Top 7 Vietnam E-Visa Scams to Avoid When You Apply

Thousands of travelers apply for a Vietnam e-visa every day, and scammers know it. Vietnam e-visa scams range from sites that hide fees to fake visas that fail at the airport. Here are the 7 we see most often, and how to spot each one.

1. Is the site pretending to be the government?

The only official site is evisa.gov.vn. Many look-alike sites use flags, government colours and words like "official" or "immigration" in their names.

• Check the address bar. It must end in .gov.vn.
• Private agencies are legal, but they must say clearly that they are not the government.
• A site that hides who runs it, with no company name or contact, is a warning sign.

We are a private agency. We say so on every page, and we submit your application on the official portal.

2. Are fees added at the last step?

Hidden fees are the most common trick. The first page shows a low price. At checkout you see "processing fee", "government fee", "service charge" or "card fee" added on top.

Our full price list is in the service fee guide. The total on the form is the total you pay.

3. Do they promise approval for everyone?

Nobody can guarantee approval. Only the Vietnam Immigration Department decides. An agency can guarantee its delivery time and offer refunds, but not the decision itself.

Be careful with phrases like "100% approval guaranteed" or "no refusals ever". An honest service tells you in writing what it refunds if the visa is refused or late.

4. Is the visa PDF real?

Fake visas look real until the airport. Some scammers send a PDF that copies the government design but was never issued.

• Every real e-visa can be found on the official e-visa search page.
• The details must match your passport exactly.
• If the search shows nothing, the visa does not exist.

Read how to verify your Vietnam e-visa for step-by-step checks.

5. Do they want payment to a personal account?

A real visa service takes card or PayPal through a payment company. Be very careful if a site or a WhatsApp contact asks you to:

• Send money to a personal bank account.
• Pay with gift cards, crypto or a money transfer app.
• Pay a "second fee" to release a visa that is "ready".

These payments are almost impossible to get back.

6. Are they pushing you to pay right now?

Fake urgency makes you skip checks. Messages like "only 10 minutes left before the office closes" or "your application will be cancelled" push you to pay before thinking.

Real urgency exists, because Vietnamese office hours are limited. But an honest service explains the working hours and tells you when a speed cannot be done in time, before you pay.

7. Are the reviews real?

Reviews can be copied or invented. Look for reviews on independent sites such as Trustpilot or Google, not only on the agency's own page.

• Reviews should mention real details: dates, speeds, problems solved.
• A mix of ratings is normal. Hundreds of identical 5-star reviews are not.
• Check how the company replies to complaints.

How do I avoid Vietnam e-visa scams?

Use this short checklist.

1. The site says clearly whether it is the government or an agency.
2. Prices are listed per speed, with the government fee included or shown.
3. There is a written refund policy.
4. Payment is by card or PayPal.
5. You can verify the visa on evisa.gov.vn.
6. Support answers on a real channel, such as email or WhatsApp.

Compare options in agency or government website.

Which scams target travelers already in Vietnam?

A few appear after arrival. Travelers who need an extension or a new visa sometimes meet "fixers" in hostels or online groups.

• Offers to extend a visa "without your passport" are not real.
• Stamps sold in cafés or hotels are not legal entry stamps.
• Promises to clear an overstay for a cash fee can make your record worse.

If you need more time, read Vietnam visa extension or visa run from Vietnam first.

What should I do if I think I was scammed?

Act fast.

1. Contact your bank or PayPal and dispute the charge. Card disputes are often possible for weeks after payment.
2. Keep all emails, receipts and screenshots.
3. Do not pay any further "release" or "correction" fees.
4. If you still need a visa, apply through the official portal or a trusted agency.

If your flight is close, we can help you get a real visa quickly. Message us on WhatsApp.

How do we protect you?

Clear prices, real visas, written guarantees. Every price includes the government fee. Every visa can be verified on evisa.gov.vn. If Immigration refuses the visa because of the information provided, we refund the expedite fee (the government fee and payment fees are not refunded); if it is refused without a stated reason, we refund 100%. If we are more than 30 minutes late, we refund everything you paid. Read our refund policy.

Related reading: Vietnam urgent visa scam warning.