Is Vietnam Visa-Free for Indians? (2026)

Do Indians Need a Visa for Vietnam in 2026? (Direct Answer)

Yes. As of 2026, Indian passport holders are required to obtain a visa before entering Vietnam. There is no general visa-free arrangement for Indian citizens travelling to mainland Vietnam, regardless of whether the purpose is tourism, business, or a family visit.

There are three ways to get a Vietnam visa as an Indian passport holder: the e-Visa (recommended), which is applied for online at evisa.gov.vn and works at all 83 approved entry points including airports, land borders, and seaports; Visa on Arrival (VOA), which is available only at international airports and requires a pre-approved visa approval letter from an authorised agency before departure; and an embassy or consulate visa, applied for in person at the Vietnam Embassy in New Delhi or Consulate in Mumbai.

For most travellers, the e-Visa is the most practical route. It is fully online, does not require visiting an embassy, and is accepted at every entry point in Vietnam.

Vietnam's Current Entry Rules for Indians

The e-Visa: Standard Route for Indian Travellers

Since August 15, 2023, the Vietnam e-Visa has been available to all nationalities, including Indians, with validity expanded to 90 days and available as single-entry or multiple-entry. This remains the rule in 2026.

The official Vietnam e-visa fee is USD 25 for single entry and USD 50 for multiple entry, and the fee is generally non-refundable. Applications are submitted through the official government portal at evisa.gov.vn. Processing typically takes three working days once a complete application is submitted.

Visarun.ai processes Vietnam e-Visas for Indian citizens with a total cost of USD 72, which includes the USD 25 government fee and a USD 47 service fee for document review and submission support. Visarun's standard processing runs two to three business days.

Visa on Arrival (VOA)

Indian passport holders must have a valid Vietnam visa — which can be an e-Visa, an embassy visa, or a Visa on Arrival approval letter — before boarding their flight to Vietnam. Indian travellers cannot directly obtain a Visa on Arrival at a Vietnamese airport without obtaining prior approval. VOA requires a pre-approved letter arranged through an authorised agency, followed by paying a stamping fee on arrival at the airport immigration counter. The stamping fee mirrors the e-Visa fee: USD 25 for single entry, USD 50 for multiple entry.

Because the VOA process involves an extra step and restricts entry to airports only, the e-Visa is generally the simpler choice for Indian travellers.

Phu Quoc Island: 30-Day Visa-Free, with Conditions

Phu Quoc Island offers visa-free entry for up to 30 days for Indian citizens, but this exemption comes with strict conditions that have caused problems for many travellers. The Indian Embassy in Hanoi issued a specific travel advisory about this on 6 April 2026.

To use the Phu Quoc visa-free arrangement, all of the following conditions must be met:

• Arrival must be on a direct international flight or vessel to Phu Quoc International Airport or Phu Quoc Seaport — a connecting domestic leg via Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi disqualifies the exemption
• The entire stay must remain on Phu Quoc Island — travel to mainland Vietnam, even for a single day, is not permitted under this exemption
• Exit must be directly from Phu Quoc to another country, not through any mainland Vietnamese city
• A valid Indian passport with at least six months of remaining validity is required, along with proof of onward travel

Indians who do not arrive on a nonstop international flight to Phu Quoc, or who plan to continue to mainland Vietnam, must secure an e-Visa in advance. This change took effect after the Vietnam immigration service updated its internal operating circulars in early April 2026.

For any trip that includes Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, or any other part of Vietnam beyond the island, an e-Visa is required.

What Changed: Recent Updates

An advisory published on 7 April 2026 confirmed that Phu Quoc's long-standing visa-free privilege for Indian travellers has been narrowed. The conditions described above are now enforced more strictly at the immigration level, and travellers who arrive via a mainland Vietnamese airport before connecting to Phu Quoc on a domestic flight no longer qualify for the exemption.

The Embassy of India in Hanoi issued a detailed advisory for Indian travellers heading to Vietnam, flagging risks related to visas, potential complications with emergency travel, and passport-related delays that could disrupt trips if not carefully planned. The advisory focused particularly on the Phu Quoc exemption and the importance of carrying original documents rather than copies.

On the e-Visa side, no fee changes have been announced for 2026. The government fee remains USD 25 for single entry and USD 50 for multiple entry. As visa policy can be updated without prior notice, checking the official evisa.gov.vn portal or the Vietnam Embassy website before applying is advisable.

Documents Required for Entry

For a Vietnam e-Visa application, applicants typically need the following:

• A valid Indian passport — valid for at least six months beyond the arrival date, with at least two blank visa pages
• A digital passport-quality photograph (JPEG or PDF format is generally accepted by the online portal)
• A scan of the biographical data page of the passport
• Confirmed onward or return flight tickets
• Hotel booking or proof of accommodation for the duration of stay
• Payment for the government fee (USD 25 single entry / USD 50 multiple entry) via the online portal's payment gateway

For Visa on Arrival, the documents are similar but the process begins with a pre-approval letter rather than a direct online application. For those applying at the Vietnamese Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate in Mumbai, an invitation letter or hotel confirmation may additionally be required depending on the visa category.

How Long Can Indians Stay

A Vietnam e-Visa for Indian citizens can be issued for up to 90 days. The exact validity period appears on the approved e-Visa and should be checked carefully before travel.

The 90-day validity applies to both single-entry and multiple-entry e-Visas. For travellers planning a single trip of under 30 days, the single-entry option at USD 25 is typically sufficient. For those planning to cross into Laos, Cambodia, or another neighbouring country and re-enter Vietnam, a multiple-entry e-Visa at USD 50 is the better choice.

