Vietnam Visa for US citizens in 2024
Vietnam is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, diverse cuisine, and warm hospitality, making it a popular destination for travelers worldwide, particularly for U.S. visitors looking to explore and experience its charm at least once in their lives.
As a US passport holder planning to visit, you will need a visa to enter Vietnam. Fortunately, the Vietnamese government has worked to provide several convenient options for US citizens to obtain Vietnam visas with ease.
In this article, we will outline each visa method in detail and guide US citizens through the entire process.
03 legitimate ways to get Vietnam visa for US citizens
US passport holders require a visa to travel to Vietnam, as it is a mandatory requirement for citizens of any other country needs to enter into Vietnam. There are three ways of getting a Vietnamese visa.
1. Get Vietnam visa at Vietnam Embassy in US or in any countries that is convenient.
2. Get Vietnam visa on arrival for US citizens
3. Apply VietnamE-visa on US passport
Vietnam visa for USfrom the Vietnam Embassy in USA
If you don’t want to use internet for applying a Vietnam visa, you always have the option of applying for it via Vietnam Embassy/Consulate in United States.
After your successful Vietnam visa application, you are granted a sticker or a loose leaf Vietnam visa, and both are equally valid.
But keep in mind, this is a traditional way and requires a proactive approach. Since Vietnam visa fees is dependent on type and duration of visa, you are advised to contact the nearest embassy or consulate to brief you about it.
The benefit of this method allows flexibility on applying for single or multiple entry, this sticker or leaf visa allows you to enter Vietnam via land, air or sea.
1. How to get Vietnam visa from the Vietnam Embassy in US
You can identify nearest Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Contact them and confirm your understanding of visa requirements before you visit and apply there.
To contact Vietnam Embassy in US
1. Vietnam Embassy in Washington, DC
Address1233, 20th St., NW Suite 400 DC 20036, Washington, United States
Phone +1-202-861-0737, +1-202-861-2293
Fax +1-202-861-0917,+1-202-861-0694
Emailvietnamembassy@msn.com,
info@vietnamembassy-usa.org, consular@vietnamembassy-usa.org
2. Vietnam Consulate in San Francisco, CA
Address1700 California St.Suite 430, CA 94109, San Francisco, United States
Phone+1-415-922-1577,+1-415-922-1707
Fax +1-415-922-1848,+1-415-922-1757
Email: info@vietnamconsulate-sf.org
3. Vietnam Consulate in New York, NY
Address866 UN Plaza Suite 428, NY 10017, New York, United States
Phone+1-212-644-0594,+1-212-644-2535
Fax +1-212-644-5732
Email:info@vietnamconsulate-ny.org
4. Vietnam Consulate in Houston, TX 77056
Address5251 Westheimer Rd #1100, Houston, TX 77056, United States
Phone +1-713-850-1233
Note: business hours for embassies are 9:00 A.M – 12:00 P.M and 02:00 P.M – 04:30 P.M from Monday through Friday. On weekends and holidays in US or Vietnam, embassy is closed so get an idea about it before you make a visit for Vietnam visa application or make an arrangement for it.
2. Documents Required for Vietnam visa at Vietnam Embassy
Application Form: Downloadable from this link and filled out with the necessary information.
Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months from the start of your travel and remain valid for 30 days after your departure from Vietnam. If you’re requesting a loose-leaf visa, a copy of your passport will suffice.
Two passport-sized photos: No glasses, with a light background.
Visa fees: Must be paid in cash if applying in person, or via money order or cashier’s check.
Prepaid self-addressed envelope: Required if you wish to receive your passport by mail.
For a business Vietnam visa, a letter of support from your sponsoring agency or company in Vietnam is also necessary.
Be aware that obtaining a visa from Vietnam embassy can take 7-10 business days, and may extend to 2 weeks during peak times, so plan your application accordingly.
Vietnam visa for US citizens on arrival
Vietnam Visa on Arrival or VOA means making arrangements before getting your Vietnam visa approved by the Vietnam Immigration Office and get it stamped when you arrive in Vietnam.
Vietnam VOA is provided for one month single/multiple entry cases for touristic and one month/ three months single/ multiple entry cases for business purpose.
1. How to get Vietnam visa on Arrival on US passport
You can reach out to a government-approved agency to obtain a Visa on Arrival (VOA). Simply find an agency, provide your passport information, and you will receive a "Pre-approval letter."
