Yes, Bolivian citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Bolivia is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Bolivian 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.
Bolivians who also hold a Spanish passport have a second option: Spanish citizens can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days. This page covers both routes, how to enter two surnames, card payments, flights and transit visas, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Bolivian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Bolivian passport: visa needed. Bolivia is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Spanish passport: visa-free for up to 45 days.
- Best option on a Bolivian passport: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of La Paz all year.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Bolivia from Brasília; Bolivia has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Bolivian visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 389 arrivals from Bolivia in 2019. The number fell to 14 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and stood at 83 in 2022. January 2023 alone brought 30 visitors, more than a third of the 2022 total.
Vietnam visa for Bolivian citizens: your options
| Passport or option | Entry rule | Maximum stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivian, single-entry e-visa | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 |
| Bolivian, multiple-entry e-visa | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 |
| Spanish passport | Visa-free | 45 days | Free |
| Any passport, Phu Quoc only | Visa-free on the island | 30 days | Free |
If you hold two passports, choose one 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 a Bolivian citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The Bolivian identity card is not accepted for Vietnam.
- Enter both surnames. Put your father’s and mother’s surnames together in the surname field, exactly as your passport shows them, for example MAMANI QUISPE. Leave out accents, as in the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page.
- 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 Bolivian citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. The payment is made online in US dollars by international card. Some Bolivian banks set low limits on card payments abroad, so check your limit with the bank before you apply. If your card is declined, a relative abroad can pay with an international Visa or Mastercard. 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: Carnival, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Bolivia all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 10 am on a Friday in La Paz arrives at 9 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Carnival and December: Carnival and the Christmas holidays are busy travel times. Apply at least 3 weeks before.
- Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year starts on 6 February 2027, close to Carnival. Processing slows or pauses around Tet; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. Apply in January for a February trip.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most routes go through São Paulo, Madrid or a US hub. A connection in the United States requires a valid US visa, even if you never leave the airport, so check the transit rules for wherever you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Bolivia. There is no Vietnamese embassy in La Paz. Instead, Vietnam’s ambassador to Brazil, based in Brasília, is also accredited to Bolivia. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Bolivia for Vietnam. Bolivia has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in La Paz, which will tell you which Bolivian mission can help. Holders of a Spanish passport can also ask the Embassy of Spain in Hanoi.
Worked examples
- Couple from Santa Cruz, 2 weeks in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), with the bank card limit checked first.
- Quinoa exporter from La Paz meeting buyers in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa with “business” as the purpose and the partner company’s details on the form.
- Student from Cochabamba with Bolivian and Spanish passports, 1 month in Vietnam: visa-free on the Spanish passport, since 30 days fits within the 45-day limit.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Bolivian citizens
Do Bolivian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Bolivian passport. With a Spanish passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Bolivia?
No. Vietnam’s ambassador in Brasília covers Bolivia. 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; VOV (August 2025). Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
