Vietnam E-Visa for Indians: Step-by-Step Application Guide (2026)
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-17
This Vietnam e visa step by step guide covers Indian passport holders applying in 2026. The only realistic option is the e-visa: 90 days, multiple entry, applied online through the official government portal. There is no visa-on-arrival for Indians, so this is not a choice between two routes; it’s the one route. For related planning, see our guide on Vietnam Visa for Indian Passport Holders Requirements E Visa Process Fees Visa on Arrival Explained.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Apply at least a week before your flight, not the 3-day minimum. The portal accepts most applications within 3 working days, but a rejected photo or a typo in your passport number forces you to resubmit, pay the fee again, and start the clock over.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa required for Indians? | Yes (e-visa only) | , |
| Primary visa type | Vietnam e-Visa (90 days, multiple entry) | ₹2,408 (~$24.96) |
| Fallback / alternative | None. VoA is not available to Indian passport holders | , |
| Processing time | 3 working days (apply earlier for safety) | , |
| Validity / max stay | 90 days, multiple entry | , |
| Extension possible? | Yes, at the Vietnam Immigration Department, Hanoi or HCMC | — |
| Mandatory arrival form | None | , |
Fee above is the official USD 25 e-visa fee converted at 1 USD = ₹96.3294 (live rate as of 17 July 2026).
Vietnam E-Visa vs Visa on Arrival for Indians
A lot of blog posts still describe a “visa on arrival” route for Indians. As of the last verification on 2026-06-26, VoA is not available to Indian passport holders. The Vietnam Immigration Department stopped issuing pre-approved VoA letters to Indian citizens several years back, and the few online agencies that still sell “VoA packages” are either reselling e-visas under a different label or processing through third countries, which adds cost and uncertainty. Skip them.
What this means in practice: the e-visa is your only option, and it covers most realistic backpacker trips cleanly. 90 days, multiple entry, single ₹2,410 (~25 USD) fee. If you’re doing the standard Thailand-Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia loop and need to cross into Cambodia at Moc Bai or Bavet and re-enter Vietnam later, a multiple-entry e-visa covers that without any extra paperwork.
If you only need a single entry and a shorter stay (under 30 days), there is no cheaper “lite” version. Everyone pays the same ₹2,410 (~25 USD). Don’t waste time looking for a ₹964 (~10 USD) or ₹1,446 (~15 USD) alternative; it doesn’t exist for Indian passports.
Safety Alert: Use only the official portal, https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Third-party sites that charge ₹3,856-₹5,784 (~40-60 USD)“service fees” for the same ₹2,410 (~25 USD) e-visa are common in Google Ads. The official portal accepts the application directly and only asks for the ₹2,410 (~25 USD) government fee.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for the Vietnam E-Visa
The application takes about 15-20 minutes from start to finish if your documents are ready. Here is the exact sequence on the official portal.
Step 1: Get your documents ready
You’ll need:
- A clear scan or photo of your passport bio page (the page with your photo, full name, date of birth, passport number, and issue/expiry dates). JPG or PNG, file size limits apply.
- A 4x6 cm photograph with white background, taken within the last 6 months. Not 2x2 (US visa size), not 35x45 mm (Schengen size). 4x6 cm, white background, full face visible. This is the single most common rejection reason; see the Vietnam visa photo size guide for the exact spec.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended entry date (so if you’re entering on 1 August 2026, your passport must be valid through at least 1 February 2027).
- A credit or debit card to pay the ₹2,410 (~25 USD) fee. Visa and Mastercard work cleanly; some Indian Rupay cards decline, so carry a Visa/Mastercard backup.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Get the photo taken at a passport-photo shop in India and ask specifically for “Vietnam visa photo, 4x6 cm, white background.” Studio operators in Tier 1 cities know this spec; in smaller cities, you may need to specify the dimensions, since the default output is often 35x45 mm or 2x2 inch.
Step 2: Create an account on the official portal
Go to https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. The English version is at the top right. Click “Register” and create an account with your email address and a password. The portal sends a verification code to your email; enter it within 10 minutes or the code expires.
The account itself is just a holder for your application. You can submit multiple applications from one account (useful for family members travelling together).
Step 3: Fill in the application form
The form has 5 tabs:
- Personal information: Full name exactly as printed on your passport, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport number, issue date, expiry date, place of issue.
- Contact information: Email, phone number, residential address in India.
- Travel information: Intended entry date, intended exit date, purpose of visit (tourism is the default), accommodation address in Vietnam (any hotel or hostel booking works, even a refundable Booking.com reservation).
- Photo and passport upload: Upload your 4x6 cm photo and passport bio page scan.
- Review and submit.