For Phu Quoc under the visa-free arrangement, the maximum stay is 30 days, with no extension available under that route.

If You Need a Longer Stay — Your Options

The standard e-Visa covers up to 90 days, which is sufficient for most tourism trips. Travellers who need to remain in Vietnam beyond that period have a few options.

Visa extensions are possible through the Vietnam Immigration Department or a local travel agency. Extensions are typically granted for 30 days and cost around USD 50 to USD 100 depending on the type. Applications for extension should be submitted before the current visa expires; overstaying by even one day can result in fines and a negative immigration record.

For Indian travellers wanting to stay longer, the most practical solution is often to make a short trip to a nearby country — such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Phnom Penh — and then apply for a fresh e-Visa. This approach, sometimes called a visa run, resets the 90-day clock.

For long-term stays related to employment, study, or business, a visa applied for at the Vietnam Embassy in New Delhi, supported by a sponsor letter from a Vietnamese entity, is the appropriate route. The Visarun.ai team can advise on the right visa category based on individual travel plans.

Travel Tips for Indians

Apply for the e-Visa at least ten to fifteen days before the intended travel date. Although processing typically takes three working days, leaving buffer time accounts for any document corrections or public holidays in Vietnam that may slow the immigration department's response.

The Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the official currency. Carrying some USD for easy exchange is useful, as some local vendors in tourist areas also accept USD. ATMs are widely available in cities and most tourist areas.

Buying a local 4G SIM card at the airport — Viettel or Vinaphone are the main carriers — is inexpensive and provides high-speed data coverage across the country. Registering the SIM requires showing your passport at the counter.

The best time to visit Vietnam for an all-round trip is February to April or August to October, when the weather is generally pleasant and rainfall is lower. Vietnam is a long country with distinct regional climates, so conditions vary significantly between north and south.

Keep your passport in a secure location at all times and carry a photocopy separately. The April 2026 Indian Embassy advisory specifically highlighted that passport loss in Vietnam can cause significant delays in obtaining emergency travel documents, so taking precautions before travel matters.

FAQ

Do Indians need a visa to visit Vietnam in 2026?

Yes. Indian passport holders require a valid visa to enter Vietnam. The e-Visa, applied for online at evisa.gov.vn, is the recommended option for most travellers. There is no general visa-free access for Indians to mainland Vietnam.

Is Vietnam visa-free for Indians going to Phu Quoc?

Phu Quoc allows Indians to enter without a visa for up to 30 days, but the exemption carries strict conditions. The traveller must arrive on a direct international flight or vessel to Phu Quoc, stay exclusively on the island for the entire trip, and exit Vietnam directly from Phu Quoc. Anyone connecting via Ho Chi Minh City or planning to visit any other part of Vietnam needs an e-Visa. An Indian Embassy advisory issued in April 2026 urges travellers to verify these conditions carefully before booking.

How do I apply for a Vietnam e-Visa from India?

Applications are submitted through the official Vietnamese government portal at evisa.gov.vn. You upload a passport scan and photograph, fill in travel details, and pay the government fee online. Alternatively, platforms like Visarun.ai handle the document review and submission on your behalf for a service fee, which can help avoid errors that delay approval.

How much does the Vietnam e-Visa cost for Indians?

The official government fee is USD 25 for a single-entry e-Visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry e-Visa. If applying through Visarun.ai, the total cost is USD 72, which includes the USD 25 government fee and a USD 47 service fee for assisted processing. Fees on the official portal are paid by card through the online payment gateway.

How long does Vietnam e-Visa processing take for Indians?

The standard processing time is three working days once a complete application — with correct documents and payment — is submitted. Visarun.ai processes applications in two to three business days. Applying at least ten to fifteen days before travel is recommended to allow time for any document corrections or Vietnamese public holidays that may affect processing speed.

How long can Indians stay in Vietnam on an e-Visa?

The e-Visa is valid for up to 90 days from the entry date and is available as single-entry or multiple-entry. The exact validity is confirmed on the approved e-Visa document. For Phu Quoc under the visa-free arrangement, the maximum stay is 30 days.

Can I extend my Vietnam e-Visa while inside the country?

Extensions of around 30 days are possible through the Vietnam Immigration Department or a local agency, at a cost of roughly USD 50 to USD 100. Applications should be submitted before the current visa expires. Another common approach is exiting to a neighbouring country such as Thailand, Malaysia, or Cambodia and reapplying for a fresh e-Visa, which resets the 90-day period.

Can I enter Vietnam by land from Cambodia or Laos on an e-Visa?

Yes. The Vietnam e-Visa is accepted at all 83 designated entry points, which include airports, land border crossings, and seaports. This is one advantage the e-Visa has over Visa on Arrival, which is restricted to international airports only.

What documents do I need for a Vietnam e-Visa as an Indian citizen?

You typically need a valid Indian passport with at least six months of validity beyond your arrival date and at least two blank pages, a digital passport-size photograph, a scan of your passport's data page, confirmed onward or return flight tickets, and proof of accommodation. Documents are typically uploaded as JPEG or PDF files through the application portal.

Is the Vietnam e-Visa approval guaranteed?

Approval decisions rest entirely with the Vietnam Immigration Department, not with any third-party platform including Visarun.ai. Submitting accurate, complete documents gives an application the best chance of a smooth outcome. Visarun.ai reviews applications before submission to catch common errors, but cannot guarantee any specific result. For the latest official information, checking evisa.gov.vn or the Vietnam Embassy website in India before applying is always advisable.