Most visitors to Vietnam now arrive on one of two things: a visa exemption, or a 90-day e-visa that costs USD 25 to 50 and is applied for online. Which one applies to you depends entirely on your passport. Twenty-four nationalities currently hold a 45-day exemption, in two groups: the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland run to 14 March 2028; Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland run to 14 August 2028. American and Australian passport holders are not exempt and need an e-visa. Everything below is a starting point, not legal advice — always confirm on the official government portal before you book flights.
What are the two ways to enter Vietnam in 2026?
| Visa exemption | E-visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | 24 nationalities on the 45-day scheme, plus others on shorter terms | Open to most nationalities |
| Length | 45 days for the current list | Up to 90 days |
| Entries | Single, on each entry | Single or multiple, chosen when applying |
| Cost | Free | Roughly USD 25 single, USD 50 multiple |
| Applied for | Nothing to do in advance | Online, before travel |
| Entry points | All international gates | 83 gates: 17 air, 27 land, 39 sea |
What visa catch do most travellers miss?
Exemption periods are counted per entry, and they end when they end — there is no extension by leaving and returning in most cases. If you are planning a long, looping trip through Southeast Asia with two or three Vietnam segments, the multiple-entry e-visa is usually simpler than relying on repeated exemptions.
Also: your passport needs at least six months of validity remaining. That is the single most common reason people are turned away at check-in, and it has nothing to do with the visa.
Getting here is the part most guests worry about. Tell us your arrival city and date and we will put the whole chain together — bus, boat and the cart from the pier — and meet you at Viet Hai. See how the transfer works, or just send us the dates.
How do you get a Vietnam e-visa without paying twice?
The e-visa is applied for on the official government portal. There are a great many agency sites that look official, charge several times the fee and simply submit the same form on your behalf. Some are legitimate services; some are not. If a site is asking for far more than USD 50, you are on the wrong one.
Apply at least a week before you travel. Processing is usually a few working days but it is not instant, and it is not something to do at the airport.
What does the visa rule mean for a Cat Ba trip?
Nothing at the island end — there is no separate permit for Cat Ba, the national park or Lan Ha Bay, and no registration process for foreign visitors staying in a village. What you will be asked for is your passport at check-in, everywhere in Vietnam, because accommodation is required to register guests. Bring the physical passport, not a photo of it.
The only paperwork you pay for on the island is the Lan Ha Bay entrance ticket, 120,000 VND per person, and national park entry — 160,000 VND for adults at the main gate (80,000 VND for children), or 80,000 VND on the Ninh Tiep route from the Viet Hai side.
Do you still need a health declaration for Vietnam?
Vietnam’s pandemic-era entry health declaration is no longer part of the standard arrival process, though the requirement has come and gone before. We keep our entry guide updated when it changes.
What else should you know about Vietnam visas?
- Six months passport validity, minimum. Check today, not the week you fly.
- Print the e-visa approval or have it offline on your phone. Signal at land borders is unreliable.
- Know your exit date. Overstaying carries a fine and delays at departure.
- Multiple entry if you are looping through Laos or Cambodia and coming back.
- Travel insurance is not checked at the border but matters here — see our boat safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Answered by the Lan family in Viet Hai — the people who run the boats, cook the dinner and pick you up at the pier.
Do Americans need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. The United States is not on the exemption list, so an e-visa is the standard route.
Do Australians need a visa?
Yes, same as above.
Do British citizens need a visa?
Not for stays within the current 45-day exemption, which runs to 14 March 2028 for UK passport holders. Longer than that, an e-visa.
Can I extend once I am in the country?
Extensions exist but are handled through immigration offices and agencies and are not guaranteed. Applying for a longer e-visa up front is far less stressful.
Is any of this likely to change?
Yes — Vietnam has adjusted its entry rules repeatedly in the last few years, generally in the direction of making them easier. Check the official portal close to your travel date.
Planning the trip around your visa?
If you are working out how many days you have and where Cat Ba fits, tell us your dates and we will help you shape it. WhatsApp +84 363 934 325 or message us here.
Read next
Rules change. Confirm on the official Vietnamese e-visa portal at evisa.gov.vn before you book flights.
Where to stay in Viet Hai
If this trip brings you into the village, the rooms and bungalows at Lan Homestay are a few minutes on foot from the centre: the garden bungalow (triple) works well for families, and the mountain-view double room for couples.
