Vietnam Visa Approval Time on Weekends and Public Holidays
By VietnamVisaEasy Visa Team · 2025-08-01 · Updated 2026-11-07
Many travelers apply on Friday evening and expect the visa on Saturday. It rarely works that way. This guide explains Vietnam visa approval on weekends and holidays, and how to plan around them.
Is there Vietnam visa approval on weekends?
Not for normal applications. The Vietnam Immigration Department works Monday to Friday, about 8:00–11:30 and 13:30–18:30 Vietnam time. Files sent on Saturday or Sunday wait until Monday morning.
The only way to get a visa on a weekend is the weekend and holiday service.
How does the weekend and holiday service work?
It is a special urgent service with a same-day result.
| Service | Price | Result |
|---|---|---|
| New e-visa, weekend or holiday | US$230 | By about 6 PM Vietnam time |
| Speed up existing application, weekend or holiday | US$210 | By about 6 PM Vietnam time |
| Multiple entry | +US$25 | Same |
Apply as early in the day as possible. Orders placed late in the afternoon may not make that day's result. Message us first if it is already after midday in Vietnam.
Which Vietnamese holidays pause processing?
These are the main ones.
| Holiday | Usual dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | 1 January | 1 day |
| Tet (Lunar New Year) | Late January or February | Usually 5–9 days off |
| Hung Kings Day | 10th day of the 3rd lunar month | Usually in April |
| Reunification Day and Labour Day | 30 April and 1 May | Often joined into a longer break |
| National Day | 2 September | Often with an extra day |
The government sometimes adds bridge days. Check before you plan around these dates.
What happens to applications sent before a holiday?
They wait, and the queue grows. After a long holiday, every file from the closed days reaches the office at once. Normal processing can take a week or more in the days after Tet.
If you travel just after a holiday, apply before it starts, with time to spare.
How should I plan a weekend flight?
Act on Thursday or Friday morning.
- If your flight is on Saturday or Sunday, apply by Thursday with 1 working day, or Friday morning with 5 hours or faster.
- If you only notice on Friday afternoon, use the 2.5 hour or faster speed before 6:30 PM Vietnam time.
- If it is already the weekend, use the weekend service early in the day.
Remember time zones. Friday evening in the US is already Saturday in Vietnam.
What if my application is stuck going into the weekend?
Speed it up with the weekend service, or on Friday. The weekend speed-up costs US$210. If it is still Friday in Vietnam, a weekday speed-up such as 2.5 hours (US$130) may be cheaper. See how to speed up a Vietnam visa.
Do holidays in my country matter?
No. Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter in your country do not affect processing in Vietnam. December 25 is a normal working day in Vietnam, though demand is high around it.
How do I apply on a weekend?
Online, like any other day.
- Open the application form.
- Choose Apply new e-visa or Speed up existing visa.
- Select Weekend / holiday.
- Upload your documents and pay.
- Send your flight details to us on WhatsApp.
What does a weekend order look like?
An American family living in Singapore, flying to Phu Quoc and then Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday at 9 AM, they realise only the island part is visa-free. They order 4 weekend visas at US$230 each at 9:30 AM Vietnam time.
The visas arrive at 4:40 PM on Saturday. If they had waited until Sunday afternoon, the result might not have come before their flight.
How busy is the weekend service around Tet?
Very busy. In the days just before and after Tet, many travelers need visas at once, and the weekend service may not accept late orders. If your trip falls near Tet, apply at least 2 weeks before the holiday starts.
Can I speed up on Friday instead of paying the weekend price?
Often yes, and it is cheaper. On Friday morning in Vietnam, a 2.5 hour speed-up (US$130) or 5 hour speed-up (US$100) usually finishes the same day. Only use the weekend service if Friday's working hours are already over.
What documents do I need?
A clear passport scan and a portrait photo for each traveler.
- Passport photo page: flat, sharp, all 4 corners and the 2 bottom lines visible.
- Portrait: recent, front-facing, plain light background, no glasses or hat.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival.
- Your landing date, entry airport and first address in Vietnam.
On fast speeds, a retaken photo can cost more time than anything else. Check both images before you pay.
What else should I know?
The visa is the same. It is the official e-visa, valid for up to 90 days, verifiable on the official e-visa portal. Prices for every speed are in the service fee guide.
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 the refund policy.
Frequently asked questions
Are Vietnam visas processed on Saturday and Sunday?
Not with normal or weekday urgent speeds. Only the weekend and holiday service runs, for US$230.
What time does the weekend visa arrive?
By about 6 PM Vietnam time on the day you order, if you apply early enough in the day.
Which holidays stop visa processing?
Vietnamese public holidays, including New Year, Tet, Hung Kings Day, 30 April, 1 May and 2 September.
Do holidays in my country matter?
No. Only Vietnamese weekends and holidays affect processing.
Need your visa today?
Urgent options from 30–60 minutes, also on weekends & holidays.
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