It will take about 5 minutes to fill out the necessary details online. After submitting your information, you can expect to receive the pre-approval letter within 01-05 business days, although there is a quicker option available that provides a response in just 04 working hours.
04 steps to EFFORTLESSLYapply visa on arrival with Vietnamvisavoa.com
2. Documents required for Vietnam visa on arrival for US
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the start of your trip and remains valid for 30 days after your departure from Vietnam.
• 01 passport-sized photo without glasses and with a light background.
• Vietnamese Entry/Exit Application form.
• A printed copy of the Pre-Approval letter.
• Cash for the stamping fee, either 25 USD or 50 USD, depending on the type of entry.
It's recommended to use Vietnamvisavoa.com, as they are authorized and offer extensive support for obtaining your Vietnam visa. They can also assist you with completing the application form to reduce your effort and minimize errors.
3. How much does Vietnam visa on arrival cost for US citizens?
Vietnam VOA includes Vietnam visa service fee and stamping fee.
For Vietnam visa service fee, it varies from this agency to another agency. Whereas, the stamping fee is fixed and directly paid to the Immigration Officer at the airport.
When it comes to choose a Vietnam visa agency, don’t always compromise good service for a cheap price.
Vietnam E-visa for US citizens
Vietnam Evisa or electronic visa is a travel document granted by the government of Vietnam, to promote the Vietnam tourism. As a US passport holder, you are eligible to get an E-visa for travelling to Vietnam up to 90 days.
Getting an E-visa is simple. You will not need an approval letter and stamp.
1. How to Get Vietnam E-visa on US passports
Submit Vietnam evisa at the Vietnam Immigration website (Nonrefundable option)
Step 1: Submit Vietnam E visa application form
Applicants access the official site of Vietnam Immigration Department https://E-visa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/ to fill out a visa application with required information such as: Full name, nationality, DOB, entry/exit date, arrival point. Also, a digital passport scan (the bio page), a passport photo need to be uploaded. Once you complete this step, you will receive a verification code for updating your visa order status.
Passport & Visa Information
In this section, you must accurately provide your passport details. Then, select either a single-entry or multiple-entry visa based on your travel itinerary.
Regarding visa duration, the Vietnam evisa application allows a maximum validity of 90 days (3 months). For more flexibility, it's advisable to opt for the 90-day validity, which lets you enter and exit Vietnam freely while the visa is active.
Remember to choose single entry if you just enter and exit Vietnam one and it is multiple entry if you wish to enter/exit Vietnam more than once within your visa validity.
Contact & Occupation Details
While this section isn’t mandatory, it’s advisable to complete it if possible. Providing this information helps Immigration understand your background better and can be beneficial during emergencies or inspections.
Vietnam Trip Information
Select the option that best describes your situation:
Purpose of Entry: Indicate your primary reason for visiting. If you’re a tourist, select tourism; for business-related trips, choose business activities.
Agency/Organization/Individual Contact: If you're traveling with a tour agency, fill this out; if not, you can leave it blank.
Trip Information
Intended Length of Stay in Vietnam: Specify your planned entry and exit dates. It’s wise to extend your visa validity by a few days beyond your actual dates for added flexibility.
Entry and Exit Ports
Click on your expected entry and exit ports. If you plan multiple entries and exits, select your first entry port and your last exit port.
Step 2: Review information and pay for Vietnam evisa
After clicking OK in the pop-up window, you’ll be redirected to the Information Review Page. It's essential to carefully verify all submitted details. If you find any inaccuracies, make the necessary corrections before clicking the Payment button.
In the payment step, you’ll see a preview of your payment information, with the amount converted into Vietnamese Dong (VND). Simply check the “Agree” box and click “Pay e-visa fee.”
Once you’ve paid for your Vietnam e-visa application, you will need to wait 3-7 business days for processing (it may take longer if you submit during a Vietnamese holiday).
Typically, when your visa is approved, you’ll receive an email from Immigration containing a link to download your Vietnam e-visa.
You can also check the status of your Vietnam e-visa application by visiting the link below:
https://evisa.immigration.gov.vn/tra-cuu-thi-thuc
You’ll need to enter your registration code, along with your registered email and date of birth.
Step 3: Receive your Vietnam evisa result via email
If your Vietnam evisa is approved, make sure to review all the details carefully. Any errors on your Vietnam e-visa could hinder your ability to travel to Vietnam.
