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Vietnam Transit Visa
A Vietnam transit visa is a visa that permits travelers to pass through Vietnam on their way to another destination.
When flying from one country to another, one or more stops at an international border gate before going to the third country are called a transit. Passengers can rest on the plane during transit or move to the transit area to wait for the next flight. Depending on particular circumstances, foreigners are required to obtain a transit visa for Vietnam.
What is a transit visa?
Transit visa is a visa issued for foreigners who are not exempted from a visa for Vietnam, have a connecting flight and a stopover in Vietnam, and are listed in one of the following cases:
- Foreigners who stay in Vietnam airport for over 24 hours and plan to leave the airport to sightsee around Vietnam.
- Foreigners who stay in Vietnam airport within 24 hours but must leave the transit area for a while due to compulsory reasons (such as collecting luggage to transfer to the next flight, exploring Vietnam, personal reasons, etc.).
Who does not need a transit visa?
A visa transit is not required when you are transiting through a Vietnam airport in some cases:
- You have a Vietnam visa exemption
- You have a connecting flight within 24 hours
- You are not going to leave the transit area prescribed by the competent agency of the international border gates
- You have proof of your trip to the final destination such as a visa, passport.
In these cases, foreigners must comply with some conditions to transit in Vietnam without a transit visa:
- Having a valid passport (6 months valid at least ) or international travel documents
- Having a ticket showing the journey to the third country
- A valid visa to the third country, except for visa exemption cases
How to apply?
Like many other visa types to Vietnam, you can opt for one of 3 ways to get a transit visa.
- Transit visa at Embassy: This is the most common way in which you submit documents to the Vietnam Embassy/Consulate in your residing country and get a transit visa in advance of your trip. The cost varies on the policy of the Embassy in each country.
- Transit visa online (e-visa): More convenient and time-saving, an e-visa requires all information and documents submitted online. It takes 3 working days for the review process but only applies to citizens of 81 countries accepted for e-visa issuing. The fee is US25 per time.
- Transit visa on arrival: This is the easiest way to get a visa thanks to the help of a third party (a visa agency) but only available for air-way travelers. You can fill out the information online to apply for a pre-approved visa letter and prepare some other documents (visa application form, photos, passport), and get the visa stamp at the airport in Vietnam. The approval letter fee varies based on time (urgent or regular), and the agency’s policy. The stamping fee is US$25 and must be in cash.
Important notes when traveling with a transit visa
- Important notes when traveling with a transit visa
- Due to the time zone difference among different countries, you should adjust the clock to Vietnam time to avoid missing flights.
- Make sure you follow the Transit Gate instead of the Immigration Gate.
- Remember or frequently check your flight time and number on the electronic board in case of any change in boarding gate or flight time.
- Check your luggage carefully and reduce hand luggage if possible to avoid luggage loss.
- Although there are lots of food options at the port, the price could be a bit higher than outside so you can prepare some snacks if you have a long transit time.
Questions and Answers (66)
We are flying from Warsaw, Poland to Sydney, Australia with 6h layover in Ho Chi Minh. To Ho Chi Minh we are taking Qatar Airways, to Sydney we are taking VietJet. We are not taking check in baggage, only carry one. So that means we don't leave transit area and the airport. We found information on the internet that we don't need a visa if we have flight tickets for the next flight within a few hours (not long than 24hrs), if we won't stay at the airport longer than 24 hrs and if we won't leave the airport. So we are gonna follow this rules. So my question is - if we follow these rules, do we need a visa? Thanks!
@Kamila, if you stay within the transit area, do not leave the airport, and your layover is under 24 hours, you do not need a visa.
We are flying from Melbourne into Ho Chi Minh City, have an 8 hour layover, before flying on to London. During this time we have access to a hotel (city tour not available due to the time of our layover), do we need to obtain an eVisa? Thanks
@Pip, yes, you will need to apply for an e-Visa if you plan to exit the airport and check into a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City during your layover. Without a visa, you must remain within the transit area of the airport.
I am transiting in Vietnam for 14 hours and I intend to apply for the transit visa , given that I won’t be staying in a hotel, what address should I give on my visa application?
