Vietnam Visa Approval Letter: How Indians Get One Without Getting Scammed (2026)
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-18
If you’re flying into Vietnam on an Indian passport, you apply for the e-visa in advance on the official government portal. There is no visa-on-arrival available for Indians, must pre-apply. The official processing fee is ₹2,410 (~25 USD).
This guide covers the official e-visa process for Indian passport holders, cross-checked against the Vietnamese immigration portal (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn) and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs advisory page on 2026-07-18.
What Is a Vietnam Visa Approval Letter?
A Vietnam visa approval letter is a document issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department (Cục Quản lý Xuất nhập cảnh) that pre-approves a traveller for a visa-on-arrival (VoA). Historically, the holder would print it, carry it to Vietnam, and present it at the VoA stamping counter at Hanoi (Noi Bai), Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat), or Da Nang airports. Indian passport holders cannot use this route in 2026 (see the note below).
It is not the visa itself. The visa is the physical stamp in your passport. The approval letter is the permission slip that lets eligible travellers get to the stamping counter.
Two important things Indians need to know upfront:
- Indian passport holders must apply for the e-visa online in advance. There is no visa-on-arrival route available for Indian passport holders in 2026; the approval-letter / VoA counter does not apply to Indian nationals.
- The official Vietnamese government domain is evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. It is a
.gov.vnsite. Every website ending in.comthat says “official Vietnam visa” is a third-party agent, not the government.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | e-Visa (single or multiple entry, 90 days) | , |
| Government fee | $25 USD (₹2,408 at 1 USD = ₹96.3294) | ₹2,408 |
| Agent markup (if used) | Not applicable, apply directly on the government portal | |
| Photo requirement | 4x6 cm, white background, <6 months old | , |
| Processing time | 3 business days (official); agents often claim “same day” | , |
| Official portal | https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn | , |
| Validity | 90 days from issue, single or multiple entry | , |
| Where to apply | Anywhere with internet, no embassy visit needed | , |
Subodh’s Pro Tip: If an agent website doesn’t show the government fee of ₹2,410 (~25 USD) separately on their invoice, you’re being overcharged. The legitimate fee structure is: government ₹2,410 (~25 USD)+ service fee (if any) + bank/processing fee. If they bundle it all into one number above ₹3,500 (~$36.28) with no breakdown, walk away.
Step-by-Step: Getting the Approval Letter (the e-Visa, Which Is Usually Better)
Here’s the cleanest way to do this. The first method is the one I recommend; the second method is what the search term “approval letter” technically refers to, and I’ll explain why you might still encounter it.
Method 1: Apply for the e-Visa Directly (Recommended)
Step 1: Open the official portal Go to evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Bookmark it. Do not Google “Vietnam visa” and click whatever comes up first. Google’s top results are dominated by paid agent ads that look official but aren’t.
Step 2: Fill in the application You need:
- Passport scan (the bio page, readable, in JPG/PNG, under 2MB)
- Passport-style photo (4x6 cm, white background, taken within last 6 months)
- Travel dates (entry and exit)
- Accommodation address in Vietnam (hotel name and city is enough)
- Email address for the e-visa PDF to be sent to
- Credit/debit card for the ₹2,410 (~25 USD) payment
The form takes about 10 minutes. The trickiest field is “purpose of visit”, choose “tourism” unless you’re on a business trip or visiting family.
Step 3: Pay the fee ₹2,410 (~25 USD), processed through the Vietnamese government’s payment gateway. Card statements will show a charge in VND or USD depending on your bank’s conversion.
Step 4: Wait Three business days is the official processing time. In practice, most applications get approved in 24-48 hours. You’ll receive a PDF at the email address you provided. Download it, print two copies (one for immigration, one backup).
Step 5: Travel At Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang immigration, hand over your passport, the printed e-visa, and your arrival card (filled out on the plane or at the kiosk). The officer scans your e-visa, stamps your passport, and you’re in. Total time at the counter: 2-5 minutes.
Method 2: Not Available for Indian Passport Holders
The “approval letter” / visa-on-arrival program is not available to Indian passport holders in 2026. Indian nationals must apply for the e-visa in advance through the official government portal at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. If a third-party agent is selling you a “Vietnam approval letter,” they are either selling you a service you cannot use at the airport or upselling you on the e-visa at a markup.
Common Mistakes Indians Make
Mistake 1: Applying on a scam site
What people do wrong: Google “Vietnam visa,” click the first ad, fill in the form, pay ₹3,500 (~$36.28).
What happens: The site is a third-party agent (worse, a phishing page). They either process your application legitimately and pocket ₹1,500 (~$15.55) for paperwork you could’ve done yourself, or they harvest your passport details and run off.
How to avoid it: Only use evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. That is the only official Vietnamese government visa portal. If a site ends in .com, .org, .net, or anything other than .gov.vn, it’s an agent.
Mistake 2: Submitting the wrong photo size
What people do wrong: Upload a 2x2 inch photo (the US/India passport size) or a 3.5x4.5 cm photo (the Schengen/old Indian passport size).
What happens: The application gets rejected on technical grounds, you wait three days for a rejection email, and you start over.
How to avoid it: Vietnam’s e-visa requires 4x6 cm, white background, taken within the last 6 months. This is larger than most passport photos. Get it taken at a studio and specifically ask for “4 by 6 centimetres, white background, for Vietnam visa.” Most studios in India now know this; some still default to 2x2 inches.
Mistake 3: Booking flights before the visa is approved
What people do wrong: Book non-refundable flights before applying for the visa, assuming the application will go through.
What happens: The e-visa gets rejected (wrong photo, missing info, passport validity issue), and you’re stuck with a flight you can’t use or change.
