Most Vietnam e-visa delays for US travelers come from the same ten mistakes, and nearly all of them can be avoided in the five minutes before you press submit. This page lists each mistake, what it looks like, and how to fix it, then shows what to do if you have already made one.
Quick answer:
- Ten mistakes cause most delays: middle name, HEIC photo, wrong entry port, wrong entry date and swapped day and month lead the list
- Choose 90 days (same price as 30). One application per passport, including children
- A Friday evening in the US is Saturday in Vietnam. The file waits until Monday
- Already made a mistake? Do not reapply. Wait for the government to ask for a correction, or ask us to check the file (correction service $85)
- Short on time? Speed Up starts from $70. No agency can guarantee approval
In this guide
- The ten mistakes, at a glance
- Mistakes 1 to 5: the form
- Mistakes 6 to 10: timing and process
- Documents checklist for US travelers
- Can I still fly tomorrow?
- Already made a mistake? Your two options
- US time zones: your cutoff
- Prices
- FAQ
The Ten Mistakes, at a Glance
| # | Mistake | Typical result | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle name left off | Mismatch with the passport, correction request, or an unusable visa | Copy every given name from the two bottom lines of the passport |
| 2 | iPhone HEIC photo | Upload fails or the file is flagged | Settings, Camera, Formats, Most Compatible, or export a JPEG |
| 3 | Transit hub or US airport as entry port | Wrong port on the visa | Use the Vietnamese airport where you land: SGN, HAN, DAD, PQC or CXR |
| 4 | Departure date as entry date | Visa starts a day or two too early | Use the day you land; US flights often land 1 to 2 days later |
| 5 | Day and month swapped | Wrong date of birth or entry date | Vietnam uses day/month/year |
| 6 | Choosing 30 days instead of 90 | Visa expires if plans change | 90 days costs the same |
| 7 | Adding a child to a parent’s application | Both files can fail | One application per passport |
| 8 | Submitting Friday evening (US time) | Lands on Saturday in Vietnam and waits until Monday | Submit before Friday’s cutoff or use the weekend tier |
| 9 | Reapplying while the first is pending | Both files can be held, two fees | Check status, then ask for a speed-up of the same file |
| 10 | Using a look-alike website | Fee paid, no real application | Official: evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn |
Mistakes 1 to 5: The Form
1. A missing middle name
This is the most common error for US and Canadian applicants, because many Americans use only a first and last name day to day. The form must match the machine-readable zone, the two lines of letters at the bottom of the passport photo page, exactly. If a middle name appears there, it must appear on the form.
2. An iPhone HEIC photo
iPhones save photos as HEIC by default and the application needs a JPEG. Set Settings, Camera, Formats to Most Compatible before taking the photo, or export it as a JPEG. Use a white background and keep the face fully visible.
3. The wrong entry port
The entry port is the first Vietnamese airport where your plane lands, for example SGN, HAN or DAD. It is not JFK, LAX or ORD, and it is not the airport where you change planes, such as ICN, NRT, SIN or DOH.
4. The departure date instead of the arrival date
The entry date is the day you land in Vietnam. Flights from the US often land one or two calendar days after they leave because of the 11 to 15 hour time difference, so check the arrival day on the Vietnam leg of your booking.
5. Day and month swapped
Vietnam uses day, month, year. A date of birth of 03/04/1985 means 3 April, not 4 March. Americans write it the other way round, so re-read both dates before paying.
Mistakes 6 to 10: Timing and Process
6. Choosing 30 days instead of 90
A 30-day and a 90-day e-visa cost the same, and validity cannot be changed after approval. Choose 90, even for a short trip, so a changed plan does not leave you with an expired visa.
7. Putting a child on a parent’s application
Every traveler with their own passport needs their own application, including children. Attaching a child to a parent’s file can cause both to fail. If you are applying for a family, ask support how to submit them together.
8. The Friday evening trap
A Friday evening in the US is already Saturday in Vietnam, where weekday processing does not run. A file submitted then waits until Monday. For a weekend or Monday-morning flight, submit earlier in the week or use the weekend tier.
9. Reapplying while the first one is pending
A second application under the same passport can hold both files and means paying the government fee twice. Check the live status at evisa.gov.vn/e-visa/search with your registration code, email and date of birth, then ask for a speed-up of the existing file instead.
10. Using a look-alike website
The only official addresses are evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn. Check the domain letter by letter, since copies often add words such as “official” or end in .com or .org. A private agency, including us, is not the government and charges a service fee.
Documents Checklist for US Travelers
- A US passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date, with blank pages
- A scan of the passport photo page: flat, no glare, all four corners visible
- A recent portrait photo as a JPEG on a white background
- Your arrival date and the Vietnamese airport where you land
- The address of your first night in Vietnam
- An email address you can access, and a payment card
- Apply from outside Vietnam. An application made from inside the country is commonly rejected or left unprocessed
The government fee is $25 for single entry and $50 for multiple entry. Multiple entry is worth it only if you will leave and re-enter Vietnam, for example a side trip to Cambodia.
Can I Still Fly to Vietnam Tomorrow?