This is the moment to double-check the entry date and exit date. The “intended entry date” becomes the earliest day you can enter Vietnam; the “intended exit date” becomes the latest day you can be in the country under this e-visa. The portal allows you to enter up to 90 days between these two dates. Setting it too narrow creates problems; setting it too wide is fine because the visa is valid for multiple entries within that window.
Step 4: Pay the ₹2,410 (~25 USD) fee
The portal accepts Visa, Mastercard, and JCB. The fee is non-refundable if your application is approved, and non-refundable in a different way if it’s rejected (you pay again to resubmit). Total: $25.
At the 2026 rate (1 USD = ₹96.3294), $25 = ₹2,408.
Step 5: Wait for processing
The official processing time is 3 working days from the date of payment, not from the date you submitted the form. Weekends and Vietnamese public holidays don’t count. Most applications are approved within 24-72 hours.
You’ll get an email when the e-visa is approved (with a PDF attached that has a unique visa number) or if it’s rejected (with a reason, usually photo-related).
If you haven’t received any email after 4 working days, log back into the portal and check the application status. The most common delay reason is a photo that doesn’t meet spec, which means the application is sitting in “review pending” and will eventually be rejected.
Step 6: Download and print the e-visa
Once approved, download the PDF. Print two copies: one for immigration on arrival, one to keep in your bag as a backup. The e-visa PDF includes your photo, personal details, the visa number, and the entry/exit dates. Save a copy in your phone’s email or cloud storage as well, in case the printed copy gets damaged.
At the Airport / Border in Vietnam
When you land at Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, or any other Vietnamese international airport, follow the signs to “Foreign Passport / Visa Counter.” Have the printed e-visa, your passport, and (if asked) your return or onward ticket and your first-night accommodation booking ready.
The immigration officer will:
- Scan your passport.
- Take the printed e-visa, scan the visa number from it.
- Stamp your passport with the entry date.
- Hand the passport back.
The whole process takes 2-5 minutes if there is no line. At Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City peak hours, the line can run 20-40 minutes; Da Nang is typically faster.
Land border crossings: The same e-visa is valid at all international land borders: Lao Bao (Vietnam-Laos), Moc Bai and Bavet (Vietnam-Cambodia), and the China-Vietnam borders at friendship gates. See the Vietnam-Cambodia border crossings guide for onward routing. The same ₹2,410 (~25 USD) e-visa covers multiple entries, so a Vietnam-Cambodia-Vietnam loop works without reapplying. The procedure is identical to airports: passport + printed e-visa + stamp.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Border officials at land crossings sometimes ask for proof of onward travel (a bus ticket out of Cambodia, for example) or proof of funds (a bank statement or a screenshot of sufficient balance). This happens rarely, but it happens, so carry both digitally and be ready to show them on your phone.
Extensions & Overstay
If 90 days isn’t enough (some long-stay travellers, language students, slow-travel nomads), you can extend the e-visa once, for an additional 90 days, at the Vietnam Immigration Department offices in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. The extension costs roughly ₹4,820 (~50 USD), takes 5-7 working days, and requires your original passport, the printed e-visa, and a local address registration (your hostel or hotel can help). Apply at least 10 days before your current e-visa expires.
If you overstay without extending:
- 1-3 days overstay: A fine of roughly $25/day (~₹2,400) is typical, payable at the immigration office before you can leave the country. Some travellers report being allowed to “voluntarily correct” without a fine in the first 7 days.
- Beyond 7 days overstay: Possible blacklisting from future Vietnam visas (5-10 years), formal deportation paperwork, and higher fines. The threshold is not published officially, but traveller reports suggest anything beyond 30 days triggers formal removal proceedings.
Safety Alert: Don’t gamble on overstay leniency. The rules are inconsistently enforced, and a traveller who overstays by 12 days and pays a small fine has no guarantee you’ll get the same treatment. Apply for the extension on time.
For more on money-related prep before flying, see how much money to carry to Vietnam from India.
Common Mistakes & Rejection Reasons
Five mistakes Indian travellers make on this application, drawn from rejection data and traveller reports:
1. Uploading the wrong photo size
The portal demands 4x6 cm with white background, taken within 6 months. Most rejections fall into this category. The default Indian passport-photo output (usually 35x45 mm or 2x2 inch) gets rejected outright. Get the photo made specifically for Vietnam, not “the same passport photo will do.”
How to avoid it: Use the spec linked in Step 1. Cropping a 35x45 mm photo to 4x6 cm in Photoshop doesn’t work because the aspect ratio is wrong. Have a fresh set made.
2. Name mismatch between the application, the passport, and the photo
If your Aadhaar says “Ramesh Kumar” but your passport says “RAMESH KUMAR SHARMA” (with the surname expanded), use the passport version on the e-visa application. The portal matches the application name against the passport bio page, not against any other Indian ID.
How to avoid it: Open your passport, type your name exactly as printed, character by character. Don’t paraphrase, don’t add middle names, don’t translate.