@Aishwarya, you can apply for a regular tourist visa on the official website. Simply enter the airport name and address in the application, indicating that you’ll only be staying in the airport for a transit flight.
https://evisa.gov.vn/
Hi, I have an international direct flight from Seoul to Phu Quoc and I am going to use the Visa exemption policy. My return flight is with Vietjet Phu Quoc Tokyo with a same day connection of 4 hours in Ho Chi Minh. Can I use the exemption visa policy ( Phu Quoc ) to leave Vietnam whitout a transit Visa ? Brazilian passport
@Thais Oli, it’s recommended that you contact the airline to confirm whether you’ll need to exit the transit area for luggage transfer. If you don’t need to exit, a visa won’t be required in this case!
We are entering Vietnam through Ho Chi Minh City, and our next flight to Da Nang is in three hours. What should be entering point in E-Visa..
@Trip, You can put the entry point as either Ho Chi Minh city or Da Nang in this case, there would be no issues at all!
Hi, I'm travelling from delhi to sydney (Indian passport) via Ho Chi Minh City and the layover is 13 hours and both of the flights are of Vietjet Airline. Am I allowed to go out from the airport in this layover time. Or do I need to apply for transit visa to go out of the airport for the site seeing activities.
@Gunveer Singh, you’ll need a visa to exit the airport. You can apply for an evisa on the official website below:
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu
Hello, I am Travelling from New Delhi to Melbourne( Australian Passport). First flight from New Delhi to HCMC is Vietnam Airlines Landing at T2. Flight from HCMC to Melbourne is Viet Jet taking off from T2. The layover between 2 flights is just over 5 hours. I am not travelling with any luggage except the cabin bag and so don't need to collect luggage. My PNR number for both the flight is different however both the flights are @T2My. In this case, do I need transit visa? Do I need to pass through immigration and check in again with Viet Jet airlines or can I get the boarding pass for my second flight within the international airport. Thank you
@Satyam Mendiratta, If you are on separate bookings (different PNRs), you’ll likely need to check in again for your second flight with VietJet, which usually requires passing through immigration. In that case, you will need an entry visa. We recommend that you double-check with both airlines to see if they can issue the boarding pass for your VietJet flight at New Delhi or if you can check in online for your second flight:
- Vietnam Airlines: +84 24 38320320
- Vietjet Air: +84 1900 1886 / (+84) 28 3526 68 68
I'm traveling Adelaide(Australia) to Ahmedabad(India) via Ho Chi Minh City both are Vietjet flight but PNR is Different. My layover at Ho Chi Minh City(3 Hour). So Do i need visa and Do i need to transfer my baggage by self or need to exit transit area to take my boarding pass for Ahmedabad?
If both flights are Viet Jet you do not need to exit through immigration and collect your luggage and check in to your new flight. Viet Jet will transfer your luggage to your forward flight and you will do an internal check in. Under these circumstances you do not require a visa.
I am an Indian passport holder , I am travelling from Chengdu ( China) to Ahmedabad ( India) via Hanoi . From Chengdu to Hanoi by Sichuan airline and Hanoi to Ahmedabad by Viet jet Air. My layover at Hanoi (Noi Bai international airport) is 4h 30min and it's self transfer . As I will not carry check in luggage , only carrying cabin luggage . Do I need transit e visa or I can transfer to next flight from transit area? Will I get my boarding pass of VietJet Air in the transit area or need to exit transit area to take my boarding pass and enter again . Thanks
Hello, the rule is simple: if you exit the transit area and pass through Immigration control to check in for your next flight, you will require a valid visa for this entry.
Hi, US citizen, We are flying from Shanghai and are flying to Phu Quoc. We have a 4-hour stop in Ho Chi Minh City, which is self-transfer. We have to go from T2-T1. Do we need a transit visa?
@Rita, T1 and T2 are located in different areas, so you may need to exit the transit area and require a valid visa. We advise that you contact your airline for further confirmation.
