Vietnam visa for US citizens

Short answer: US citizens need a visa for Vietnam. US is not on Vietnam's visa-exemption list. The simplest option is the eVisa: it is issued online, valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, and accepted at all of Vietnam's international airports and most land and sea border gates. The government fee is $25 for single entry and $50 for multiple entry.

What you need

• A US passport valid for at least 6 months after your entry date, with blank pages.
• A clear photo of the passport bio page.
• A recent portrait photo on a plain light background, with no glasses.
• Your planned entry date, entry point (airport or border gate) and an address in Vietnam. A hotel is fine.

Single or multiple entry?

If you fly into Vietnam and out again at the end of the trip, single entry is enough. If you plan a side trip to Cambodia, Laos or Thailand and then come back into Vietnam, get multiple entry. On a single-entry eVisa, the day you leave Vietnam is the day the visa ends, even if days are left on it.

US-specific points to get right

Most problems for US travellers come from the name fields. Enter your name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable lines at the bottom of the passport bio page: surname first, then given names, including middle names. If your passport shows a middle name, it has to appear on the eVisa too. A shortened or missing middle name is one of the most common reasons an eVisa doesn't match at check-in.

• Passport card: not accepted. You need the passport book.
• Recently renewed passport: apply with the new passport number, and travel on that passport.
• Dual US/Vietnamese citizens: you may be able to enter on a Vietnamese passport or a visa-exemption certificate instead. Check before you apply.

Doing it yourself vs. using a service

You can apply on the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, and pay only the government fee. With time to spare and a simple case, that is a sensible choice. People use a service like ours when time is short, or when they don't want to risk losing the non-refundable government fee to a typo:

• We check your passport data, photo and dates before you pay.
• Urgent processing goes down to about 1.5 hours. The portal has no rush option.
• You can reach a person on WhatsApp if something goes wrong.

Economy processing with us is $48 for single entry and $68 for multiple entry, government fee included. See the full price table.

Before you land

• Print your eVisa, or keep the PDF offline on your phone. Check that the name, passport number and dates match your passport exactly.
• Enter through the airport or border gate you named, or another gate listed as accepting eVisas.
• Arriving at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City)? Complete the online pre-arrival declaration first. Our arrival card guide explains how.

Quick answers

Can US citizens get visa-free entry to Vietnam?

Not for the mainland. The only exception is Phu Quoc island: you can stay up to 30 days without a visa if you fly directly into Phu Quoc from abroad, stay on the island and leave directly from there. If you travel on to the mainland, even for a day, you need a visa.

How long does the eVisa take?

The official timeline is about 3 working days, and it can take longer in busy periods. With our service: Economy is 4 to 6 working days, and urgent tiers go down to about 1.5 hours. See how long a Vietnam eVisa takes.

Do US citizens need a printed visa?

The eVisa is electronic, but carry a printed copy as well. Some airlines check it at check-in in the US, and paper is quicker than finding a PDF with no signal.

Can I extend the eVisa inside Vietnam?

Extensions are limited and not guaranteed. The safer plan is to request enough days for the whole trip at the start. More in can I extend my Vietnam eVisa.

This guide is general information. Vietnam visa rules and processing times change — always check the current requirements. evisavietnamexpress.com is a private visa assistance service, not the official government portal.