Contents
Visa-Free Entry
Many nationalities can enter Vietnam without a visa. Below is a comprehensive list grouped by the duration of stay allowed.
90-day visa-free entry:
- Chile
- Panama
45-day visa-free entry (valid until August 2028):
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- Russia
- Japan
- South Korea
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
- Finland
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Switzerland
30-day visa-free entry:
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- Thailand
21-day visa-free entry:
- Philippines
14-day visa-free entry:
- Brunei
Requirements for visa-free entry:
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry
- You need at least 2 blank pages in your passport for stamps
- The 30-day waiting period between visa-free entries was removed in 2022 -- you can exit and re-enter immediately
- Visa-free entry is NOT extendable -- you must leave and re-enter, or apply for a different visa type before it expires
E-Visa (90 Days)
Since 2023, all nationalities are eligible for the Vietnam e-visa, making it the most flexible option for longer stays.
Key details:
- Available as single entry or multiple entry for up to 90 days
- Apply online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn (the official government portal)
- Cost: $25 USD for single entry / $50 USD for multiple entry
- Processing time: 3-5 business days
- E-visas are not processed during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), so plan around late January / early February
Our recommendation: Always get the multiple entry e-visa. The extra $25 is worth it because it allows you to do border runs, take weekend trips to neighboring countries, and re-enter without any issues. A single-entry visa means if you leave Vietnam for any reason, you need a brand new visa to get back in.
How to apply:
- Fill out the online form with your passport details
- Upload a passport photo and a scan of your passport data page
- Pay by credit card or debit card
- You will receive the e-visa PDF via email
- Print at least two copies and carry them when you travel
Working Considerations
This is the gray area that every digital nomad in Vietnam navigates. Here is the honest breakdown.
The technical situation:
- A tourist visa (including e-visa and visa-free entry) does not legally permit you to work in Vietnam
- Most remote workers and digital nomads use tourist visas without any issues, as enforcement targets Vietnamese employers hiring foreigners without permits, not freelancers working on laptops in cafes
- If you are employed by a Vietnamese company, you are required to have a work permit -- this is actively enforced
Digital Nomad Visa:
- A dedicated Digital Nomad Visa for Vietnam has been discussed at the government level but is not yet available
- If introduced, it would likely formalize the status of remote workers
Tax residency warning:
- Spending 183 or more days in Vietnam within a calendar year technically makes you a tax resident
- Vietnam's personal income tax rates range from 5% to 35%
- In practice, enforcement against remote workers earning from overseas is minimal, but the law exists and could be applied
- Consider consulting a tax professional if you plan to stay long-term