Yes, citizens of the Central African Republic need a visa for Vietnam. The Central African Republic is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Central African 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 online e-visa is the practical route. Central Africans who also hold a French passport can instead visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days. This page covers both routes, how to pay, flights from Bangui, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Central African citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Central African passport: visa needed. The CAR is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- French passport: visa-free for up to 45 days.
- Best option on a Central African 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 Bangui.
- Embassies: neither country has an embassy in the other.
How many Central African visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 17 arrivals on Central African passports in 2019 and 6 in 2020. Two arrived in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were mostly closed, then 7 in 2022 and 2 more in January 2023.
Vietnam visa for Central African citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One holiday, study or work trip |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Several trips, or side trips to Cambodia or Thailand |
| 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 |
If you hold both a Central African and a French passport, choose one and use it for the whole trip. Check the full Vietnam visa exemption list before you decide.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa from the Central African Republic
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Type your name without accents. Copy the spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page, with the surname and given names split exactly as shown 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 Central African 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. Many local cards are not enabled for this, so a relative, employer or partner abroad often pays 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: travel planning, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 6 hours ahead of the Central African Republic all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at noon on a Friday in Bangui arrives at 6 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Few flights: flights out of Bangui run only a few times a week, so get your e-visa before you book and allow a buffer of several days.
- 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 Bangui through Paris, Casablanca, Addis Ababa or Douala, then on to Asia. Check the transit rules where you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for the Central African Republic. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Bangui. If you need a paper visa, contact the Vietnamese embassy in the country where you live. You do not need any embassy for an e-visa.
The Central African Republic for Vietnam. The CAR has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangui. French passport holders can also ask the Embassy of France in Hanoi.
Worked examples
- Timber trader from Bangui meeting furniture makers near Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa with “business” as the purpose and the partner’s details on the form.
- Central African-French family from Paris, 3 weeks in Vietnam: visa-free on their French passports for up to 45 days.
- Student from Berbérati on a 1-month course in Hanoi: a single-entry e-visa, with the school’s details on the form.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Central African citizens
Do Central African citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Central African passport. With a French passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in the Central African Republic?
No. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online; no embassy visit is needed.
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. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
Checking a different passport? Our Vietnam visa requirements by nationality list covers all 196 passports from A to Z.
