Frequently Asked Questions

As of 2026, Vietnam grants e-visa to citizens of 80+ countries, including the United States, India, China, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, Brazil, and most European countries not on the visa-exempt list. Citizens of South Korea, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, and several ASEAN nations enjoy visa exemption for short stays (14-45 days depending on nationality). Check the official list at evisa.gov.vn.

Official government processing time is 3 working days (may extend to 5-7 days during peak season). TVK priority services offer faster packages: EXPRESS-1D (1 day, $105), URGENT-2H (2 hours during business hours, $160), and URGENT-1H (1 hour, $200). Urgent packages apply only during Vietnam business hours (GMT+7, weekdays) — weekends and holidays wait until the next working day.

Government fee is USD 25 for single-entry visa and USD 50 for multiple-entry visa. TVK adds a convenience service fee for the STANDARD package: USD 50 (includes government fee + document review + multilingual support + order tracking). Priority packages are higher to reflect expedited processing through our network of legally authorized partner agents of the Vietnam Immigration Department: EXPRESS-1D USD 105, URGENT-2H USD 160, URGENT-1H USD 200.

Only 4 digital documents are needed: (1) Passport bio page scan (JPG/PDF, passport valid 6+ months from arrival date + 2+ blank pages); (2) 4×6 cm portrait photo with white background, no sunglasses, taken within 6 months; (3) Travel information (entry/exit dates + port of entry); (4) Purpose of visit (tourism/business/family/transit). No bank statements, hotel bookings, or return flight tickets needed for e-visa submission.

Single-entry (USD 25) suits: visiting Vietnam once, stay under 30 days, no plans to leave and return. Multiple-entry (USD 50) suits: traveling to Cambodia/Laos/Thailand and returning to Vietnam, staying 30-90 days, regional business travelers or digital nomads. Note: wrong choice may require a second visa application mid-trip (additional 5-7 days + USD 25-50).

Yes — one extension of 30 days is possible via the Immigration Department through in-country processing agents. Fee: USD 50-100, processing time 5-7 days. Start the extension procedure at least 7 days before visa expiry. Overstay penalty is approximately USD 25/day and may result in future entry bans. Extension rules for multiple-entry visas are stricter — contact TVK for personalized advice.

Rejection rate is low (under 2% of TVK applications). If rejected, TVK refunds full service fee and provides one free resubmission with corrected application. Alternatively, at customer's choice, TVK retains the fee and assists with document corrections for resubmission. Government fee (USD 25-50) is non-refundable per Immigration Department rules. Top 5 rejection reasons: expiring passport, non-standard photo, name mismatch, overstay history, incomplete travel info.

No — Vietnam discontinued visa-on-arrival since 2024 for most travelers. The e-visa system has officially fully replaced it. If you see services advertising "Vietnam visa-on-arrival", they are actually e-visas repackaged with a misleading name — read terms carefully before booking. Always apply for e-visa via the official channel evisa.gov.vn or through reputable services like TVK.

No visa needed for short tourism — South Korea has 45-day visa exemption for Vietnam from arrival date. E-visa is required when: (1) Stay over 45 days; (2) Need multiple entries in same trip (e.g., Vietnam-Cambodia-Vietnam); (3) Business/work purpose (exemption is tourism-only). Note: Phu Quoc has 30-day visa exemption if arriving on direct flight.

Indian citizens are eligible for Vietnam e-visa — apply fully online, no embassy visit needed. Process: apply at evisa.gov.vn or via TVK service (Hindi interface available), pay by Visa/Master/Amex via PayPal (Indian UPI supported through PayPal), receive visa by email within 3-7 working days. Fee: USD 25 (single) / USD 50 (multiple). Indian Embassy in Hanoi: 58-60 Trần Hưng Đạo, +84-24-3824-4989 — contact for urgent consular assistance.

