A visa is an indication that the person holding the document is sanctioned to enter the country that issued it.  However, the possession of a visa is not in itself an assurance of entry.  Rather, the issuing country may revoke a visa at any time.  The principal purpose of a visa is to enable the host country to verify the identity of the visa applicant before their entry into the country. 

Vietnamese Tourist Visas

Vietnam is a very popular travel destination for tourists.  Vietnam requires that United States travelers present a valid passport and a valid Vietnamese visa when entering the country.  In order to obtain a Vietnamese tourist visa, you must submit an application to the Vietnamese Embassy.

United States citizens may apply for tourist visas that are good for 30 days, but may be extended after arrival in Vietnam. Double entry visas are also available for tourists who are visiting neighboring countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.    

How to Apply

In order to qualify for a Vietnamese tourist visa, you have to first fill out the application, which can be found online.  After the application has been completed, you must print, sign, and mail it to an appropriate Vietnamese Embassy.

The regular processing time for a Vietnamese tourist visa is five business days.  Expedited processing can be accomplished for an additional fee, which will still require one or two business days after the Embassy receives the application.  Keep in mind that no mail can be delivered to the Vietnamese Embassy during the weekend or holidays (including Vietnamese holidays).

In addition to the application form, the following is required of the applicant:

Passport - Your original passport must have a minimum validity of six months from the date of application and one month prior to the application.   It also must have one visa page left blank.  In the case of an emergency, a loose-leaf request may be made to submit a copy of the passport’s photo and detail pages instead.

Photographs – One recent, two-square inch photo must be attached to the application form.  If there is a loose-leaf passport request, the Vietnamese Embassy requires one additional photo stapled to the form.

Fees – Fees vary based on the type of visa and the citizenship of the applicant. The fee for stamping the visa can be found here.  The Vietnamese Embassy recommends that the applicant contact the consular via email (consular@vietnamembassy.us) or by telephone (202-861-2293 or 202-861-0694) in order to get information about other applicable fees.  These fees must be paid in the form of a money order, a cashier’s check, or a certified check made payable to “The Embassy of Vietnam.”

If the applicant requests that the visa be returned by mail, a prepaid USPS return envelope or return label must be included as well.  Applicants applying together may provide a single envelope.  For international shipping, a money order payable to the Embassy of Vietnam must be included.

For further information, it is recommended that the applicant contact the Visa Section of the Vietnamese Embassy.  Operating hours are 9:30-12:30 EST Monday through Friday.

Phone:            (202) 861-2293            Fax:            (202) 861-1297

                       (202) 861-0197                              (202) 861-0694

Email:            consular@vietnamembassy.us