🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 11/07/2026
Quick check: If your passport is on the visa-free list, you clear immigration with just your passport — no advance visa. If you're not on it, don't worry: the 90-day E-Visa is open to every nationality. This guide helps you look it up and count the days correctly.
Visa-free vs E-Visa — what's the difference?
- Visa-free (exemption): some nationalities enter Vietnam without any prior permit — just a valid passport. The stay length depends on nationality.
- E-Visa: for nationalities not on the exemption list (or who want to stay longer than the exemption). Applied for online, up to 90 days.
They're separate. Being visa-free doesn't mean you have a "visa"; and if you want to stay longer than the exemption, you still need an E-Visa or an exit-and-re-entry.
The 45-day group (the biggest one)
This is the most generous tier, usually multiple entry, up to 45 days per stay. It covers many European and East Asian nationalities:
- Western / Southern Europe: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom.
- Northern Europe: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland.
- East Asia: Japan, South Korea.
- Russia.
- 12 additional European countries (under Resolution 229/NQ-CP, valid to 14 Aug 2028): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia.
Two of Nha Trang's biggest visitor markets — Russia and South Korea — are both in the 45-day group.
The 30-day group
Mostly ASEAN and a few others:
- ASEAN: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand.
- A few other nationalities under separate agreements (for example Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia) — check the exact duration for your passport.
Shorter durations
- Philippines: around 21 days.
- Brunei: around 14 days.
Special case: Phu Quoc (any nationality)
If you fly directly to Phu Quoc island and stay only on the island, travelers of any nationality get up to 30 days visa-free. Note: leaving the island for the mainland requires a valid entry document.
Other schemes
- ABTC (APEC Business Travel Card): valid cardholders may be visa-exempt for business trips up to around 60 days.
- 5-year exemption card: for priority groups such as experts and investors (under Decree 221/2025). Exact eligibility is decided by the competent authorities.
General conditions for visa-free entry
- A passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.
- At least 2 blank pages.
- You may be asked to show onward/return travel within the exemption period.
How to count the days
Your entry date counts as Day 1. For example, if you arrive on 1 June on a 30-day exemption, you must leave Vietnam by 30 June at the latest. Don't miscount — even one day over is an overstay.
Two important updates
- The 30-day wait between visa-free entries has been removed. You can exit and immediately re-enter on a fresh exemption. However, doing it repeatedly may prompt questions from officers.
- Visa-free stays can't be extended in-country. To stay longer, you exit and re-enter (Visa Run/Border Run) or use an E-Visa for your next entry.
Not on the list? The E-Visa has you covered
If your nationality isn't exempt (for example the US, Canada, Australia, India…), you still enter easily with a 90-day E-Visa — open to all nationalities, applied for online at the official portal. Note: being in the Schengen Area doesn't automatically qualify you — some countries such as Austria, Greece, Ireland and Portugal still need an E-Visa.
A tourist exemption does not allow paid work in Vietnam. To work, you need the appropriate documents (a work visa, etc.).
Sources
- Official list and conditions: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security).
- Official E-Visa portal:
evisa.gov.vn. - Relevant resolutions: 44/NQ-CP (45-day exemption, valid to 14 Mar 2028) and 229/NQ-CP (12 additional European countries, to 14 Aug 2028).
Note: Lists and durations can change by resolution. This article is current at the time of publishing — check the official portal for your exact nationality before flying. ViEntry is a platform connecting users with independent operators; it is not an immigration authority and does not provide legal advice.
Staying longer than the exemption? ViEntry can help
Visa-free but want to stay in Vietnam beyond 45/30 days? You can take a Visa Run/Border Run to refresh your stay, or get a 90-day E-Visa for your next entry. Not sure which fits? Use the free Advisor for a suggestion based on your nationality and schedule — with a reference quote.
👉 Contact or book: Telegram @vientry_support · WhatsApp +84 963 091 001 · Hotline 0963 091 001.
