Yes, Canadian citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Canada is not on Vietnam’s visa-free list, so every traveler, including children, needs a visa before boarding. The easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Canadian citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa that costs US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry and usually takes about 3 working days.
Many Canadians visit Vietnam to escape the winter, often for several weeks. This guide covers the options, a step-by-step application, how to time it around the Christmas season and Tet, the Vietnamese missions in Canada, and tips for Vietnamese-Canadians.
Vietnam visa for Canadian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes, for mainland Vietnam.
- Best option: 90-day e-visa, US$25 single / US$50 multiple entry.
- Processing: about 3 working days in Vietnam.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival.
- Time difference: Vietnam is about 10 to 15 hours ahead of Canada, depending on the province and season.
Do Canadian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam’s visa exemptions cover mainly European countries, Japan, South Korea and several ASEAN neighbours, and Canada is not one of them. Therefore, Canadian tourists, business travelers and students need a visa for the mainland. Check the latest list in our guide to who is exempted from Vietnam visa.
The exception is Phu Quoc island: any foreign visitor can stay there for up to 30 days visa-free when arriving directly from abroad, or after transiting through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City without leaving the airport.
How many Canadians visit Vietnam?
The Ministry of Public Security recorded 163,168 Canadian arrivals in Vietnam in 2019. Numbers fell to just 605 in 2021 and recovered to 59,231 in 2022. January is a peak month: 29,997 Canadians arrived in January 2023 alone, many on winter escapes.
Vietnam visa for Canadian citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Almost every trip, including long winter stays |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Embassy or consulate visa | Depends on type | Set by the mission | Special cases, sponsored long stays |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Our full Vietnam e-visa guide walks through every field of the form.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Canadian citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival and have blank pages.
- Take a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background with no glasses. A Canadian passport photo is a different size, so take a new one. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Scan the passport data page with all four corners and the two lines at the bottom.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through a service if you want your form checked.
- Choose single or multiple entry. Pick multiple entry if you will visit Cambodia, Laos or Thailand and return.
- Pay, wait and print. Keep your registration code, then print and check the e-visa.
Vietnam visa for Canadian citizens on a long winter stay
The e-visa allows up to 90 days, which covers most winter escapes. However, a tourist e-visa generally cannot be extended inside Vietnam. So if you plan to stay from early January to late March, set the dates to cover the whole stay when you apply. If you want to stay longer than 90 days, leaving Vietnam and returning on a new e-visa is possible, but each entry is decided at the border; for very long stays, ask about a sponsored visa instead.
When to apply: Christmas and Tet
December to March is Vietnam’s busiest season for Canadian visitors. On top of that, Tet pauses processing for about a week; in 2026, e-visas were not processed from 14 to 22 February, and Tet 2027 starts on 6 February. Therefore, apply at least three weeks ahead if you travel in this period. Remember the time difference too: a form sent on a Friday evening in Toronto arrives on Saturday morning in Vietnam. See how working days are counted in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Canadian citizens cost?
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Canadian banks usually add a foreign transaction fee because the payment is in US dollars. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the exact total for a Canadian passport appears before payment. Compare all options in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
Vietnamese embassy and consulate in Canada
- Embassy of Vietnam, Ottawa: 55 MacKay Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1M 2B2.
- Consulate General of Vietnam: Vancouver, British Columbia.
Check opening hours and appointment rules on the mission’s official website before you visit.
Vietnamese-Canadians
If you were born in Vietnam or have a Vietnamese parent, you may qualify for a visa exemption certificate that allows visa-free visits for up to five years. Your foreign spouse and children can also apply. Ask the embassy or consulate for the current requirements.
Before you fly: tips for Canadian travelers
- Government advice: read the Government of Canada’s travel advice for Vietnam on travel.gc.ca, and consider the free Registration of Canadians Abroad service.
- 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.
- Insurance: make sure your provincial health plan is topped up with travel medical insurance.
Canadian embassy and consulate in Vietnam
If you lose your passport or need help while in Vietnam, contact:
- Embassy of Canada, Hanoi, for northern and central Vietnam.
- Consulate General of Canada, Ho Chi Minh City, for the south.
Outside office hours, Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre answers on +1 613 996 8885. If your passport is lost, you need a replacement document and then new permission from Vietnamese immigration to leave.
Worked example: a retired couple from Calgary
Helen and Raj plan to stay in Vietnam from 10 January to 30 March, with one week in Cambodia in February. Because they will leave and come back, they each choose a multiple-entry e-visa covering 9 January to 2 April, which is 84 days and under the 90-day limit. Each pays US$50, plus their bank’s foreign transaction fee. They apply on 1 December, well before the Christmas rush and Tet.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Canadian citizens
Can Canadians get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
How long can Canadians stay in Vietnam?
Up to 90 days with an e-visa.
Do Canadian permanent residents need a visa?
Yes. The rules depend on your passport, not your Canadian residence. Permanent residents apply with the passport of their nationality.
Can I enter by land from Cambodia or Laos?
Yes, at listed e-visa gates. See the Vietnam e-visa ports of entry.
Sources: Vietnam National E-Visa Portal (evisa.gov.vn); Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP and 229/NQ-CP on visa exemption; Vietnam Immigration Department notice on Tet 2026 processing. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