Hello. I have an E Visa that says entry and exit from Ho Chi Minh, however now it seems like it would be better for me to leave from Hanoi. Would this be allowed?
Yes, that is fine. You can use the e-visa to exit Vietnam either via Hanoi or HCMC.
I'm traveling from Tokyo to Melbourne and have a layover of 14hrs but i'm not sure whether i'll need a transit visa in order to sleep overnight at the airport which has a sleep pods as it's in another terminal? I appreciate your assistance with this matter. Thank you.
@M, The sleep pods are located outside of the transit area. Therefore, we are afraid that you will need a visa if you want to go outside of the transit lounge and sleep overnight at the hotel or sleep pods in the airport.
Hello I will be booking flight from Bali to Osaka and my layover will be in Hanoi , I have Indian passport and will have travel visa for both Bali and Japan, do I need transit visa for Vietnam I won’t be exiting airport it’s a 3 hour layover?
@Bulbul Arora, You do not need a visa in this case as you do not leave the transit area or pass through the Immigration checkpoint.
Hi..Urgent help needed, I'm travelling tomorrow from (Sydney- Ho chi minh- Mumbai), I am Indian citizen, these are connecting flights with layover of 3 hours, but I am not sure about which terminal my connecting flight will be.. Do I required visa in this case?
A visa is not required if you do not exit the transit area. We also advise that you contact your airline for further confirmation on visa requirements.
Hi we are flying from Bangkok Thailand to Ho Chi Minh and will arrive ant 9pm. our connecting flight back to brisbane, Australia is the next day at 11am. We have a lay over of 10 hours. Do I need a visa if I wish to leave the airport o book a night at a hotel for my morning flight please?
@Jamie, Yes, as long as you exit the airport or transit area, you are required to have a valid visa. Therefore, you can apply for an e-visa to stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
We are flying from Laos (Pakse) and are flying to Phu Quoc. We have a 4 hour stop in Ho Chi Minh City which is self transfer. Do we need a transit visa? We are UK citizens?
@Victoria Barnard, UK passport holders are exempt from visa requirements for stays up to 45 days; therefore, you can fly to Vietnam for a visit or a connecting flight.
Hi - I'm US citizen flying SAI-SGN-MNL 1st on Cambodia Angkor Air, 2nd on Cebu Pacific - different tickets. I'll arrive SGN @ 22:00 and depart @ 01:25, both in Terminal 2. My VN eVisa will have expired while in Cambodia. I've read your answers but still am not certain if I need a transit visa, no visa, or another eVisa. Would appreciate any help. Thanks!
@M Scholl, You do not need a visa in this case as you do not pass the visa control counter or exit the transit area.
I am a Malaysian and flying from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo. I have a layover for 2 hours and 50 minutes at Ho Chi Minh airport with a self-transfer ( need to collect luggage and check in for next flight to tokyo). Do i require a visa?
@Ahmad Firdaus Samsuri, As a Malaysian passport holder, you do not need a visa or a transit visa, whether you are self-transferring or passing through the Immigration checkpoint for your next flight.
I am flying from frankfurt to Hanoi with a layover in HoChiMinh airport (2.25hr layover) will they ask me for a visa for HiChiMinh? My visa says my port of entry is Hanoi not Ho Chi Minh... will it be an issue?
@Kim york, If you clear the Immigration counter at Ho Chi Minh City for a domestic flight to Hanoi, you will need to present your visa upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. However, if you have an e-visa, you can use it for both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City without any issues.
I am flying to South Korea from KL. I have a two-hour transit at Ho Chi Minh City Airport. I hold an Australian passport. Do I require a transit visa?
@Sumaiyah Majeed, You won't need a visa as long as you stay within the transit area of Ho Chi Minh City and do not go through Immigration counter.
I am flying from Sydney to London with a stop over in Noi Bai. I have a layover for 10 hours and stay in terminal 2. I plan on getting a sleep pod in terminal 2. Do I need a visa?
@Georgie Barnett, You do not need a visa as long as you do not exit the transit area or go through the Immigration counter at the International terminal (Terminal 2).
