Yes, Albanian citizens need a visa for Vietnam when they travel on an Albanian passport. The simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Albanian citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
Many Albanians also hold an Italian or Greek passport, and the two give different results: Italian citizens can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days, while Greek citizens still need a visa. This page explains which passport to use, how to apply, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Albanian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Albanian passport: visa needed. Albania is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Italian passport: visa-free for up to 45 days. Greek passport: e-visa needed.
- Best option on an Albanian passport: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 6 hours ahead of Tirana in winter, 5 in summer.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Albania from Athens; Albania has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Albanian visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 430 arrivals from Albania in 2019. Only 3 arrived in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and 78 came in 2022. January 2023 alone brought 41 visitors, more than half the 2022 total. Albanians who entered on an Italian or Greek passport are counted under those countries, so the real number is higher.
Vietnam visa for Albanian citizens: your options
| Passport | Entry rule | Maximum stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albanian | E-visa or other visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 single / US$50 multiple |
| Italian | Visa-free | 45 days | Free |
| Greek | E-visa or other visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 single / US$50 multiple |
| Any, Phu Quoc only | Visa-free on the island | 30 days | Free |
Choose one passport and use it for the whole trip: for the airline check-in, Vietnamese immigration on arrival and departure, and the hotel registration. Check the full Vietnam visa exemption list before you decide.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as an Albanian citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The Albanian ID card is not accepted for Vietnam.
- Type your name without special letters. Copy the spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page, which show how ë and ç are written there.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through our service if you want your form checked before it is sent.
- Choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry, matching the airport where you land.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Albanian citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Pay by international Visa or Mastercard. Most Albanian bank cards work for online payments in US dollars, but turn on online payments with your bank first. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the full total appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
When to apply: holidays and the time difference
Vietnam is 6 hours ahead of Albania in winter and 5 hours ahead in summer. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at noon on a Friday in Tirana arrives after office hours in Hanoi, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Christmas, Easter and Bajram: families often travel around these holidays. Apply at least 2 weeks before.
- Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year starts on 6 February 2027. Processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. Apply in January for a February trip.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most travelers fly from Tirana through Istanbul, Dubai or Doha to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or start from Rome or Athens.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Albania. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Tirana. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Athens, Greece, is accredited to Albania; the current ambassador presented her credentials to President Begaj in October 2025. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Albania for Vietnam. Albania has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Tirana, which will tell you which Albanian mission can help. Holders of an Italian passport can also ask the Embassy of Italy in Hanoi.
Worked examples
- Couple from Tirana, 2 weeks in Hanoi and Sapa: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each).
- Family from Durrës with Albanian and Italian passports, 3 weeks in Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City: visa-free on the Italian passports for up to 45 days.
- Albanian-Greek dual citizen from Vlorë touring Vietnam and Cambodia for 5 weeks: neither passport is exempt, so a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) to leave and come back.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Albanian citizens
Do Albanian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on an Albanian passport. With an Italian passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Albania?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Athens covers Albania. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival. It is not a visa. Learn more about the Vietnam e-visa.
Checking a different passport? Our Vietnam visa requirements by nationality list covers all 196 passports from A to Z.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; The World and Vietnam Report (October 2025). Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
