Good news first: getting into Vietnam in 2026 is easier than it has ever been. If you hold a British or most Western European passport you can walk in visa-free for 45 days. Everyone else, Americans, Canadians and Australians included, applies online for a US$25 e-visa valid for up to 90 days. Two newer rules do trip people up at the airport, so read to the end.
The short version
Visa-free for 45 days: the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea and a few more.
E-visa needed: the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and anyone staying longer than their exemption. US$25 single entry, US$50 multiple entry, up to 90 days.
Apply only at evisa.gov.vn, at least one to two weeks before you fly. Flying into Saigon? Also fill in the free Digital Arrival Card.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your passport. Most Western Europeans, plus Japanese and South Korean citizens, enter visa-free for up to 45 days. North Americans, Australians, New Zealanders and the Irish need an e-visa. Every nationality on earth can now get one online.
Here's where our usual guests stand, as of October 2026:
| Passport | What you need | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
| United States | E-visa | 90 days |
| Canada | E-visa | 90 days |
| Australia | E-visa | 90 days |
| New Zealand | E-visa | 90 days |
| Ireland | E-visa | 90 days |
| United Kingdom | Nothing (visa-free) | 45 days |
| Germany, France, Italy, Spain | Nothing (visa-free) | 45 days |
| Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland | Nothing (visa-free) | 45 days |
| Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland | Nothing (visa-free) | 45 days |
| Poland, Czech Rep., Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia | Nothing (visa-free) | 45 days |
| Japan, South Korea | Nothing (visa-free) | 45 days |
| Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and most of ASEAN | Nothing (visa-free) | 30 days (varies) |
Rules do shift, so confirm your own passport's status on the Vietnamese embassy site for your country before you book flights. A visa-free stay can't be extended from inside Vietnam, so if your trip runs past day 45, get the e-visa instead. That's a common choice for people on our long scouting trips or adding a beach week after a tour.
Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Americans aren't on the visa-free list, so you need a visa before you board. For a holiday, the e-visa is the only one worth bothering with: apply online, pay US$25, and you'll usually have a PDF in your inbox within three working days. Canadians and Australians follow exactly the same process.
How much does the Vietnam e-visa cost?
US$25 for a single entry, US$50 for multiple entries, paid by card on the official site. The fee isn't refunded if your application is rejected, so check every field before you pay.
Pick multiple entry if you'll leave and come back, say a side trip to Angkor Wat or Luang Prabang in the middle of your stay. Otherwise single entry is fine.
How to apply for the Vietnam e-visa, step by step
The whole thing takes about fifteen minutes. You don't need an agent.
- Go to evisa.gov.vn and choose the e-visa for foreigners. Type the address yourself rather than clicking an ad.
- Upload two images: a passport-style photo (plain background, no glasses) and a clear scan of your passport's photo page.
- Fill in your details exactly as they appear in your passport, plus your entry date, the airport you'll land at and an address in Vietnam (your first hotel is fine).
- Pay the fee by card and write down the registration code.
- Check back on the site with your code and email after about three working days. Download the e-visa PDF and print a copy.
Your entry airport matters. The e-visa lets you in through any listed port, but you must enter on or after the start date you chose, so don't pick a start date later than your flight.
How long does the e-visa take?
About three working days in a normal week. Around Tet, the Lunar New Year, and over Christmas the office slows down, and weekends and Vietnamese public holidays don't count. Apply one to two weeks before you fly and you won't have to think about it again.
⚠ Use only the official site
Search "Vietnam e-visa" and you'll hit dozens of agency sites charging three times the real fee. The only official portal is evisa.gov.vn. You do not need an agent — the application is straightforward and you can do it yourself in about fifteen minutes.
The two rules that catch people out
Older travel blogs won't mention either of these, and both have caused problems at check-in this year.
1. Your passport needs six months left
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive, with a blank page for the stamp. Airlines check this before you board, not just Vietnamese immigration. Look at your expiry date now; if it's close, renew before you book anything.
2. The Digital Arrival Card for Ho Chi Minh City
Since 15 April 2026, every foreign traveller landing at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) must fill in a free online pre-arrival declaration in the 72 hours before landing. You get a QR code to show at immigration. It's a separate form from your visa, it applies to visa-free travellers too, and it's expected to spread to Hanoi and Da Nang. Use only the official government portal; fake sites asking for card payments have already appeared. If you're landing in Saigon, here's how to get from Tan Son Nhat to District 1 once you're through.
Can I play pickleball on a tourist visa?
Yes. Recreational games, open play at local clubs, lessons and social tournaments are all tourism. Bring your paddle, book a court, and you're fine on either a visa exemption or an e-visa. You'd only need a work visa if someone is paying you to coach or play.
If you're packing a paddle, read our tips on flying to Vietnam with a pickleball paddle, and our guide to where to play pickleball in Vietnam for courts in every city.
We'll tell you exactly what your passport needs
When you plan a private trip with us, we check your visa situation before you commit to anything, and meet you at arrivals when you land.
Plan a trip around your datesWhat to sort out after the visa
- Getting from the airport: taxi touts are the first thing you'll meet at Noi Bai. Our guide to avoiding the Hanoi airport taxi scam explains how, or book a private airport pickup and skip the queue.
- Data: buy an eSIM before you fly. Our Vietnam eSIM and SIM card guide compares the options.
- Cash: how much to bring, where to change it and when cards work, in money in Vietnam.
- Timing: if you haven't picked dates yet, start with the best time to visit Vietnam.
Vietnam visa FAQ
Can I extend a visa-free stay?
Not from inside Vietnam. If you'll stay longer than 45 days, apply for the 90-day e-visa before you travel.
Can I enter by land on an e-visa?
Yes, at the main border crossings with Cambodia, Laos and China listed on evisa.gov.vn. Choose the right entry point when you apply.
Do I need to print my e-visa?
Bring a printed copy as well as the PDF on your phone. Airline staff sometimes ask for it at check-in.
What if I make a mistake on the application?
A wrong passport number or date of birth makes the visa invalid, and the fee isn't refunded. You'll need to apply and pay again, so check everything before you submit.
Is Vietnam safe for visitors?
Very, by the standards of the region. Petty theft and taxi overcharging are the main risks. Our honest answer is in is Vietnam safe?
The bottom line
Vietnam is now one of the easiest countries in Asia to enter. Check whether your passport is visa-free first. If it isn't, the US$25, 90-day e-visa from evisa.gov.vn takes about three working days. Make sure your passport has six months left, fill in the Digital Arrival Card if you land in Saigon, and that's all. The only thing left to plan is where to play: our sample trips through Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long and Da Nang and Hoi An are good places to start.
Find a game in Vietnam
Join Pickleball in Vietnam, our free Facebook group. Ask about courts, find a morning game and swap tips with players who live here.
Join the group