We are flying from Sydney to Paris with a stopover in Hanoi of 2 hours, travelling with Vietnam Airlines. We do not intend to leave the transit area, however, we arrive in Terminal 1 and our flight from Hanoi to Paris leaves from Terminal 2. Will this require us to pass through immigration and leave the transit area?
@Kaz, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are located in two separate areas; therefore, it is not possible to internally transfer between them. You may still need to pass through immigration before transferring to Terminal 2. We advise you to contact Vietnam Airlines for assistance in this case to see if they can help you transfer to T2 without having to go through customs.
Hi, I have a flight from MEL to Paris next week with one stop in Ho Chi Minh (SGN). This layover is around 6 hours and we do not plan to leave the airport. Do I need a transit visa? Both flight are on one booking with Vietnam airlines. Thank you!
@Ellen Felberg, If you do not pass through the immigration checkpoint or exit the transit area, you will not require a visa for this layover.
Hi, I am Malaysia citizen travel from BNE - Ho Chi Minh - JOHOR BAHRU. Layover around 3.4hours and "self-transfer" for the next flight. I need to exit the airport or pass through the Immigration counter at Vietnam airport to collect luggage and check in back. And my passport is less than 6 months. So this is why I’m traveling back to get my passport renewal. Should I apply for any documents to prove?
@Wanni Chong, You are required to have a valid passport (with a validity of at least 6 months beyond the exit date). Therefore, it is advised that you renew your passport before traveling to Vietnam either on a 30 day visa-free entry or with an approved visa.
Hi, I am Malaysia citizen travel from KUL - Ho Chi Minh - Hong Kong. Layover around 5 hours and "self-transfer" for the next flight. I need to exit the airport or pass through the Immigration counter at Vietnam airport to collect luggage and check in back. Do I need to apply for a transit visa or any visa?
@Jasmine, Malaysian passports do not need a visa for Vietnam for 30 days for whatever purposes including transit, tourism or business! Therefore, you do not need any visa for this "self-transfer"!
Hi my partner and I are travelling to Paris. We fly in to ho chi min city and have to take a second flight from a different airport terminal to Hanoi before we get on our final flight to Paris. Do we need a visa for this?
@Jacob Nicholls, In this case, it seems you will need a visa as you will pass through the immigration checkpoint from the domestic terminal to Hanoi. You can apply for an e-visa for this entry!
Hi there, I’m transiting from Australia through to Paris, via Ho Chi Minh (from Melbourne) to Hanoi then finally off to Paris. I won’t be leaving the airport the whole time but will be catching a domestic flight, will this require an E-visa?
@Alana R, If you exit the transit area or pass through the immigration counter, you will need a visa for this layover as the domestic flight is in a different terminal.
I am a Swiss national travelling from Hong Kong to Siem Reap via both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. HK - Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh - Siem Reap. Do I need to apply for a transit visa?
@Luca Mottas, You do not need a transit visa if you just stay within the transit area. If not, you are required a visa to exit the airport or pass through the Immigration counter at Vietnam airport!
Hello 😊 I have a "self transfer" in Ho Chi Minh where I am required to leave the visa free area, and immediately go back into it to transfer for my next flight, which is a 2 hour and 30 minute layover. Will I need a visa to do this? Coming from Sydney Australia and going to Lisbon Portugal
@Cameron Fahey, We are afraid that you will need a visa for this self-transfer as you pass through the immigration counter. You can apply for an e-visa online on the official website below: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt
Hello and good morning, my name is Uwe Semrau and I have to travel to India. The only way I've found is by flying from Beijing via Ho Chi Minh City Airport. There I have to wait 1 hour 20 minutes until my next flight. I am a German citizen and am now asking whether I need a transit visa or not as I will not be leaving the transit area.
@Uwe Semrau, German passports do not need a visa for 15-day stay, therefore, you do not need any type of visa for this transit!
I have a 15 hour lay over in Vietnam before heading to my next destination. I do not wish to stay in the transit lounge as we arrive at night and leave late the next day. Do I need a visa? Can I leave the airport and return the next day to get my flight. If I need a visa can I get when I arrive at airport?