How to avoid it: Apply for the e-visa first, get the approval PDF in your inbox, then book your flight. The e-visa is processed in 3 days; the flights don’t get cheaper in that time.
Mistake 4: Not carrying printouts
What people do wrong: Save the e-visa PDF on their phone and assume that’s enough.
What happens: Some immigration counters won’t accept phone screens. Some travellers have reported slow loading or dead batteries at the worst moment.
How to avoid it: Print two paper copies. Keep one in your hand luggage, one in your checked bag. The PDF on your phone is a third backup.
Mistake 5: Letting the visa validity slip
What people do wrong: Confuse the visa validity with the maximum stay duration.
What happens: The e-visa is valid for entry within 90 days of issue, and once you’re in, you can stay for up to 90 days. If your visa was issued on 2026-01-01 and you enter on 2026-04-01 (89 days later), you only get 90 days of stay starting from your entry date, and a single-entry visa cannot be used for re-entry after that.
How to avoid it: Apply for the e-visa when your travel dates are reasonably firm, not months in advance. The 3-day processing means you can wait until 2-3 weeks before your trip.
What Most Guides Don’t Tell You
The e-visa portal has scheduled downtime. Travellers report maintenance windows, typically Tuesday and Thursday nights IST (Vietnam time is 1.5 hours ahead of India). If you’re applying late at night IST and the portal returns an error, try again in the morning. This isn’t documented anywhere official but it shows up consistently in traveller forums.
Your passport needs 6 months validity, not 3. The Vietnamese government website says “at least 6 months” but agents often quote “3 months” to close the sale. Immigration officers at Tan Son Nhat have turned away Indian travellers with fewer than 6 months on the passport, even though the official text is ambiguous. Don’t risk it.
Indian debit cards sometimes get declined on the government portal. The payment gateway on evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn occasionally rejects Indian-issued debit cards. Credit cards work more reliably. If your debit card fails, try a credit card, then try again 24 hours later (the failed transaction sometimes blocks the next attempt).
The “urgent processing” agents sell is fake. The government processes applications in 3 business days. No agent can make it faster. Anyone charging extra for “same-day” or “4-hour” processing is either lying or running a scam. The fastest legitimate option is the standard e-visa, which often comes back in 24-48 hours anyway.
Travelling by land border? Use the e-visa. Vietnam’s land borders with Cambodia and Laos accept e-visas at major crossings like Moc Bai (HCMC side) and Lao Bao (Quang Tri province, on the Laos border). If you’re crossing overland, the e-visa is the option Indian passport holders should use, see our HCMC to Phnom Penh crossing guide for the land-border specifics.
FAQ
Can I get a Vietnam visa on arrival in 2026 as an Indian passport holder?
No. The visa-on-arrival / approval-letter route is not available to Indian passport holders. Indian nationals must apply for the e-visa online in advance through the official government portal at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.
How long does the Vietnam visa approval letter take from India?
Officially, 3 business days. In practice, most applications are approved in 24-48 hours, and if you’re cutting it close, our 1-day Vietnam visa guide covers the realistic options. Agents sometimes claim “same day” but this is just them submitting your application the moment you pay, not them having inside access to faster processing.
Is the approval letter the same as the e-visa?
No. The approval letter is a paper document (PDF) issued for visa-on-arrival. The e-visa is a separate, fully digital visa that you print out. Both get you into Vietnam, but they’re processed through different systems. Indians in 2026 should use the e-visa.
Can I extend my Vietnam visa from inside the country?
Visa extension rules and fees change frequently. Check with the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi or HCMC for current extension options and fees, or consult a local visa agent on arrival.
Do I need to show a return ticket at Vietnam immigration?
Not officially for the e-visa, but officers sometimes ask. Carry a printed return flight itinerary (not necessarily a paid ticket, just a confirmed booking) to be safe. This is more common at the land borders than at the airports.
What if my e-visa application gets rejected?
You’ll get an email within 3 business days. Common reasons: wrong photo size, passport validity under 6 months, blurred scan, or duplicate application. Fix the issue and reapply. There’s no appeal process and no fee refund, but the rejection itself doesn’t go on your record.
Is the ₹2,410 (~25 USD) fee the same for everyone?
Yes. The official e-visa fee is ₹2,410 (~25 USD) regardless of single or multiple entry. Apply directly on evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn to avoid agent markups.
Subodh’s Take
The Vietnam visa process looks scarier than it is. Every third-party website is competing for your attention by adding urgency (“only 2 days left to apply!”) and complexity (“you need a sponsor letter!”). The reality is simpler: go to the government site, fill the form, pay ₹2,410 (~25 USD), get the PDF in your inbox. The whole thing takes 15 minutes once you know which site to trust.
Getting Connected in Vietnam
Once you’ve got the visa sorted, you’ll want data on arrival in Hanoi, Da Nang, or HCMC. The two main options at Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, and Da Nang airports are physical SIM cards from Viettel or Mobifone (around ₹479 (~130,000 VND or ~$4.97) for a 14-day tourist SIM with ~6GB data) or an eSIM from Nomad you can activate before you land. The physical SIM is cheaper per GB, the eSIM is faster to set up.
Safety and Entry Advisory
Vietnam is generally safe for Indian travellers, though common scams and mistakes to avoid are worth a read before you go. Standard precautions apply: watch for pickpockets in tourist areas of HCMC’s District 1, use Grab instead of unmarked taxis, and keep your passport secured at the hostel (most have lockers). For current travel advisories, check the Indian Ministry of External Affairs site (mea.gov.in) before departure, since regulations and entry conditions can shift. The e-visa rules have remained stable through 2025 and into 2026, but always verify against the official portal the week before you fly.
