The following travellers do not need visas for Vietnam: Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Korea (Democratic Republic), Mongolia, Romania, Russian Federation and Ukraine. Nationals of Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand do not require visas for stays of up to 30 days; as well as The Philippines (for stays of up to 21 days); and Denmark, Finland, Japan, Korea (Republic), Norway and Sweden for stays of up to 15 days. Transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours, provided holding valid return or onward tickets do not require visas. At present, visas can be issued for either groups or individuals.
Travellers from all other countries are required to obtain a visa before travelling to Vietnam. However, all regulations, including those concerning which counties require visas, cost of visas and validity of visas, are very complex and subject to frequent change. It is therefore advisable to contact the consular section at the Embassy before any travel to Vietnam.
Types of Visas: Vietnam offers the following tourist visas to foreign travellers:
Single-Entry (approx US$70); Express Service (approx US$100); Multiple-Entry (approx US$130). Tourist visas are valid for one month from proposed date of entry. Visas can usually be extended for another month in some of the larger towns at extra cost. All passports must be valid for at least one month after expiration of the nominated visa.
It is advisable to check all information regarding Vietnam visas, as well as passport and entry requirements, with your relevant embassy prior to travel.
US citizens who do not wish to go through the trouble of dealing with the red tape themselves can count on the professional services of Travel Visa Pro to speed things up: Apply for Vietnam Visa Online (service starts from $39). If you need to renew, add pages, change name, or just get a new US passport, you can Apply for a New US Passport here.