Yes, Bhutanese citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Bhutan is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Bhutanese 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.
Neither country has an embassy in the other, so the e-visa is also the most practical route. This page covers how to enter Bhutanese names, which usually have no family name, how to pay in US dollars, flights through Bangkok, timing around Losar and Tet, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Bhutanese citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Bhutan is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 1 hour ahead of Thimphu.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Bhutan from New Delhi; Bhutan’s nearest mission is in Bangkok.
How many Bhutanese visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 750 arrivals from Bhutan in 2019. The number fell to 8 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 259 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 109 Bhutanese arrived, more than 40% of the previous year’s total.
Vietnam visa for Bhutanese citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One holiday, pilgrimage or study visit |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Several trips, or side trips to Thailand or Cambodia |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Bhutanese citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The citizenship ID card is not accepted.
- Enter your name exactly as your passport splits it. Most Bhutanese names, such as Tashi Dorji or Karma Wangmo, are two given names with no family name. Your passport puts one of them in the surname field, so copy that split, not the order you use in daily life. The two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page show it.
- 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.
Paying for the Vietnam visa for Bhutanese citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Before you pay, check with your bank that your card can make international online payments in US dollars, because some Bhutanese cards are set up for local use only. If yours is not, a relative or partner abroad can pay with an international card. 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: Losar, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 1 hour ahead of Bhutan all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so if you apply at 4 pm on a Friday in Thimphu, it is already 5 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Losar and Tet: the Bhutanese New Year often falls close to Vietnam’s Tet, which starts on 6 February 2027. Processing slows or pauses around Tet; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. So for a trip at that time, apply in January.
- Winter holidays: the long school break is a popular time to travel. Apply at least 2 weeks before you fly.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most travelers fly from Paro to Bangkok or Singapore, then connect to Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City; routes through Delhi or Kolkata are also possible.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Bhutan. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Thimphu. Instead, Vietnam’s ambassador in New Delhi, India, is accredited to both Bhutan and Nepal. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Bhutan for Vietnam. Bhutan has no embassy in Vietnam. The nearest Bhutanese mission is the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Bangkok; in an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact it or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thimphu.
Worked examples
- Couple from Thimphu, 10 days in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in December: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), flying through Bangkok.
- Monk from Paro attending a Buddhist conference in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa, with the inviting organisation’s details on the form.
- Student group visiting universities in Hanoi and Bangkok within 3 weeks: multiple-entry e-visas (US$50 each) so they can leave and re-enter Vietnam.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Bhutanese citizens
Do Bhutanese citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Bhutan is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Bhutan?
No. Vietnam’s ambassador in New Delhi covers Bhutan. 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.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; Embassy of Vietnam in India; VietNamNet (October 2016). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