Not yet supported in Phase 1 — WeChat Pay will be added based on market demand. Currently Chinese travelers can pay via: PayPal (accepts global Visa/Master/Amex cards — no PayPal account needed), Alipay (through select Alibaba partners), or international bank transfer. TVK supports Simplified Chinese (简体中文) interface and Chinese-speaking customer service — contact via WeChat/email when needed.

Yes — Toss Payments is fully supported. Korean travelers can pay with KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, Hana cards and any Korean card via Toss, settled directly in KRW (no currency conversion fee). Toss = fastest option for Korean residents — payment complete in 5-10 seconds with one biometric authentication. Other options: PayPal (Visa/Master/Amex). For Korean support → contact KakaoTalk channel @govietnamglobal (opening based on market demand) or email [email protected].

PayPal suits global travelers (India/US/Australia/Europe) — accepts Visa/Master/Amex cards from any country, no PayPal account needed. Toss suits Korean travelers — direct KRW settlement, fastest, no conversion fee. WeChat Pay planned based on market demand for mainland Chinese travelers.

Portrait photo must meet these standards: 4×6 cm size, plain white background, taken within 6 months, no sunglasses, no hats (except religious), neutral expression (no wide smile), face occupying 70-80% of frame. File format JPG or PNG, size under 5MB, minimum resolution 400×600 pixels. TVK system has automatic pre-check to detect photo errors before payment — helping prevent rejection.

(1) Passport expiring within 6 months of arrival date — renew first; (2) Photo issues (sunglasses, hats, dark background, low resolution) — use recent standard photo; (3) Name mismatch with passport (even 1 character off triggers rejection) — copy directly from passport image; (4) Overstay history or visa violation — declare honestly; (5) Incomplete travel info (missing port of entry, unclear dates). TVK pre-check helps prevent all of these.

Each member needs a separate e-visa application — Vietnamese Immigration Department does not issue group visas. However TVK supports family/group registration process: one person (representative) creates an account, adds members, manages all applications via a single dashboard, and pays once for the whole group. Convenient for 3-6 member families, business delegations, friend groups. Reduces repetitive data entry and ensures travel info synced across members.

Passport must: (1) Have at least 6 months validity from Vietnam arrival date; (2) Have at least 2 consecutive blank pages for entry/exit stamps; (3) Not be torn, damaged, or blurred on data page; (4) Be a valid international passport (not emergency passport, exceptions vary by nationality). If passport expiring soon (under 9 months), renew before applying for visa to avoid risk. Some countries have long passport renewal times (1-3 months) — plan early.

Choose Standard ($50, 5-7 days) when planning 2+ weeks ahead. Choose Express ($85-105, 1-3 days) for trips within 1-2 weeks. Choose Urgent ($130-200, 1-4 hours) for trips few hours - 1 day away. Simple math: cost of one missed business meeting, one non-refundable hotel night, or rebooking a flight is usually much higher than the $200 URGENT-1H package. Express exists because most customers value time over fee difference.

URGENT-2H (USD 160) delivers visa within 2 hours during Vietnam business hours (GMT+7, 07:00-17:00, weekdays). URGENT-1H (USD 200) delivers within 1 hour same window. Both guarantee 100% refund if SLA missed. Outside business hours (night/weekends/Vietnam holidays), even URGENT waits for next business window — this is Immigration Department limitation, not TVK. Need even faster? Email [email protected] to discuss special options.

Yes — Phu Quoc has 30-day visa exemption policy for ALL nationalities, including countries normally needing Vietnam visa (India, China, Taiwan, US, Australia). Conditions: (1) Arrive on direct flight to Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC); (2) Not leave Phu Quoc during entire stay (i.e., not fly to Hanoi/HCM then transit to Phu Quoc); (3) Maximum 30 days stay. To combine Phu Quoc with other Vietnam destinations, regular e-visa still needed.

