Chinese passport holders need a visa to enter Vietnam. Here is exactly what is required, how long it takes, what it costs, and the one passport quirk to plan around.
Yes, you need a visa. China is not on Vietnam's visa-exemption list, so ordinary Chinese passport holders must arrange a visa before traveling. The good news: the Vietnam eVisa is open to Chinese nationals, covers up to 90 days, and now works at 83 entry points including all three major China land borders. In 2024, around 83% of Chinese visitors used the eVisa rather than visa-on-arrival, and China was Vietnam's single largest source market.
Yes. Vietnam does not waive visas for ordinary Chinese passports. You need a visa for any purpose: tourism, family visits, conferences, or short-term business. There is no general visa-free window, and if you leave the airport's international transit area, that counts as entering Vietnam and requires a visa.
A handful of narrow exemptions exist:
For everyone else, the eVisa is the route, and it is the one we recommend for almost every traveler.
The Vietnam eVisa is an electronic visa issued by Vietnam's Immigration Department and delivered to your email as a PDF. No embassy visit, no visa-on-arrival queue. For Chinese citizens it offers:
You can apply yourself at the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, or let us handle the whole application for a small service fee. Either way the government fee is the same; what we add is a review of every detail before submission, error correction, faster processing options, and English-language support if anything looks off.
| Option | Validity | Our fee (per applicant) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month Single Entry | 30 days from arrival | $54 |
| 1 Month Multiple Entry | 30 days from arrival | $84 |
| 3 Month Single Entry | 90 days from arrival | $94 |
| 3 Month Multiple Entry | 90 days from arrival | $104 |
All prices include the Vietnam Immigration Department's stamp fee, with no hidden add-ons. The official government fee is USD 25 (single) or USD 50 (multiple) and is non-refundable even if an application is rejected, which is exactly why our pre-submission review matters. See the full fee breakdown and currency estimator →
Times start from when our team submits your application to Immigration, typically within 2 hours of your payment during office hours (08:00 to 21:00 GMT+7). Apply at least 2 to 3 weeks ahead where you can, and add a buffer around Vietnamese public holidays such as Tet, when the Immigration Department is closed.
Single entry is enough for a one-way visit, even with domestic flights inside Vietnam (Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc all count as one entry). Multiple entry is the right choice if you plan to leave and re-enter, for example a regional itinerary through Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand, a cross-border business trip, or a Mekong cruise that re-enters Vietnam. Both options carry the same 90-day maximum, so many frequent China-Vietnam business travelers simply default to multiple entry for the flexibility.
⚠️ If you hold a post-2012 Chinese biometric passport (the "E"-prefix passport containing the nine-dash-line map), Vietnam will not stamp the visa directly into it. Instead, immigration issues a loose-leaf paper visa that travels with your passport rather than being affixed inside it. Entry is still permitted, so this is not a refusal, but allow extra time at the counter and keep that loose-leaf document safe, as losing it complicates your exit.
This practice has been in place since 2012 to 2013. One downside for long-stay travelers: Vietnamese notary offices will not notarize an E-passport and no Temporary Residence Card can be issued on one, which matters for Chinese investors and assignees. A common workaround is to appoint a representative who holds a Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or other non-PRC passport for the Vietnamese entity. Note also that HKSAR passport holders can use the standard eVisa, but BNO passports are not eligible and must use visa-on-arrival via an authorized operator.
Photo and bio-page issues are the most common cause of stuck or rejected applications. Our team checks yours against the requirements before anything is filed.
See the full walkthrough on our How to Apply page.
All of the following accept the eVisa:
One planning note: from 15 April 2026, all foreign arrivals through Tan Son Nhat (HCMC) must complete an online pre-arrival declaration before landing. We will flag this in your confirmation email when it applies.
Yes. The major crossings, Mong Cai (opposite Dongxing), Huu Nghi (opposite Pingxiang), and Lao Cai (opposite Hekou), all accept the eVisa. Pick the correct land border on the application, and remember China runs one hour ahead of Vietnam when planning your crossing time.
No. Entry is permitted. Vietnam simply issues a loose-leaf paper visa instead of stamping the passport. Allow a little extra time at the counter and keep the loose-leaf document with your passport for the whole trip.
Yes. Up to 10 applicants per order, with no group surcharge. Each person receives their own eVisa, but you pay once and we deliver everyone's PDFs together.
Not strictly, if you fly or sail directly to Phu Quoc, stay only on the island, and leave within 30 days. But if there is any chance you will touch the mainland, an eVisa avoids being stranded by a flight change or emergency. Many travelers get one for peace of mind.
If we spot a problem before submission, such as a passport expiring within 6 months, we refund in full and suggest alternatives. If an application is denied after submission, we refund the full amount you paid us. See our Terms and Conditions.