@Natalie, If you plan to exit the airport and visit Ho Chi Minh City, you will require a visa for this entry. Please be advised that it is not possible to obtain a visa directly at the Vietnam airport. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for an e-visa beforehand.
Hello I am an Indian passport holder who is travelling to Incheon. My flight has a layover of 5 1/2 hour in ho chi Minh City. Arrival and departure is from the same terminal and same airline. Do I need a transit visa for this layover ?
@Anumeya Chandra, If you do not exit the transit area or pass the Immigration counter, you do not need a visa for this layover!
Hello, I am an Indian passport holder with long term residence visa in South Korea. I am travelling to Bali from Seoul and have a stopover of 10 hours at Ho Chi Minh City and need to do the self transfer even though both the flights are from same airlines. Do I need the visa for this self transfer?
@Rohit Thakur, If your self-transfer requires you to exit the transit area for the baggage collections and flight checkin, then you will need a visa for this stopover!
My flight would be from Seoul to ho Chi Minh terminal 2 then ho Chi Minh terminal 2 to Shanghai after 2 1/2 hour layover. But I have to re check in my bags. Will I need a transit visa? Thank you
@Dominic, If you exit the transit area and pass through the immigration counters, you are required a visa for this layover!
I am an Indian passport holder. I have flights from Kolkata to Hanoi by Indigo and then from Hanoi to Narita by Vietjet The stopver time is 5 hours. For the return flight again I will fly from Narita to Hanoi on vietjet and later from Hanoi to Kolkata on Indigo. I have again a layover of 8 hours this time. May you please suggest what tyoe of visa I may need?
@Avirup, You do not need a visa for both layovers if you do not exit the airport and just stay within the transit area. If you want to exit the airport, you can apply for an e-visa and it will allow you to get out and explore the city!
I have a ticket to travel from Brisbane to Hamburg on Vietnam Airlines on August 8th, 2023. I am scheduled to arrive at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 5:10am and have a layover at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), for about 18½ hours towards the UK leaving Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 11:40pm on same day, 8th of August. Do I require a transit visa?
@Shantel, If you stay within the transit area, you do not need a visa for this 18 hour stopover!
Hi, I'm flying from Melbourne to Paris on 25th June but I have two stopovers in Vetnam. The first one in Ho Chi Minh City and then the second one in Hanoi. When I arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, I'll have to transfer from terminal 2 to terminal 1 to catch my connecting flight to Hanoi. Once I arrive in Hanoi, I'll need to transfer from terminal 1 to terminal 2 to catch my other connecting flight to Paris. Then on 20th July, I'm flying from Paris to Melbourne where I have two stopovers in Vietnam. First stopover is in Hanoi and the other one is in Ho Chi Minh City. for the stopover in Hanoi, I'll need to transfer to terminal 1 from terminal 2 to catch my connecting flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Then to catch my other connecting flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne, I'll need to trasnfer from terminal 1 to terminal 2. How many single entry Vietnam visas will I need to apply for in this case?
@Cian Channon-Ling, You will need to apply for 2 single entry visas for 2 separate transits. The first one for the entry to Vietnam on your way to Paris and the other one for flight from Paris to Melbourne with a stopover in HCMC!
Hi, I am flying to paris from sydney in June. I am flying the whole way with Vietnam Airways and have 2 stop overs in Vietnam. I land in Ho Chi Minh city and have a 2 hour layover where I need to get from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 where i than fly to Hanoi and have to go from terminal 1 to terminal 2 for a 2 hour layover than I fly to Paris. As the whole flight is with Vietnam airways I don't think i will need to collect my baggage at any point until I get to Paris. Does this mean I will need to get a transit visa or not? Thankyou.
@Lachlan Sheridan, If you go from Terminal 2 (T2) to the domestic terminal (T1), you will need to pass through the Immigration counter. In such case, we are afraid that you will need a visa to exit the visa control to transfer to the terminal 1. We advise that you contact Vietnam Airlines in such case for procedures and instructions!