Vietnam can be divided into 3 main tourism regions: (1) North — Hanoi (cultural capital), Ha Long (UNESCO heritage), Sapa (mountains and ethnic villages), Ninh Binh (Tam Coc-Trang An); (2) Central — Da Nang (modern beaches), Hoi An (UNESCO ancient town), Hue (Nguyen Dynasty capital), Phong Nha-Ke Bang (Son Doong — world's largest cave); (3) South — Ho Chi Minh City (dynamic Saigon), Phu Quoc (resort island), Mekong Delta (floating markets), Mui Ne (sand dunes). Each region has different climate — plan your itinerary by season.

Day 1 — Old Quarter + Hoan Kiem Lake: Ngoc Son Temple, Huc Bridge, 36 streets, Dong Xuan Market, eat pho/bun cha in the old quarter, watch Thang Long water puppet show in the evening. Day 2 — Culture & history: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university), Hoa Lo Prison, Museum of Ethnology, sunset stroll at West Lake. Day 3 — Day trips: Bat Trang (ancient pottery village), or Duong Lam (500-year-old village), or a Ha Long Bay day tour (~3h drive + 4h cruise). Tip: rent a motorbike or use Grab instead of meter taxis in the old quarter.

Day 1 — District 1 center: Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Nguyen Hue walking street, dinner on Bui Vien backpacker street. Day 2 — Vietnam history: Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km from center, half-day tour), afternoon at Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs, street food on Nguyen Trai. Day 3 (optional) — Mekong Delta: My Tho/Ben Tre day tour (small floating market, coconut farms, handicraft villages). Note: HCMC is hot year-round — wear light clothes, sunscreen, drink plenty of water.

Da Nang — modern beach city, My Khe Beach 30 km long, Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills, My An seafood. Hoi An — UNESCO ancient town 30 km from Da Nang, lantern nights, 24-hour custom tailoring, cooking classes. Hue — Nguyen Dynasty capital 100 km from Da Nang, Imperial Citadel, tombs of emperors Tu Duc/Khai Dinh/Minh Mang, royal cuisine. Recommended 4-5 days: 1-2 days Da Nang (beach + Ba Na), 1-2 days Hoi An (old town + tailoring), 1 day Hue (royal tombs). Easy to travel by taxi or hire a car with driver.

Phu Quoc is Vietnam's largest island (near Cambodia, southern coast), famous for crystal-clear water, fresh seafood, beautiful sunsets. Top 4 beaches: (1) Sao Beach (south, fine white sand, shallow water safe for children); (2) Khem Beach (near the world's longest 7.9 km Hon Thom cable car); (3) Long Beach / Bai Dai (north, pristine, 15 km long); (4) Truong Beach (large resorts, near airport). Activities: snorkeling around An Thoi Archipelago, night fishing, Dinh Cau night market, Ham Ninh pepper farms. Best season: November to April (dry, calm sea).

1-day (~3h drive from Hanoi, ~4h on the boat) — suits tight schedules and budgets, no overnight sleeping on board; sees 5-7 main islands, usually Sung Sot Cave + short kayaking. 2-day/1-night (sleeping on traditional wooden junk) — for deeper experience, sunrise/sunset over the bay, proper onboard seafood, plus less-crowded Lan Ha Bay (often prettier than the classic Ha Long). Price: 1-day from ~USD 50/person, 2-day/1-night ~USD 120-300/person depending on boat class. Recommendation: if you're in Vietnam ~1 week, do 2-day/1-night; if 10+ days, 1-day is enough.

Sapa is a mountain town in the northwest (320 km from Hanoi, ~5-6h by sleeper bus or overnight train to Lao Cai), famous for terraced rice fields and Hmong/Dao ethnic villages. Most beautiful in September-October (golden rice harvest) and April-May (young green shoots). Activities: 1-2 day trek through Cat Cat, Ta Van, Lao Chai villages; cable car to Fansipan (3,143 m — Indochina's highest peak); Bac Ha Sunday market (special Flower Hmong people). 2-3 days is right: 1 day trekking + 1 day Fansipan + 1 day market (if Sunday aligns). Sapa winters can drop to 0°C, with occasional snow.

