After a long time of quarantine and social distancing due to Covid-19, the demand for travelling abroad is increasing. Vietnam is one of the top tourist destinations of USA passport holders. For travelling to Vietnam, do USA passport require a visa? Is there visa exemption policy for USA passport when coming to Vietnam? Let see the answer below.
Some nationalities need a visa in advance for visiting Vietnam, some don’t. Until now, citizens from 24 countries actually have a visa exemption when entering Vietnam. Most of them have 15-day visa waiver program to visit Vietnam as a tourist. However, USA passport is not in this list. USA citizens still need to apply Vietnam visa before entering Vietnam in 2025.
It’s required to get a Vietnam visa for USA people before taking the flight to Vietnam. The airlines staff will check the visa before letting all passengers boarding. USA people without Vietnam visa will not be allowed to fly to Vietnam.
Although USA passport is not in Vietnam visa exemption list, USA citizens still can easily apply Vietnam visa through the internet. There are two types of Vietnam visa online which are available for USA people: Visa on arrival and E-visa.
Regardless of which method USA people use, the passport must have at least six months of validity left to receive Vietnam visa.
USA passport holders can easily apply Vietnam visa online with an internet accessed device. USA people just stay at home and submit visa application online, then visa result will be sent to their email.
There are two methods for USA passport to apply Vietnam visa online: Visa on Arrival (VOA) and Vietnam e-visa.
2.1/ How to apply Vietnam E-visa for USA passport 2025?
Until 2025, citizens from 80 countries (including USA) can apply online for Vietnam e-visa. When applying Vietnam E-visa, this has to be done before USA people land in Vietnam. Therefore, USA passport holders must apply and get Vietnam E-visa before boarding time.
To apply for Vietnam e-visa, USA citizen can click here: https://www.vietnamimmigration.com/apply-vietnam-visa/
Vietnam implemented the e-visa system on February 1, 2017. Although E-visa was suspended for a time, but until now, the online application system has been opened again for all applicants.
USA citizens need a scan/digital photo of passport as well as a recent, digital personal photo on a white background (no hats or glasses). After filling out all information and uploading images, the E-visa application of USA people will be processed. Three days later, USA passport holders will receive an email with e-visa attached. Print this and bring it with passport to Vietnam!
2.2/ How to apply Vietnam Visa on Arrival for USA passport 2025?
Before the e-visa system was rolled out, the most common way for USA travelers to get Vietnam visa is visa on arrival. In fact, visa on arrival is the visa which USA people will get when they land at Vietnamese airports. Before flying to Vietnam, it’s required USA people to apply the visa approval letter.
The Visa Approval Letter is not to be confused with the e-visa; this official letter is issued by Vietnam immigration department and it’s applied online.
Vietnam visa on arrival only works for arriving in one of the major international cities: Saigon (HCMC), Hanoi, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Phu Quoc. If crossing overland into Vietnam from a neighboring country, USA people should apply Vietnam E-visa.
Procedure to get Vietnam visa on arrival at Vietnamese airport for USA citizens 2025
The process of obtaining Vietnam visa on arrival is as follows:
Step 1: Apply visa approval letter online
The online application form for Vietnam visa approval letter is available here https://www.vietnamimmigration.com/apply-vietnam-visa/
USA citizens only need to click and fill out all required information, no need to submit any physical documents.
It takes about 3 working days to process Vietnam visa approval letter for USA people.
Step 2: Print out visa approval letter
Once approved, visa approval letter will be sent to email registered in visa application form. USA people should print it out as a hard copy and bring it when coming to Vietnam.
Step 3: Book the flight
If USA citizens haven’t already booked your flight to Vietnam, do so after receiving the visa approval letter. Flights can be booked without proof of visa, however, USA people need to show E-visa or visa approval letter before being allowed to board the flight.
Step 4: Arrive in Vietnam
Upon arrival, USA passport holders should approach the visa-on-arrival counter to request the visa application form. The immigration officer will ask for passport, Visa Approval Letter, and photos to issue visa. On the visa application form, write down essential information such as passport number, issue date, and expiration date.
Two personal photos are officially required, but the office may only ask for one; these should loosely conform to the official size of 4 x 6 centimeters. If USA citizens do not have photos that meet the requirements, some airports have kiosks where USA people can take them for a small fee.
After waiting for a few minutes, USA people will receive back passport with Vietnam visa sticker inside and finish the visa procedure.
To sum up, USA passport are required to have a visa before entering Vietnam. Thanks to the advantage of technology, USA tourists who want to apply for Vietnam visa no longer have to directly contact Vietnamese embassies and consulates as before, which is normally more costly and time-consuming. Vietnam E-visa and Vietnam visa on arrival are both available for USA passport right now, and USA people can choose the most convenient way to process Vietnam visa application online. If you want to know clearly the procedure to apply Vietnam visa online for USA passport in 2025, please contact us or email to info@vietnamimmigration.com