If you notice any mistakes, it's advisable to reach out to a reputable Vietnam visa agency for assistance.
If you still have enough time for the standard processing, you should opt for the regular e-visa service. However, if time is tight, consider upgrading to an expedited service with the agency to ensure your Vietnam e-visa is issued promptly.
Step 4:Collect Vietnam visa stamp on arrival
Once arriving in Vietnam, you will show your Vietnam E-visa along with the passport to Immigration officer to get an entry stamp into your passport.
Submit Vietnam Evisa through Vietnamvisavoa.com (Refundable option)
If you want a free-hassle procedure and save up your time from filling up an application online, you can authorize this work to Vietnamvisavoa, we will take care of your visa application from the beginning to final steps of your Vietnam evisa.
Submit your Vietnam e-visa application form HERE
Note: If you are getting close to travel date to Vietnam, it is highly advisable to choose a reliable agency to handle your Vietnam E-visa or switch into Vietnam visa on arrival to assure that you will receive your Vietnam visa on time.
Realistically, the processing time can be taken up even longer than 3 working days, sometimes you have to wait till 5 working days. Please be mindful otherwise you can eventually end up paying a plentiful charge for emergency Vietnam visa.
2. How much does Vietnam evisa for US citizens cost?
As officially announced from the Vietnamese government, you are expected to pay $25 US online with single entry and $50 US with multiple entry for the government fee when directly submitting a Vietnam evisa application via this official E-visa website.
If you process your Vietnam evisa application through a service agency, you will pay two fees: visa service fee (for agency) and government fee.
The additional service fee can be paid to benefit you by:
+ Assisting you to fill up and complete your visa application online on behalf of you
+ Reviewing and consulting your visa case to make sure that you are eligible and your visa application is approved
+ Directly dealing with the Immigration Department of Vietnam to submit your visa application and make sure that you will get your Vietnam e-visa on time without any delay
+ Fixing and correcting all mistakes might occur when submitting your visa application
+ Ensuring your smooth entry upon arrival with Vietnam e-visa issued with their services as provided
Common types of Vietnam visa for US citizen
1. Vietnam visa type for US by purposes
1.1 Tourist visa (DL)
Tourist visa allows a US citizens for enter Vietnam with a purpose of touring or meeting friends and relatives in Vietnam. A tourist visa allows up to 90 days stay with single entry or a multiple entry option.
1.2 Business visa (DN)
Business Visa is issued by Vietnamese government when a US citizen intends to enter Vietnam for business or trade purpose. US passport holders are eligible to get single entry business visa for 1 or 3 months
1.3 Work visa (LD)
Work Visa is a type of visa when a US citizen intends to visit Vietnam for the purpose of working with a Vietnamese registered company. A working visa is issued for no more than 24 months to US nationalities.
1.4 TT/VR visa
TT and VR are types of visa which are issued to US passport holders for the purpose of visiting their spouses, children, parents who are Vietnamese or foreigners holding work visa, resident card holders or LV1, LV2, DT, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, Visas
TT allows an eligible US citizen to stay for a maximum of 3 months whereas in case of VR, the maximum limit is 6 months.
1.5 Investor visa (DT)
Investor visa is issued to US nationalities who are entering Vietnam in order to either invest in Vietnamese business or to Lawyers who intend to practice their profession in Vietnam. Initially investor visa is issued for a 12 months in maximum, but can be transformed into a temporary resident permit which is valid for 60 months.
1.6 Five-year Vietnam visa exemption
This is issued as a certificate but acts as a long term visa. The certificate is issued by the Vietnamese government to US citizens who are spouses or children of Vietnamese people (living in Vietnam or residing abroad). Once issued the certificate allows its holder to visit Vietnam at any time within 5 years but only permits to stay for maximum of 180 consecutive days in one trip.
2. Vietnam visa types per duration
2.1 Short term Vietnam visa
A short term visa is granted by Vietnamese government in case a US citizen intends to stay in Vietnam for 1 or 3 months for touristic or business purpose.
2.2 Long term Vietnam visa for US
As a long term stay option Vietnam government also grants a five-year visa exemption certificate to US citizens who are spouses or children of Vietnamese people. The certificate does not restricts number of entries to its holder for 5 years but allows a stay of maximum 180 days per visit. Alternatively, you can obtain 03 years Temporary Resident Card.
If you are an employee in a company in Vietnam or being the owner of a company based in Vietnam, it is possible to obtain a Resident Card valid from 02 years.
