Vietnam visa for United States citizens

Do US passport holders need a visa for Vietnam?

American citizens planning to go to Vietnam are required to obtain a valid visa to enter the country. US passports are eligible for several types of visas:

• Tourism purposes with a validity of 30-90 days.
• Visit relatives with sponsorship and proof of family relationships such as a child, a spouse, or a parent of Vietnamese nationals. The visa is valid for one year.
• Business purposes with sponsorship from a company that is eligible for sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam.

Visa exemption for US citizens

The visa exemption for US citizens, commonly referred to as a 5-year visa, is a type of entry visa that is granted by the Vietnamese authorities to American citizens who have a guarantor in Vietnam. To apply for the 5-year visa exemption, American nationals and the guarantors in Vietnam must prove their family relationship with relevant documents.

US citizens are eligible for the visa exemption if they meet the following conditions:

• Passport or international travel document must be valid for at least 1 year.
• Having a guarantor (Vietnamese citizen) who is a spouse, or child of the American applicant, and the relationship must be proven by relevant documents specified in Article 2, Section 1 of Decree No. 82/2015/ND-CP, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.
• Not belonging to cases of denial of entry or suspension of exit as prescribed in Article 28 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, No. 47/2014/QH13.

Exemption of visa for US passport holders who are relatives of Vietnamese or Vietnamese Americans requires the following documents:

• Application for a 5-year visa exemption.
• Two 4x6 portrait photos with a white background (1 photo attached to the application for visa exemption, 1 photo for record).
• Passport or valid international travel document with at least 1-year validity (accompanied by a copy for the record).
• Proof of family relationship, such as a spouse, husband, wife, or child of Vietnamese living abroad (submit a certified copy from the original or attach the original for comparison):
  • Marriage certificate proving the relationship between husband and wife
  • Birth certificate proving the relationship between parent and child
  • Confirmation of the relationship between father, mother, and child
  • Decision on foster care

Visa exemption for Vietnamese Americans living in the US

Vietnamese nationals born living in the United States can obtain a 5-year visa exemption. Here are the required documents for visa exemption:

• Application form for visa exemption for foreign nationals.
• 2 portrait photos sized 4x6 with white background (1 photo to be attached to the application form, 1 photo to be left out).
• US passport or valid international travel documents issued by competent foreign authorities with at least 1 year of validity.
• Supporting documents for visa exemption eligibility (if available), specifically:
  • Certificate of Vietnamese nationality
  • Decision on the resumption of Vietnamese nationality (certified copy or extract)
  • Decision on the renunciation of Vietnamese nationality (certified copy or extract)
  • Confirmation of renunciation of Vietnamese nationality
  • Vietnamese passport (valid or expired)
  • ID card (valid or expired)
  • Birth certificate issued by competent authorities in Vietnam
  • Original household registration book issued by competent authorities in Vietnam
  • Travel permit issued before 1975
  • ID card issued before 1975
  • Certified copy of the birth certificate issued before 1975

How to apply for a Vietnamese visa on US passports

General information

US passports can apply for an e-visa online, visa on arrival, and apply at Vietnam Embassy or Consulate. Tourist visas are generally valid for stays of up to 30 days while business visas are available for stays of up to 90 days.

E-visa

American passports are eligible for the Vietanm e-visa program. In general, you need to complete an online application form, upload a recent passport-style photo and the biographical page of your passport then pay the application fee. Here are details of the e-visa application process:

1. Go to the official e-visa website: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt and choose the “E-visa issuance”
2. Click on “personally apply for E-visa” then fill out the online application form by providing your personal, passport details and uploading a required passport-sized photo and a scanned copy of the biographical page of your passport.
3. Pay the e-visa fee (25 USD). The application will be processed in 3-5 working days.
4. Print out the e-visa approval and present it at the airport upon your arrival in Vietnam.

Visa on arrival

US citizens can obtain a visa on arrival by doing the following steps:

1. Fill out an online application form for a pre-approved letter through an online visa agency. 
2. Pay the approval letter fee and wait for 2-3 working days.
3. Get an approval letter by email and print it out.
4. Prepare a Vietnamese visa application form, 2 passport-sized photos 4x6cm, your passport, and cash for the stamping fee.
5. Present those documents once you arrive at Vietnam’s airport and get a visa stamp.

Applying for a visa at the local embassy or consulate

Here are some essential steps to complete:

1. Required documents: You need a valid passport for at least six months beyond the date of your arrival in Vietnam. Then complete a visa application form available on the embassy’s website and two passport-sized photos.
2. Pay the visa fee.
3. Submit your application and wait for processing. It takes around 5 to 7 business days.
4. You can pick your visa up at the Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam in person or have it mailed to you.

What are visa fees for US citizens

Visa on arrival fee

Visa on arrival will involve two types of fees:

• Service fee: This is a fee to get the Vietnam visa approval letter. It varies according to the type of visa you apply for and the processing time.
• Stamping fee: You need to pay this fee at Vietnam international airport to get a visa stamped. 
  • Single entry visa (one month and three months): US$25
  • Multiple entry visa (one month and three months): US$50
  • Multiple entry visa (one year): US$135

E-visa fee

The fee for a Vietnam e-visa for US citizens is US$25. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid online by credit card at the time of application.

Visa change timelines

• 2007: Visa on arrival is available to US citizens
• March 2010: Vietnam opened the Consulate General office in Houston
• 2016: Vietnam grants 1 year multiple entry visa to US nationals
• February 2017: Vietnam issues e-visa for US passports (30 days, single entry)

Summary of the visa requirements for citizens from the U.S

Travel tips for US citizens visiting Vietnam

How to get there

There are a number of airlines operating direct and connected international flights between the US and Vietnam. Since late 2021, Vietnam Airlines has become Vietnam’s first airline to offer direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and San Fransisco. Besides, you can opt for a wide range of connected flights between the US and Vietnam as follows:

San Fransisco - Ho Chi Minh City

New York City - Ho Chi Minh City

New York City - Hanoi

Los Angeles - Ho Chi Minh City

Los Angeles - Hanoi

Weather information

The difference in weather conditions between the US and Vietnam is one of the biggest concerns for US citizens when traveling to Vietnam. The US experiences a wide range of climates due to its large area and varied geography, while Vietnam has a tropical climate with hot and humid summers and cool winters.

• Climate zones: The large size and diverse topography in the US result in varied climate zones such as tropical, subtropical, desert, and polar climates. On the contrary, a tropical climate with high humidity and consistent and relatively hot temperatures gains dominance in Vietnam.
• Temperature range: Due to its diverse climates, the temperature range in the US is also wider than that in Vietnam. Some parts of the US can experience temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F) in winter and as high as 50°C (122°F) in summer, while in Vietnam, the temperatures usually range from 25°C (77°F) to 35°C (95°F) throughout the year.
• Seasons: The US features four distinct seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter) which are similar to the northern parts of Vietnam. Meanwhile, southern Vietnam has two seasons - the rainy season (May to October) and the dry season (November to April). The rainy or wet season is characterized by torrential rains and occasional tropical storms while the dry season is hot and humid.
• Humidity: Due to the tropical climate, the humidity level in Vietnam is relatively high, ranging from 70% to 90%. On the other hand, the humidity in the US varies by region and time.

If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, be ready to experience a totally different weather pattern. You should check the weather conditions in your particular destinations and pack suitable clothes accordingly prior to departure.