This guide shows you how to pick up visa on arrival at Vietnam airports, step by step, with our own photos of the visa counters at Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai and Da Nang. So you will know exactly where to walk after you leave the plane, what to hand in and how long it takes.
First, a quick reminder of the rules in 2026. Visa on arrival (VOA) is now issued for 15 days, single entry, for tourism only. It also works only with a visa approval letter issued before you fly. Without that letter, the airport cannot give you a visa.
Before you land: what to have in your hand
Keep these together in one folder, because the officer asks for all of them at once:
- Your passport, valid for at least 6 months, with 2 blank pages for the visa sticker and the entry stamp.
- A printed copy of your approval letter. A photo on your phone is risky, so print it.
- The NA1 form, filled in at home. Our NA1 form guide shows each field.
- One 4×6 cm photo with a white background.
- US$25 in cash for the stamping fee. Cards are not accepted, and there is no ATM in the visa area.
- Your Digital Arrival Card, submitted free on prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 72 hours before landing.
Which airports can you use?
Visa on arrival uses the same list of entry gates as the e-visa. In practice, if your letter names an airport, you can land at any international airport on that list. Our form lets you choose these 13 airports:
| Region | Airports |
|---|---|
| North | Noi Bai (Hanoi), Cat Bi (Hai Phong), Van Don (Quang Ninh), Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa) |
| Centre | Da Nang, Phu Bai (Hue), Dong Hoi, Phu Cat (Quy Nhon), Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) |
| South | Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Lien Khuong (Da Lat), Can Tho, Phu Quoc |
Four newer airports were added to the official gate list in December 2025: Long Thanh, Gia Binh, Vinh and Chu Lai. However, our form does not list them yet. Long Thanh, east of Ho Chi Minh City, is expected to start commercial flights on 24 December 2026, so ask us before you book a letter for it. For seaports and land borders, see our ports of entry guide. In that case, enter through the gate in your letter.
How long it takes at the visa counter
In our experience, the wait is usually about 10 minutes outside peak hours. At peak times, when several long-haul flights land together, it is often 30 to 60 minutes. After that, you still queue for passport control.
How to pick up visa on arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
Tan Son Nhat (SGN) is the busiest airport for visa on arrival. Walk from the plane to the immigration hall, and look up before you join any queue. A blue sign shows Cấp thị thực tại chỗ – Landing Visa with an arrow to the left.
The Landing Visa office is on the left side of the hall. It is an open area with rows of seats in front of the windows, so it is easy to spot once you turn.
Each window has a number and a sign. When we took these photos, windows 4 and 5 took individual applications, window 6 took groups, and windows 1 and 2 were the cashier. Signs can change, so always read them on the day.
- Hand your passport, printed letter, NA1 form and photo to an application window.
- Take a seat and listen for your name. Officers often call names aloud, so stay close.
- When you are called, pay US$25 in cash at the cashier and get your passport back.
- Check the visa sticker before you leave the window: name, passport number, dates and “single entry”.
- Walk back to the immigration hall and queue for passport control.
After the visa: passport control at Tan Son Nhat
After the visa, you join the passport control lines in the same hall. These queues can be long at night, when many international flights arrive together.
How to pick up visa on arrival at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi)
All international flights to Hanoi use Terminal 2. Here, the visa on arrival counters face the passport control booths. The signs are small, and they are hard to see when the hall is crowded, so look for two yellow signs side by side.
- Go to the Cấp thị thực – Visa Application counter and hand in your documents.
- Wait nearby. Your name appears or is called at the other counter.
- Then go to Thu phí và trả hộ chiếu – Visa Fee and Passport Return, pay US$25 in cash and collect your passport.
- Check the sticker, then cross the hall to passport control.
How to pick up visa on arrival at Da Nang Airport
Da Nang (DAD) is smaller and easier. Follow the exit signs from the gate. As soon as you enter the large immigration hall, the counter is on your left. A lit yellow sign reads Nơi cấp thị thực / Visa on Arrival, so you cannot miss it.
The steps are the same as in Ho Chi Minh City: hand in, wait for your name, pay, check the sticker, then go to passport control.
Other airports: Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Cat Bi and the rest
To pick up visa on arrival at the smaller international airports, look for the desk before passport control. The hall is compact. If you cannot see it, do not join the passport queue. Instead, ask an officer at passport control, and they will point you to the desk.
Want a hand at the airport? VIP Arrival Support
Want help to pick up visa on arrival? If it is your first trip, or you travel with children or older parents, you can add VIP Arrival Support when you order your letter. It costs US$40 per person and is available at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang and Cam Ranh. A staff member meets you with a name board on the way to the visa counter.
Common problems when you pick up visa on arrival
- No cash. There is no ATM in the visa area, and cards are not accepted. Carry clean US dollar notes, ideally the exact US$25.
- No photo. Bring one from home, because it is part of your application.
- A mistake on the sticker. Point it out at the window at once. It is much harder to fix after passport control.
- Your name is not on the list. Show the printed letter to the officer, then contact us right away.
- You flew into a different airport. With an airport letter, any airport on the list above is fine.
Visa on arrival or e-visa?
If you stay longer than 15 days, need several entries or travel for business, the e-visa is the better choice. It lasts up to 90 days, and you skip the visa counter completely. Compare both in our e-visa guide and our visa cost guide, or read the full visa on arrival guide.
FAQ: picking up visa on arrival in Vietnam
Where is the visa on arrival counter?
It is always before passport control. At Tan Son Nhat and Da Nang it is on the left of the immigration hall. At Noi Bai it faces the passport control booths.
How much do I pay at the airport?
You pay a US$25 stamping fee in cash for the 15-day single-entry visa. The approval letter is paid online before you travel.
Can I pick up my visa at a different airport from the one in my letter?
Yes. If your letter names an airport, you can land at any international airport on the e-visa list. For a seaport or a land border, use the gate in your letter.
Do I still need the Digital Arrival Card?
Yes. Submit it free on prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 72 hours before you land. It does not replace your visa.
Can I get a business visa on arrival?
No. Visa on arrival is now for tourism only. For business trips, apply for a business e-visa instead.
Ready to travel? Apply for your approval letter or e-visa online. Check the options for your passport on the form before you book.
