American passport who are intend to take the river cruise from Cambodia to Vietnam can follow this article to know more about Vietnam visa requirements and procedure to apply Vietnam …
Cruise tours between Cambodia and Vietnam are popular nowadays. USA citizens who are in Cambodia can book a Mekong river cruise and travel to Vietnam along this famous river. However, one of the most concerned problem before taking this tour is, whether USA passport need visa to enter Vietnam through a cruise tour or not. And in particular, what are Vietnam visa requirements for USA passport when crossing Chau Doc border by a cruise? How can USA passport apply Vietnam E-visa to enter through Chau Doc border with a cruise tour? We will see in details below.
All USA passport holders are required a visa when entering Vietnam. For USA citizens who take the river cruise to Chau Doc border, there is no exception as well. When booking the Mekong river cruise, USA people should prepare Vietnam visa to make sure that they will get Vietnam entry permit on the cruise tour.
Before taking the river cruise tour from Cambodia to Vietnam, please make sure for your USA passport:
Although USA passport need visa when entering Vietnam through Chau Doc border by a river cruise, the procedure for getting a Vietnam visa is quite easy for USA citizens. USA passport can apply Vietnam E-visa online in Cambodia and then use this visa for crossing Chau Doc border.
Vietnam E-visa was first introduced in 2017 by Vietnam government. Until 2025, there are 80 countries which can apply Vietnam E-visa online, included USA passport. Vietnam E-visa is a single entry visa with maximum validity as 30 days. Using this E-visa, USA passport can enter Vietnam by river cruise at Chau Doc.
Vietnam E-visa allows the visa holders to enter Vietnam through 33 international entry gates, including airports, seaports and landports. When applying Vietnam E-visa, USA applicants must choose exactly the entry port which they will enter through. If USA passport enter through different entry port (not the same with the entry port in visa application form), your entry will be denied.
However, there are a lot confused information which make USA passport don’t know which entry port should they choose because there is no Chau Doc border on eligible entry list. Which entry port should USA passport put into Vietnam E-visa application form if they entering Chau Doc through Mekong river cruise?
At first, we need to make it clear: In Vietnamese language, “Song Tien” mean Mekong river. All USA passport holders who take the cruise through Mekong river to enter Vietnam will need to choose “Song Tien landport” as entry port when submitting Vietnam E-visa. Of course, Vietnam E-visa with entry port as “Song Tien landport” can be used to enter Vietnam through Chau Doc border.
As mentioned above, Vietnam E-visa is processed online. USA passport can apply Vietnam E-visa for entering Chau Doc through a Mekong river cruise when they are in Cambodia. It takes a few minutes to complete the visa application form online.
Processing time for getting Vietnam E-visa for USA passport: It normally takes 3 working days to get Vietnam E-visa approved. For urgent case, USA passport can add the urgent service to expedite Vietnam E-visa process. However, we strongly recommend that USA passport should apply Vietnam E-visa at least 10 days before the arrival date. In case there is any trouble, USA passport still have time to fix the E-visa.
Process to apply Vietnam E-visa for USA passport holders taking the cruise on Mekong river
Here below is the step by step guide to apply Vietnam E-visa for USA people crossing Chau Doc border:
Step 1: Access this link https://www.vietnamimmigration.com/apply-vietnam-visa/ to visit Vietnam E-visa application form online for USA passport
Step 2: Choose all required information such as nationality, purpose of visit, visa type, arrival date, etc.
Step 3: Add the Add-on service
In case USA passport want to expedite Vietnam E-visa application process, you can add this service in this step. The urgent service will help USA passport to get Vietnam E-visa within 1 working day or even 4 working hours.
Step 4: Upload passport and photo
Passport and photo are required when submitting Vietnam E-visa for USA passport crossing Chau Doc border. The requirements of passport and photo for Vietnam E-visa application for USA passport is as below:
See details here https://www.vietnamimmigration.com/photo-and-passport-requirements/
Step 5: Make payment and submit visa application
USA passport should review all information in the application form and make payment. After successfully paid, an email confirmation will be sent to USA applicant’s email.
Step 6: Get E-visa via email and print it out
After 3 working days of process, Vietnam E-visa result will be sent to USA applicant’s email. Recheck all information in the E-visa to make sure there is no errors or mistakes. After that, print it out and prepare for the cruise trip from Cambodia to Vietnam.
Due to Covid-19, a lot of entry restrictions are set in the world. What is Vietnam entry requirements for USA passport taking the cruise from Cambodia to Vietnam? Are there any entry requirements at Chau Doc border for USA passport holders?
In fact, from May 2022, Vietnam has lifted all entry restrictions of Covid-19 for all foreigners. USA passport will not need to bring a lot of troublesome documents to prove health and Covid-19 status as before when entering Vietnam through Chau Doc landport:
The officers at Chau Doc border only check these two documents below before letting USA citizens enter Vietnam:
Above is all information related to Vietnam visa requirements for USA passport who take the river cruise to enter Vietnam as well as procedure to apply Vietnam E-visa for entry Chau Doc border by a cruise. For more information about Vietnam E-visa application for USA passport and Vietnam entry requirements for USA passport holders, please contact us through email info@vietnamimmigration.com
American passport who are intend to take the river cruise from Cambodia to Vietnam can follow this article to know more about Vietnam visa requirements and procedure to apply Vietnam …