Mui Ne (Binh Thuan, 200 km from HCMC, ~4h drive) is famous for red + white sand dunes (Bau Trang "Mini Sahara" — buggy rides/sandboarding), traditional fishing village at dawn, Fairy Stream (naturally red streambed), Po Sah Inu Cham Tower. Asia-class kitesurfing/windsurfing — stable 15-25 knot winds November-March, many international schools. Mui Ne beaches aren't as crystal-blue as Phu Quoc but breezy and sunny year-round. 2-3 nights is right: combine with Da Lat (highlands, 4h drive) for Saigon → Mui Ne → Da Lat → Saigon 5-7 day loop.

Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) — lively beach city, clear-blue bay, Cam Ranh international airport, Vinpearl Land + 3.3 km cable car, 4-island yacht tour, I-Resort/Thap Ba mud spa; suits families and active young travelers. Phan Thiet / Mui Ne (Binh Thuan) — quiet beach town, dunes + fishing village, kitesurfing, fewer Korean/Chinese tourists (more Russian and Western European); suits couples, those wanting peaceful rest, lower budgets. Nha Trang is farther from Saigon (~9h drive vs Phan Thiet's 4h). Want clearest water: Nha Trang; want unique + cheaper: Phan Thiet.

The Mekong Delta is a vast water region in southern Vietnam, famous for Cai Rang Floating Market (Can Tho — largest floating market, go at 5-6 AM for the lively scene), orchards in My Tho/Ben Tre/Can Tho (jackfruit, rambutan, durian in season), Ba Lua Islands in Kien Giang ("Southern Ha Long"), Tra Su Cajuput Forest (An Giang). Itinerary: 1-day My Tho/Ben Tre from Saigon (tour bus, small floating market + craft villages); 2-3 days Can Tho (Cai Rang + Phong Dien floating markets + Binh Thuy ancient house). Note: high heat and humidity — drink water frequently + use sun protection.

Ninh Binh (~95 km from Hanoi, ~2h drive) has 3 main clusters: (1) Trang An (UNESCO Mixed Site 2014, hand-rowed boats through caves and karst mountains, ~3h); (2) Tam Coc ("Ha Long Bay on land", boats through 3 caves amid rice paddies, May-June rice harvest most beautiful); (3) Bai Dinh Pagoda (Southeast Asia's largest pagoda). Bonus: Mua Cave (climb 500 steps for aerial view of Tam Coc), Hoa Lu ancient capital (Vietnam's first capital). 1-day from Hanoi enough (Trang An + Hoa Lu + Mua tour). 2 days if adding Bai Dinh + rural homestay. Best seasons: May-June (rice harvest), January-March (cool).

Vietnam stretches 1,650 km, so 3 distinct climate regions: North (Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa) — best October to April (cool, low rainfall); June-August hot + showers; December-January cold, Sapa may have snow. Central (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) — best February to August (dry, hot); September-November typhoon season, Hoi An may flood. South (Saigon, Phu Quoc, Mekong) — best November to April (dry); May-October rainy but short showers, doesn't disrupt much. Best for all regions: February-April or October-November (all 3 regions pleasant).

Days 1-2 Hanoi (Old Quarter + Hoan Kiem Lake + history + eat pho/bun cha). Day 3 Ninh Binh (Trang An + Mua Cave + Hoa Lu, return to Hanoi evening). Days 4-5 Ha Long Bay 2D/1N (overnight cruise, kayaking, Sung Sot Cave, sunrise). Days 6-7 Sapa (night train from Hanoi evening of Day 5, 1-day trek Cat Cat/Ta Van villages, Fansipan cable car, return Hanoi night of Day 7). Estimated 3-star total cost ~USD 700-1,200/person (excluding visa + international flights). Visa: most nationalities use e-visa service via TVK or apply directly at evisa.gov.vn — book 5-7 days before flight. Korea/Japan/UK/Germany visa-exempt 14-45 days.

