Do U.S. Citizens Need a Visa for Vietnam?
E-Visa: Fee, Timing, & Real Cost
Last updated: November 2026 · By Vitali
The Short Answer
Yes, for most visits. The simplest option is the e-visa from the official government portal: $25 for a single entry or $50 for a multiple entry, valid for up to 90 days.
What It Costs
- Official fee: $25 for a single entry, $50 for a multiple entry (paid on the portal and non-refundable if the visa is not granted)
- What I paid for a multiple entry: $51.61 (the extra $1.61 was probably a card or exchange fee)
Where to Apply
Use only the official sites:
Note: The portal itself warns that unofficial sites can charge unauthorized fees. A visa agency I checked listed $57 for a single entry and $83 for a multiple entry, which is well above the official fee for the same visa.
What You Need
- Passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date, with at least two blank pages
- Recent digital passport photo
- Planned arrival date and length of stay (up to 90 days)
- Entry and exit checkpoints (airport, land or sea)
- Temporary address in Vietnam (any real hotel address works for the application)
- Mastercard or Visa card for the fee
Tip: Enter your full name in capital letters exactly as it appears on the machine-readable line of your passport.
How Long It Takes
- Official processing time: three business days
- In practice, it can take three to five business days (mine took three business days in December 2025).
- It can take longer in peak season, or if your application is rejected and you have to correct an error.
For your reference:
- Immigration offices are closed on weekends and Vietnamese public holidays.
- You can apply up to a year before you arrive (I applied about five weeks before departure, which let me buy a cheaper flight after approval).
Rules Worth Knowing
- You must be physically outside Vietnam when you apply.
- You declare only your first address on the application, and your accommodation registers each new address after you arrive.
- Both single and multiple entry e-visas are valid for up to 90 days.
- To stay past 90 days, you must leave Vietnam and apply for a new e-visa (if you’re planning a longer stay, my cost-of-living page and my guide cover monthly expenses and long-term logistics, mainly for Da Nang).
- Officially, your passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your visa expiration date (I personally stick to the safer six-month rule).
- Make sure your arrival date falls inside your e-visa validity period, in Vietnam time.
- Before heading to the airport, print your e-visa and keep a digital copy on your phone (you show it with your passport at immigration).
- You must enter and exit through approved international border gates (always verify the portal’s current list).
- You don’t have to exit through the same gate you entered.
- Complete the digital pre-arrival form within 72 hours of arrival (the official portal recommends doing it before you arrive) and keep the QR code it gives you.
Want More Detail?
This page covers only the visa, but my guide “Da Nang, Vietnam: The Ground Truth Guide” breaks down the complete practical system (Da Nang-focused, partly nationwide):
- Navigating e-visas and entry logistics
- Managing local payments, banking, and exchange rates
- Choosing health insurance and understanding local scooter rules
- Finding long-term rentals and following a pre-departure checklist
Built mostly on firsthand experience with zero sponsors or affiliate links. Available as a direct PDF for $4.99.
This page shares one traveler’s experience and is not legal or immigration advice. Fees and rules change, so confirm them on the official portal.
Questions? Email hello@groundtruthguides.com.