Visa
Every card says why to go, what to know before you do, and what catches people out.
Visa-free entry — 45 days must
Russia · Korea · UK · most of the EU
Russia, South Korea, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Japan all get 45 days visa-free for any purpose, valid to March 2028.
Worth knowing. Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland also get 45 days, but for tourism purposes only — a real difference if you are coming to work.
Careful. The USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China and India are NOT exempt and need an e-visa. Several travel sites list them wrongly. This is information, not legal advice — verify at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.
E-visa — up to 90 days
evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
$25–50
single / multiple entry · checked
Open to every nationality since 2023, up to 90 days. Multiple entry at $50 is usually the sensible buy if you plan any regional travel.
Worth knowing. Processing takes about three working days; apply at least a week ahead. The entry port on the visa must match where you actually arrive.
Careful. The e-visa cannot be extended from inside Vietnam. The fee is non-refundable even if you are refused. There is no retirement visa in Vietnam.
departs from Da Lat
A border run by car with your own group, instead of the night bus and instead of flying. It suits the people the other two options fail: you cannot put a cat or a dog in a coach cabin, for a family of three or four the flights cost more than the car, and the drive itself turns into a short trip with stops rather than a day in a seat. It is run by the same person who delivers currency exchange around Da Lat.