Last updated: November 4, 2026
"Tourist visa" can mean three different documents in Vietnam, and many websites still describe the rules from before 2023. This guide explains which tourist visa fits your trip, how long it lets you stay, what you may and may not do on it, and what to do if you want to stay longer.
⚡ At a glance | Vietnam tourist visa in 2026 |
|---|---|
Main option | ✅ Tourist e-visa (code EV), open to all nationalities |
Maximum stay | Up to 90 days on an e-visa; up to 3 months on an embassy DL visa |
Government fee | USD 25 single entry · USD 50 multiple entry |
Normal processing | Allow 4–6 working days for an e-visa |
Visa-free instead? | ✅ About 39 nationalities, 14–90 days depending on passport |
Work allowed? | ❌ No, tourism and family visits only |
What is a Vietnam tourist visa?
It is any Vietnamese visa issued for the purpose of tourism, leisure or visiting family and friends. It lets you enter and stay for a fixed period, but it does not allow you to work or run a business in Vietnam.
Under the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners (Law 47/2014, amended by Law 51/2019 and Law 23/2023), there are two visa codes a tourist will meet. A visa stamped in your passport by an embassy, or at an airport, carries the code DL (from "du lịch", tourism) and lasts up to 3 months. An electronic visa carries the code EV; when you choose "tourism" as the purpose, it works as a tourist visa and lasts up to 90 days.
Both are issued by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security. For a full list of codes such as DN (business), LD (work) and TT (family), see our Vietnam visa types and codes explained.
Do you need a tourist visa for Vietnam?
Only if your passport is not visa-exempt, or if your trip is longer than your visa-free period. Check this first, because many travellers pay for a visa they do not need.
🌍 Your passport | Visa-free stay | Need a tourist visa? |
|---|---|---|
UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea and 17 other European countries | 45 days | ➖ Only for stays over 45 days |
Chile, Panama | 90 days | ➖ Rarely |
Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos | 30 days | ➖ Only for stays over 30 days |
Philippines | 21 days | ➖ Only for stays over 21 days |
Indonesia | ⚠️ 14 days since July 15, 2026 | ➖ Only for stays over 14 days |
USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Ireland and most others | ❌ None | ✅ Yes, an e-visa is the usual choice |
Any passport, flying directly to Phu Quoc and staying on the island | 30 days | ➖ Not for Phu Quoc only |
The full country list, with legal sources, is in our Vietnam visa exemption guide. Note that being in the EU or Schengen does not make you exempt: Ireland, Portugal, Austria and Greece, for example, are not on the list. The island rule is explained in Phu Quoc visa-free 30 days.
Which tourist visa route should you choose?
For almost every tourist, the e-visa is the right choice. It is issued online, needs no embassy visit and no cash at the airport, and works at all main international airports plus listed land and sea gates.
⚖️ Factor | Tourist e-visa (EV) | Embassy visa (DL) | Visa on arrival (DL) |
|---|---|---|---|
Who can use it | ✅ All nationalities | ✅ All, where an embassy is reachable | ⚠️ Limited cases, through a Vietnamese sponsor |
Maximum stay | Up to 90 days | Up to 3 months | As stated in the approval letter |
Embassy visit | ❌ Not needed | ✅ Needed (or by post) | ❌ Not needed |
Passport handed over | ❌ No | ⚠️ Yes, during processing | ❌ No |
Entry points | Airports plus listed land and sea gates | ✅ Any international gate | ❌ International airports only |
Cash on arrival | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ USD 25 or 50 stamping fee |
Best for | Holidays, family visits, side trips | Travellers who want a sticker in the passport | Trips already arranged by a Vietnamese sponsor |
Embassies set their own procedures, opening hours and collection charges, so check with the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country before you go. If you are curious about the airport route, read how Vietnam visa on arrival really works; it needs an approval letter before you fly.
How long can you stay on a Vietnam tourist visa?
Up to 90 days on a tourist e-visa, and up to 3 months on a DL visa from an embassy. You choose the dates when you apply, and the visa is valid only between the start and end dates printed on it.
On the e-visa form you enter an intended entry date and an exit date. Choose dates that cover your whole trip with a few days of buffer. The day you arrive counts as day 1, and leaving one day after the end date is an overstay.
- Single entry: valid for one entry. If you leave Vietnam, even for a day trip to Cambodia, the visa is used up.
- Multiple entry: lets you leave and come back as often as you like within the dates. The government fee is USD 50 instead of USD 25.
- Entry gate: the e-visa form asks for your first entry gate. Make sure it is on the list of Vietnam e-visa ports of entry, especially for land borders.
Pick the dates for the trip you will really take, not the shortest trip you might take. A longer e-visa costs the same; an overstay does not.
What does a Vietnam tourist visa cost?
The government fee is USD 25 for single entry and USD 50 for multiple entry. These amounts apply to visas of up to 90 days under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC, and they are not refunded if the visa is refused.
If you apply yourself on the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, the government fee is all you pay. If you use an agency, you pay a total that includes the government fee. At Vietnam Visa Easy the normal service is USD 50 for single entry (USD 75 for multiple entry), and urgent processing costs more depending on speed.
💵 Option | Single entry | Multiple entry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Official portal, do it yourself | USD 25 | USD 50 | ✅ Cheapest; you handle errors yourself |
Vietnam Visa Easy, normal (4–6 working days) | USD 50 | USD 75 | Government fee included |
Vietnam Visa Easy, urgent (Vietnam working hours) | USD 70–215 | USD 95–240 | From 4 working days down to 30–60 minutes |
Weekend or public holiday | USD 230 | USD 255 | ⚠️ Saturday, Sunday or holiday only |
Visa-free passport within the limit | USD 0 | USD 0 | ➖ No visa needed |
Every speed and price is listed in our Vietnam visa cost guide, and realistic timelines, including public holidays, are in Vietnam e-visa processing time.