Hello, I am planning to visit Cambodia for a week from Brisbane and have a 3 hour self-transfer in Ho Chi Minh on the way there and way back. I am not sure if I will have to re-checkin my bags. If I do, I will need a transit visa won't I?
@Alyssa, If you pass the Immigration counter, you will require a visa and you can apply for an e-visa to enter/exit the transit area!
I have a ticket to travel from Melbourne to Paris on Vietnam Airlines on September 30, 2023. I am scheduled to arrive at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 16:25 and have a layover at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), for about 5½ hours with my flight to Paris leaving Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 22:00 on same day, 30 the September. Do I require a transit visa? Paul
@Paul, In general, if you do not exit the transit area, you are not required a visa in this case!
Hi, I am travelling from Delhi to Sydney with stops at Hanoi (arrival @5.30 AM) and Ho Chi Minh City (Departure @ 7.30 PM same day) Do I need transit visa as I am using a domestic flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City?
@Shruti, It seems that you will need a visa in this case as you will pass through the immigration counter to check-in for the next domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
We are travelling with Vietnam Air arriving in Hanoi at 10pm. We depart next morning for Laos around 12 noon. We are planning to stay in the sleeping pods at T2. Do we need a transit visa?
@Michelle Reale, As long as you stay within the transit area and do not pass through customs, you are not required a visa for this stopover.
Hello, I am planning to visit Cambodia, but I have a 2-hour stopover in Hanoi Airport. I do not require a transit visa, right?
@John Paul Attard, Yes, you do not need a visa if you just stay within the transit area at Hanoi airport!
I am a US citizen flying to Bali from India with a connecting flight from Ho Chi Minh city. Do i need transit visa?
@Neeraj, As long as you do not exit the transit area in Ho Chi Minh City, you do not need a visa for this stopover.
We are travelling from Pakse in Laos and have a 9 hour stop over in Ho Chi Minh airport before travelling on to Melbourne Australia. We are not leaving the airport but have to collect our luggage and re check in as we can’t book luggage through to Australia from Pakse. Do we need a visa?
@Peta Cannamela, We are afraid that you will need a visa in this case, as you will need to pass through the immigration counter to collect your luggage for your next flight back to Australia.
Heya, I am flying from Melbourne to Frankfurt and will have a 13 hour stop over in Ho Chi Minh and would like to explore the city while I am there. Do I need an e visa? Thank you, Danny
@Daniela OKeefe, Yes, if you exit the airport and visit Ho Chi Minh City, you will require a visa for entry.
I have a flight from Bali to Delhi , which lands at Ho Chi Min City on 7th Oct and has a layover for 22 hours and 55 min then the connecting flight is on 8th Oct from Ho Chi Min City to Delhi. I have a layover of 23 hrs (approx) , Do I need a visa to go out of the airport and visit the city as the layover is less than 24 hours ?
@Avi Kanchan, Yes, you will need a visa to exit the airport and explore the city regardless of how long your stay is.
Hi, I am looking to fly from Sydney to London via Ho Chi Min City. I am looking at having one or two nights to break the flight. Will I need a transit visa?
@Brendon Redmond, To exit the transit area and stay at a hotel outside of the airport, you can apply for an e-visa for the short-term visit!
Hi, I am a UK citizen flying from Sydney to London via Hanoi. We will only have a short 4 hour layover in Hanoi. Will we need any form of visa in order to transit through this airport? We will not be leaving the airport at any time. Thank you!
@Scott, You do not need a visa or any sort of document in this case because you do not exit the airport as well as UK passport holders are exempt from visa requirements for 15 days!
Hello I am an Indian student traveling to Australia and have layover at ho chi Minh airport for 13 hours, my baggage is not checked through for the connecting flights and i have to self check in into it then would I require a transit visa ?
@SHLOK Parmar, If your baggage is not checked through for the connecting flights and you need to self-check-in, you may require a transit visa for this flight. You can either contact the embassy of Vietnam in Australia for visa instructions or apply online for an e-visa!