Days 1-2 Ho Chi Minh City (Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, dinner on Bui Vien street). Day 3 Cu Chi Tunnels + Mekong Delta tour (My Tho day trip including small floating market + coconut farms). Days 4-5 Phu Quoc (flight from HCMC ~1h, Day 4 Sao Beach + Hon Thom cable car, Day 5 An Thoi Archipelago snorkeling + return). Estimated 3-star total cost ~USD 600-1,000/person (excluding visa + international flights). Visa: TVK e-visa USD 50-200 depending on urgency — TVK processes via our network of legally authorized partner agents of the Vietnam Immigration Department. Extend to 7 days: add Da Lat (highlands) or Mui Ne (dry beach).

Vietnam has 9 UNESCO sites: (1) Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago (Natural, 1994; Cat Ba extension 2023); (2) Complex of Hue Monuments (Cultural, 1993); (3) Hoi An Ancient Town (Cultural, 1999); (4) My Son Sanctuary (Cultural, 1999); (5) Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Natural, 2003 + extended 2015); (6) Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (Cultural, 2010); (7) Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (Cultural, 2011); (8) Trang An Landscape Complex (Mixed Natural + Cultural, 2014); (9) Yên Tử–Vĩnh Nghiêm–Côn Sơn, Kiếp Bạc Complex of Monuments and Landscapes (Cultural, 2025). Ideal: group nearby heritage clusters — Central Hue+Hoi An+My Son+Phong Nha (1 week), North Ha Long+Trang An+Thang Long (5 days). Each site has specialist on-site guides.

Hanoi is a convenient hub for day trips: (1) Ninh Binh (Trang An + Mua Cave + Hoa Lu, ~2h away); (2) Ha Long Bay (~3h drive + 4h boat — return at night, tiring); (3) Bat Trang (ancient pottery village ~30 min, pottery class); (4) Duong Lam (500-year-old village ~1h, laterite architecture); (5) Tam Dao (mountain town ~2h, cool in summer); (6) Mai Chau (Thai ethnic valley ~3h); (7) Ba Vi (national park, light hiking ~1.5h). Recommendation: Ninh Binh is the best day trip (moderate distance, mix of scenery + culture). Choose Ha Long 1-day only when short on time — 2D/1N is much better.

Plenty — 5 picks: (1) Ha Giang (far north, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Dong Van karst plateau, Hmong people; 3-4 day motorbike tour); (2) Cao Bang (30m Ban Gioc Waterfall near China border, Ba Be Lake); (3) Con Dao (historic islands + pristine beaches + turtle nesting June-September); (4) Phu Yen (Tuy Hoa, Ganh Da Dia stone plates — overwhelmingly scenic); (5) Da Lat (cool highlands, fruit gardens, waterfalls, French architecture). Why go: fewer Korean/Chinese tourists, 30-40% cheaper, authentic cultural experience. Warning: infrastructure may be simple — verify hotels + transport carefully.

(1) Snorkeling: An Thoi Archipelago Phu Quoc (10-15 m visibility), Hon Mun Nha Trang (Vietnam's first marine reserve), Con Dao (pristine coral, mind the season). (2) Family-safe swimming: Sao Beach Phu Quoc (fine sand, shallow water), My Khe Da Nang (professional lifeguards), Nha Trang Beach (sheltered bay). (3) Luxury resorts: Truong Beach Phu Quoc (5-star), Nha Trang Vinpearl, Quy Nhon (emerging, less crowded). (4) Kitesurfing/windsurfing: Mui Ne (global top 10). (5) Quiet pristine: Con Dao, Long Beach Phu Quoc, Phu Yen. All beaches require entry visa — TVK processes via our network of legally authorized partner agents of the Vietnam Immigration Department.