3. Selecting an entry date in the past
The “intended entry date” must be a future date when you submit the application. Many travellers set it to the day they submitted the form, which then becomes the entry date; if the application is delayed by a day or the flight changes, the visa’s start date has already passed and you have a problem. Set the entry date 5-7 days after your planned submission.
4. Forgetting that the e-visa is non-transferable and tied to the passport
If you got a new passport between applying and travelling (the old one was expiring or full), your approved e-visa is now attached to a passport you won’t be travelling on. You must reapply with the new passport, including the ₹2,410 (~25 USD) fee.
5. Paying via a third-party “service”
Sites like “vietnam-visa-fast.com” or “vietnam-immigration-services.org” charge ₹3,856-₹9,640 (~40-100 USD)“service fees” on top of the ₹2,410 (~25 USD) e-visa fee, for a service you can complete yourself in 15 minutes. The portal is in English, the steps are clear, and there’s no advantage to paying a third party.
How to avoid it: Use only the official portal URL, https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Save the link as a bookmark, not as a Google search result.
For more rejection-specific advice, see the Vietnam visa rejection rate for Indians.
Getting Connected
The moment you clear immigration, you’ll need data for Grab (the local ride-hailing app), Google Maps, and the all-important WhatsApp messaging back home. The cheapest reliable option at the airport is a Viettel or Mobifone tourist SIM, ₹479 (~130,000 VND or ~$4.97), sold at the official Viettel/Mobifone counters right after customs. The 14-day plan includes about 6GB of 4G data, which is plenty for a 2-3 week trip if you use Wi-Fi at hostels for heavy downloads.
If you’d rather not queue at the airport counter or your phone supports eSIM, you can also grab a Nomad eSIM before you fly and activate it the moment you land; many Indian backpackers prefer this because it skips the airport SIM counter entirely and avoids the language shuffle.
Safety Alert: Avoid the unofficial SIM resellers who approach you in the arrivals hall before customs. They sell inflated tourist SIMs or SIMs registered under a different name (which means the SIM can be remotely disabled later). Stick to the official Viettel/Mobifone counters or the eSIM option above.
Subodh’s Take
The Vietnam e-visa is the cleanest visa process in mainland Southeast Asia for Indian passport holders. Apply online, pay ₹2,410 (~25 USD), get a PDF in 3 days, walk through immigration with no queues at the embassy, no passport handover, no agent. That’s rare. The two real pitfalls are the photo spec and the start date field, both covered above. If you sort those two before you start the application, the rest is mechanical.
What I’d flag for backpackers: the 90-day multiple-entry window is generous and quietly solves a problem most travellers don’t realise they have until later. If your loop is Thailand-Vietnam-Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos (crossing back into Vietnam a second time from Cambodia), the same ₹2,410 (~25 USD) e-visa covers all those entries. No second application, no second fee. That’s the real value of the multiple-entry provision, more than the 90-day stay length, because most backpackers don’t stay 90 days in one stretch.
FAQ
Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. As of 2026, Indian passport holders do not get visa-free entry to Vietnam. The only realistic option is the e-visa (₹2,410 (~25 USD), 90 days, multiple entry), applied online through https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.
Can I get a Vietnam visa on arrival with an Indian passport?
No. Visa on arrival is not available to Indian passport holders as of 2026. Pre-apply for the e-visa before your flight.
How many blank passport pages do I need for Vietnam?
Check your passport’s blank visa pages before travelling; ensure you have enough remaining for entry and exit stamps. A near-full passport is one of the top refusal reasons at the border, even with a valid e-visa. A near-full passport is one of the top rejection reasons on arrival, even with a valid e-visa.
What is the difference between a Vietnam e-visa and visa on arrival for Indians?
The Vietnam e-visa is the only option available to Indians: online application, no passport handover, no airport letter. Visa on arrival is a separate process (apply for an approval letter in advance, collect visa at the airport) that is no longer available to Indian citizens. The “VoA” packages sold online to Indians are typically resold e-visas at inflated prices.
Can I enter Vietnam on the date I selected as the start date, or any day after?
The e-visa is valid from the start date you selected onward. You can enter on the start date itself or any later date, but not earlier. The visa is also only valid through the end date; entering after that requires a new application.
Does the Vietnam e-visa work for land border crossings?
Yes. The same e-visa PDF works at international airports and at land borders (Lao Bao, Moc Bai, Bavet, friendship gates to China). The procedure is identical: passport + printed e-visa + stamp.
What happens if my Vietnam e-visa application is rejected?
You can reapply immediately with corrected documents. The ₹2,410 (~25 USD) fee is non-refundable, so you’ll pay again. Most rejections fall into the photo-spec category; getting the photo right before resubmitting is the priority.