Hi I'm an Australian Citizen flying to Sydney from Chiang Mai Thailand. I will be flying to Ho Chi Minh city and will need to self transfer to a Jetstar flight for Sydney within 6 hours, do I need a travel transit visa? if yes, the other problem is on the e-visa website form, it asks for an address for staying in Vietnam but I will be just staying at the airport and going strait to the Jetstar flight. Thanks in advance, Graham.
@Graham, You will need a visa for self-check-in for the next flight at Ho Chi Minh City airport. For the temporary address that is required on the form, you can fill in with the address of the airport or airport name!
Hi I'm an Indian passport holder flying from Singapore to Kochi via Ho Chi Minh transit for almost 6 hours. I am an Employment pass holder in Singapore. Can I exit the airport for few hours given I will already have a ticket to India as proof?
@Anish, You will need a valid visa to exit the airport, Singapore employment pass holder is not eligible for the 30 day visa exemption!
Hi I’m an Australian citizen I’m flying into Ho Chi Minh city to catch my connecting flight to Sydney 6 hours later so I still get a visa ? Thanks
@Mitchell Nour, As long as you do not exit the transit area, no visa is required!
Hi my wife and I are US/Taiwan citizen transiting in Vietnam go to go HK, we need exit and enter via the flight detail, do we need a transit visa and the flight is in 3 days, is it too late to get them or is there transit visa on arrival?
@William Wang, If you exit the airport for your next flight check-in, we are afraid that you will need a visa and it is possible to obtain an emergency e-visa within 24 hours. Therefore, if your flight is in 3 days, you are still able to apply for a visa for your entry.
Hello, I’m a New Zealand passport holder. I flew into Ho Chi Minh on the 13th of May with a Vietnamese visa and then on to Thailand on the 20th. We’re flying home via Ho Chi Minh from Thailand on Friday. Do we need a visa to re-enter Vietnam if we’re not leaving the airport ?
@Caroline Spence, If you do not exit the transit lounge or pass the custom check, you do not require a visa for your second entry to Vietnam!
I am an Irish (EU) passport holder flying through Hanoi as a layover on the way to France from Japan. I have a 10 hr layover in Hanoi and both flights are with Vietnam airlines. Will I need a transit visa as I am staying less than 24 hrs? I had a terrible experience before flying from Cambodia with a connection in Ho Chi Minh where I was informed I could not travel because of not having a transit visa for a VietJet connection and want to avoid this again! Info on the airline websites is super murky!
@Eadaoin Mc, If you do not plan to leave the transit area or go outside of the airport, you do not require a visa. However, if you wish to exit the airport and explore the city, you will need a visa to pass the immigration counter. For more information, you can check out the official website of Vietnam Airlines below:
https://www.vietnamairlines.com/vn/en/travel-information/airports-transit/airport-guides
I am traveling from Delhi to Singapore and transiting at Ho Chi Minh city. I am an Indian national and Employment pass holder in Singapore. The transit time is less than 3 hours. I don't have any check in luggage. However, I am not sure if I need to pass through the immigration for boarding my flight to Singapore at Ho Chi Minh airport. I'll remain on airside if that is not needed. Could you please confirm if I'll need a visa for transiting? Your response will be highly appreciated and will be very helpful for me.
@Ajitanshu Vedrtnam, Based on the information provided, it is highly unlikely that you will need a visa in this case, as you will not be exiting the transit lounge. Even if you need to board the plane to Singapore, it should still be within the transfer area. However, we advise that you also contact your airline for detailed routing information.
Hi, we are flying from Melbourne Australia, to Paris, France Return with a stop over in Ho Chi Minh. On the way there our stopover is 5.5hrs and on the way back it is 14.5 hrs. We don’t plan on leaving the airport, only on using the sleep pod service when there. Are these located in the transit area? And furthermore is it correct that we will NOT require a visa. We have seen some conflicting answers to this. thank you!
@Cassandra Lubin, You do not need a visa in your case since you will not be exiting the transit area. The Ho Chi Minh City airport offers sleep zone services, which you can book directly with the airport authority on their website provided below:
http://sleepzone.sasco.com.vn/en/
We are flying from Melbourne to Paris and transiting through Ho Chi Minh City. We have a 6 hour stop over so can we get a visa to enter Vietnam to visit a Ho Chi Minh City restaurant then travel back to the airport to catch our connecting flight?