Possibly, but do not book a non-refundable flight assuming the visa will arrive. The standard route is around 3 working days, and weekends and Vietnamese holidays do not count. If you are short of time, the options by Vietnamese clock are:
| Time in Vietnam (Mon–Fri) | What is still open |
|---|---|
| Before 11:00 | 1-Day ($110) and 2-Day ($100) |
| 11:00 to 13:00 | 5-Hour ($125) and faster |
| 13:00 to 15:30 | 2.5-Hour ($155) and faster |
| 15:30 to 16:30 | 1.5-Hour ($185) and the 30–60 minute tier |
| Weekend or holiday | Weekend tier ($230 new, $210 to speed up) or a boarding letter |
About the boarding letter: it is a letter from us confirming that your e-visa application is in process. It is not a visa, and whether an airline accepts it is the airline’s decision, so we cannot guarantee it. Your approved e-visa is still needed at Vietnamese immigration. See what a boarding letter can and cannot do.
Already Made a Mistake? Your Two Options
If you applied on evisa.gov.vn and spotted an error, you can fix it in one of two ways:
- Wait for the government to ask for a correction. This commonly takes 3 to 5 days. In some cases a visa is issued with wrong details and cannot be used, so a new application is needed.
- Ask us to check the file now. We review every detail, and if something is wrong we request that it be opened for correction. A correction-only service is available for $85 through the site or WhatsApp. If you also need speed, a speed-up tier combines the check with a faster timeline.
A speed-up escalates your file. It cannot change a wrong detail by itself, and Vietnamese immigration makes the final decision. Never reapply on top of a pending file.
Spotted a mistake in your application? Send your registration code and a screenshot of the status.
WhatsApp +84 947 754 252Send your reference code (format E260705…) if you already applied.
US Time Zones: Your Cutoff
Weekday tiers close at fixed Vietnam times. Here is when the 1-Day cutoff (11:00) and the weekend cutoff (15:00) fall for you:
| Where you are | 1-Day cutoff (11:00 VNT, weekdays) | Weekend cutoff (15:00 VNT, Sat/Sun) |
|---|---|---|
| New York / Atlanta | 00:00 EDT · 23:00 (prev. day) EST | 04:00 EDT · 03:00 EST |
| Chicago / Dallas | 23:00 (prev. day) CDT · 22:00 (prev. day) CST | 03:00 CDT · 02:00 CST |
| Denver | 22:00 (prev. day) MDT · 21:00 (prev. day) MST | 02:00 MDT · 01:00 MST |
| Los Angeles / Seattle | 21:00 (prev. day) PDT · 20:00 (prev. day) PST | 01:00 PDT · 00:00 PST |
Where two times are shown, use summer or winter time as it applies today. US clocks change on 1 November 2026. Vietnam is UTC+7 all year.
Prices
All prices include the $25 government fee and are for single entry. Multiple entry adds $25.
| Tier | Delivery | New application | Speed Up (already applied) | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 3 working days | $50 | — | Mon–Fri |
| 3-Day | 3 days | $90 | $70 | Mon–Fri |
| 2-Day | 2 days | $100 | $80 | Mon–Fri |
| 1-Day | 1 day | $110 | $90 | Mon–Fri |
| 5-Hour | about 5 hours | $125 | $100 | Mon–Fri |
| 2.5-Hour | about 2.5 hours | $155 | $130 | Mon–Fri |
| 1.5-Hour | about 1.5 hours | $185 | $160 | Mon–Fri |
| 30–60 minutes | 30–60 minutes | $215 | $190 | Mon–Fri only |
| Weekend / Holiday | typically before 06:00 VNT next morning | $230 | $210 | Sat, Sun, public holidays |
Our Refund Policy
Our refund policy: 100% refund if we cannot complete your visa, or if we do not complete it within the timeframe we committed to. Read the conditions in our Terms & Conditions, and confirm the price, the time and the refund in writing on WhatsApp before you pay. No agency controls Vietnamese immigration’s decision or timing.
Reviews are public on Trustpilot, Google and YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common Vietnam e-visa mistake?
A middle name missing from the form. The name must match the two lines at the bottom of the passport photo page exactly.
What entry port should US travelers choose?
The first Vietnamese airport where the plane lands, such as SGN, HAN or DAD. Not a US airport, and not a transit airport such as ICN, NRT or SIN.
Which date do I enter as the entry date?
The day you land in Vietnam, not the day you leave the US. Flights from the US often land one or two days later.
Should I choose 30 or 90 days?
90 days. It costs the same and cannot be changed after approval.
Can I fix a mistake after I have paid?
Sometimes. You can wait for the government to request a correction, which commonly takes 3 to 5 days, or ask us to check the file. Some wrong visas cannot be used and need a new application.
Should I reapply if my application has an error?
No, not on top of a pending file. A duplicate can hold both files and means paying the government fee twice. Check the status and ask for a correction or speed-up.
Does a child need a separate application?
Yes. Every traveler with a passport needs their own application. Adding a child to a parent’s file can cause both to fail.
What is the refund policy?
100% refund if we cannot complete your visa, or if we do not complete it within the timeframe we committed to. Confirm the price, the time and the refund in writing on WhatsApp before you pay.
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Need it fast? Message our support team.
WhatsApp +84 947 754 252Send your reference code (format E260705…) if you already applied.
VietnamVisaEasy.com is a private travel agency, not affiliated with the Vietnamese government. We charge a fee to assist with visa applications. If you don’t need assistance, you can apply directly on the official government website, evisa.gov.vn. For questions, visit our contact page.