3. Vietnam visa types per entry
3.1 Single entry
A single entry visa allows a US citizen to enter Vietnam just once during with within validity dates of visa.
3.2 Multiple entry
A multiple entry visa allows a US citizen to enter Vietnam unlimited times during the period while Vietnam visa is valid.
How to get urgent Vietnam visa and emergency Vietnam visa for US citizens?
US citizens who wish to obtain a Vietnam visa on arrival in lesser time can avail for urgent and emergency Vietnam visa services from Vietnamvisavoa.com.
Option 1: Emergency Vietnam visa on arrival on US passports
In urgent cases, Vietnam pre-approval letter (required to get visa stamped on visitor’s passport) is provided in some working hours.
Option 2: Expedited Vietnam evisa for US citizens
Whether you already submitted a Vietnam evisa or not, we, Vietnamvisavoa.com might assist you to obtain an express Vietnam evisa in time for your flight.
To quickly get an Emergency visa for Vietnam, please follow these steps:
Fill out a secured form online or send your information to our email: support@vietnamvisavoa.com
Contact us: Vietnamvisavoa
VIETNAM VISA VOA
Hotline: +84.969.255.515
Email: support@vietnamvisavoa.com
• Passport scan photo information page (full and clear and 6 month validity);
• Arrival date/ Exit date;
• Arrival port/ Exit through checkpoint;
What are the costs of urgent and emergency Vietnam visa for US?
The Vietnam visa service fee of urgent and emergence includes an extra cost for expediting visa processing time on the top of the regular visa fee. More details, you can check the price table HERE
Visa run for US citizen – alternative way to stay longer in Vietnam
Currently, Vietnam does not allow any Vietnam visa extension on tourism purpose. To prolong your stay in Vietnam, being US citizens, you have the option to do a "Vietnam visa run," which involves legally exiting Vietnam to another country and then re-entering with a new Vietnam visa. This is a completely legal process that requires some proactive planning.
To successfully complete a Vietnam visa run, US citizens need to ensure the following steps:
1. Sendyour Vietnam evisa/ Vietnam visa on arrival request. We will submit your Vietnam visa order at least a day prior to your exit date.
2. Once you exit Vietnam, do share your exit stamp so that we can update with Vietnam Immigration and they will approve your new Vietnam visa request.
In case you submit exit stamp by 8 a.m (working day), for 4 working hours, we will get visa approved at 12 noon, for 1 working day service, it is ready by 6 p.m on the same working day. As soon as your Vietnam visa is granted, you can come back to Vietnam.
Important note: Currently, Vietnam Immigration only grants your Vietnam visa if you are not residing in Vietnam. In other words, in case you submit a new Vietnam visa order while staying in Vietnam, there is a high chance that your Vietnam visa will be refused.
Cost of Vietnam visa run may include:
Visa fees: This includes new Vietnam visa and visa to another country which can be Laos, Cambodia, Singapore or Thailand.
Transportation costs: These vary depending on the country and mode of transportation chosen for the visa run. Normally, if applicants are residing in HCM, they choose to take a bus to Moc Bai border, get Vietnam visa run through Cambodia. In case they are in the North or Centre part of Vietnam, they may take a bus to Laos borders. Other people prefer to take flights to nearby countries: Thailand, Singpore…
Frequent asked questions about Vietnam visa for US citizens
Q: How much is Vietnam visa for us citizen?
A: It depends on the method, type and duration of Vietnam visa you apply for. In general, cheapest option can be Vietnam evisa.
Q: How do I get a visa for Vietnam from the US?
A: You can get it from authorized agency such as Vietnamvisavoa.com or equivalent. Also you can get it from nearest embassy or from Vietnamese E-visa portal
Q: How long can a US citizen stay in Vietnam?
A: Being US passports on tourism purpose, you are allowed to hold 90 days Vietnam tourist visa. In case you would like to stay for a long term in Vietnam, the only option is to leave the country every 03 months for Vietnam visa run.
Need any further details about Vietnam visa on US passports feel free to contact our dedicated support team Vietnamvisavoa
Vietnam Visa VOA
Related posts
Vietnam visa for Dutch 2024 update
If you are a Dutch citizen planning to visit Vietnam, you will need to get a Vietnam visa before your trip. Fortunately, the process is straightforward and can…
.png "Vietnam visa for Chinese passport holders ( Updated 2023)")