@Troy Harris, That is fine, you can apply for an e-visa to visit Ho Chi Minh City. However, please consider your plan as 6 hours is a short time to dine at a restaurant and complete flight check-in/check-out procedures.
I am flying from London to Sydney, transiting through Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. We don't leave the airport in Hanoi but in Ho Chi Minh City I believe we have to move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. Will I need to get a visa for this reason? Our layovers are about 3 hours in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
@Jayden Collins, You do not need a visa as long as you stay within the transit area and do not pass through customs. Otherwise, a valid visa is required!
I have a two ticket flight meaning I have a one way flight into vietnam, and then the next leg is within 24 hours. I might have to exit in order to pick up my checked luggage and go back through security. Will I need a visa?
@Phil, Yes, you will need a visa to exit the transit area. We advise that you contact your airlines for assistance in collecting your baggage.
I am flying from Sydney to HCMC, then taking a flight a couple hours later to Phnom Penh. They are with different airlines so I will need to collect my luggage at HCMC. Do I need a visa for that or can I collect luggage without leaving the transit area?
@Vanessa Spitty, Most airlines will assist you with the collection of your luggage (even with code-share flights). Therefore, we advise that you contact the airline directly for assistance. If you have to leave the transit area to collect your luggage, you may need a visa in that case.
I am an Indian citizen and have a connecting flight to Japan in Ho chi minh and it’s a separate flight. Do i need a transit visa?
@Catherine, The rule is simple: if you stay within the transit area, then no visa is required; if you exit the transit area, then a visa is needed.
I'm Brazilian and fly from tokyo to london with a connection in Ho Chi minh, i do not go out, do i need visa for that?
@Camilla Dias, If you do not exit the transit area, you will not need visa!
My husband and I are flying from Sydney to Paris via Ho Chi Minh City and on our way back (28/07/23) we have 13 hours to connect the flight to Sydney. We only would like to go to a hotel and maybe sightseeing while we wait for our flight. We are both Australian citizens and our flights details are attached.
@Jaque Bannerman, Australians are eligible for the e-visa application, the process is simple so you can apply for an evisa to exit the airport and stay a night in Ho Chi Minh city.
I'm looking to apply for a visa for my wife. She is a Chinese citizen and I was told by the embassy here in Germany, where I am from, that we would need to apply for the visa through an agency. Can you help us get a visa? We will fly to Hanoi on Sept. 9 and then fly onto Indonesia on Sept. 10. So we have 24h in Hanoi and would love to explore the city.
@Clemens Ruben, If you exit the airport transit area, you will need a visa to visit Vietnam. You can apply for an e-visa which is a convenient way to get a visa for Vietnam now.
Frequently asked questions
1. I am a Japanese passport holder, do I need a Vietnam transit visa if I stay in the airport for only 5 hours and do not leave the airport?
If you stay in the airport for less than 24 hours but still leave the transit area for collecting luggage, you still need a transit visa to pass the Immigration gate. You should check your flight to know whether your luggage is automatically transferred to the next flight or not.
2. How much is a transit visa on arrival?
A transit visa on arrival costs US25 for the stamping fee. Besides, you need to pay a fee to the Vietnamese visa agency to get a visa approval letter before traveling to Vietnam.
3. Where should I go after landing in Vietnam for a transit?
When getting off the plane at the transit airport, follow the direction of the Transit Gate to exit the security gate and check your luggage before boarding the plane for the next flight. Find the correct terminal for the next flight.
4. Can I transit through Vietnam without a visa?
Yes. You can transit through Vietnam without a visa if
- You have nationality exempted from a Vietnam visa
- You stay at Vietnam International border gate for no more than 24 hours and do not leave the transit area
- You have all documents: a 6-month valid passport, an onward ticket to the 3rd country, a visa to the 3rd country (except for visa exemption cases)
Contact sales if you have additional questions.
Contact support if you already submitted your visa application on our website.
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