Not sure whether you need a visa, or which dates to put on the form? Send us your passport nationality and travel dates.
How do you apply for a tourist e-visa?
You fill in one online form, upload a passport photo page and a portrait photo, pay, and wait for the PDF. No documents are posted and no interview is needed.
- Check your passport: at least 6 months of validity from arrival, and a blank page for stamps. See Vietnam passport validity rules.
- Prepare two images: a clear scan of the passport data page and a recent portrait photo with a plain background, no glasses.
- Fill in the form: purpose "tourism", entry and exit dates, first entry gate, address in Vietnam (a hotel is fine), single or multiple entry.
- Pay and save your registration code: you need it to check the result.
- Download the approved e-visa: check every letter of your name, the passport number and the dates before you fly.
Our screen-by-screen walkthrough of the official site is here: how to apply for a Vietnam e-visa online. For an overview of the e-visa itself, see the Vietnam e-visa guide.
What can you do, and not do, on a tourist visa?
Tourism, family visits and similar personal activities are fine; any paid work in Vietnam is not. Working on a tourist visa can lead to fines, deportation and an entry ban.
🧭 Activity | On a tourist visa? | What to use instead |
|---|---|---|
Sightseeing, beaches, tours, festivals | ✅ Yes | ➖ |
Visiting relatives or friends | ✅ Yes | For long stays with a Vietnamese spouse or parent: TT visa |
Medical or dental treatment as a patient | ✅ Generally yes, within your dates | ➖ |
Short leisure course, such as cooking or yoga | ✅ Generally yes | Degree or long study: student visa (DH) |
Meetings, trade fairs, signing contracts | ⚠️ Not the right purpose | E-visa with business purpose, or DN visa |
Teaching English, even unpaid | ❌ No | Work permit and LD visa |
Working for a Vietnamese company | ❌ No | Work permit and LD visa |
Remote work for a foreign employer | ⚠️ Not defined in law | No digital nomad visa exists yet; see below |
Vietnam does not have a digital nomad visa, and the law does not clearly address remote work for an overseas employer. Many people do it quietly, but we cannot tell you it is permitted. If you plan to work in Vietnam in any form for months, look at the sponsored options in our visa types guide.
Local rules also apply to tourists. For example, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco are now banned; read Vietnam's vape ban for tourists before you pack.
Can you extend a Vietnam tourist visa?
Usually not for an e-visa: the practical way to stay longer is to leave and enter again on a new visa or exemption. A DL visa may sometimes be extended through a licensed Vietnamese travel company acting as sponsor, but approval is not guaranteed.
- E-visa holders: plan your dates up front. If you need more time, apply for a new e-visa before your current one ends, exit (for example to a neighbouring country) and re-enter on the new visa.
- DL visa holders: ask a licensed travel company before your visa expires. It files the request with the immigration office; government and service fees apply, and your passport may be held for several working days.
- Visa-free visitors: you cannot extend at the airport. Apply for an e-visa if your trip will run past your exemption.
Rules and local practice on extensions change, so treat any agency that "guarantees" an extension with caution. More detail is in our Vietnam visa extension guide.
What do you need on arrival?
Your passport, your approved e-visa (printed and on your phone) and, often, proof of a return or onward ticket. Immigration compares the e-visa with your passport, so any mismatch in name, number or dates is a problem.
Since April 15, 2026, travellers arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City have been asked to complete a free online pre-arrival declaration, and reports say it has spread to other major airports. Sources do not agree on whether it is compulsory everywhere, so it is safest to complete it; see our Vietnam pre-arrival form guide. Only use official government websites for this; it costs nothing.
What no agency can honestly promise
Every e-visa is decided by the Vietnam Immigration Department, not by an agency. No one can guarantee approval, a fixed delivery time on a day when the department is slow, or entry at the border, which is always the decision of the officer on duty.
No agency can extend an e-visa you already hold, change a single-entry visa to multiple entry, or make a tourist visa legal for work. Be wary of anyone who says otherwise, or who charges "approval guarantee" fees. If you just want the cheapest route, the official portal at evisa.gov.vn costs only the government fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vietnam e-visa a tourist visa?
Yes, when you select tourism as the purpose. Its code is EV rather than DL, but it lets you visit as a tourist for up to 90 days.
How long is a Vietnam tourist visa valid?
An e-visa is valid for the dates you choose, up to 90 days. An embassy DL visa can be issued for up to 3 months.
Can US, Australian or Canadian citizens visit Vietnam visa-free?
No. These nationalities need a visa, and the tourist e-visa is the usual choice, except for direct trips to Phu Quoc island only, which are visa-free for up to 30 days.
Is a single-entry or multiple-entry tourist visa better?
Choose multiple entry (USD 50 government fee) if you might leave Vietnam and return during your trip. Otherwise single entry (USD 25) is enough.
Can I work remotely on a Vietnam tourist visa?
The law does not clearly allow it, and Vietnam has no digital nomad visa. Working for a Vietnamese employer or teaching on a tourist visa is clearly not allowed.
How early should I apply for a Vietnam tourist e-visa?
Apply at least 1–2 weeks before you fly to allow 4–6 working days plus weekends and holidays. If your flight is sooner, use urgent processing.
Related guides: Vietnam e-visa · Visa exemption list · Vietnam visa cost · Staying longer in Vietnam · Long Thanh airport arrivals