code. Once approved, download and print the eVisa in colour.
- 6Carry the printed eVisa along with your return ticket and hotel booking, and show it at airline check-in in India and at Vietnam immigration.
Good to Know
- Enter and exit only through the checkpoints you selected in the application. If you plan to fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City, both must be declared.
- Names must match the passport exactly. A spelling mismatch or wrong passport number is the most common reason for rejection and the fee is not refunded.
- The eVisa photo must be a plain white background portrait without spectacles. Selfies and cropped photos get rejected.
- Airlines at Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata often ask to see the printed eVisa and a return ticket before boarding, so do not rely only on a phone copy.
- Immigration officers may ask where you are staying and how long. Have your hotel address in Vietnam handy and roughly USD 300 to 500 equivalent in cash or card proof for a week-long trip.
- Vietnamese Dong is best obtained locally. Carry USD from India and exchange in Hanoi Old Quarter or District 1 in HCMC, where rates are better than at the airport.
- If you are combining Vietnam with Cambodia or Laos overland, choose the multiple entry eVisa and confirm the land border crossing is on the approved checkpoint list.
- Avoid travel in the week around Tet (Lunar New Year, late January to February) as most shops and services shut and domestic transport is fully booked.
Visa rules and fees change — verify with the official embassy or immigration website before booking travel.
