Yes, Djiboutian citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Djibouti is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Djiboutian 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.
Djibouti is a busy port and transit hub, and many Djiboutians who travel to Vietnam come for shipping, logistics or trade. This page covers the e-visa steps, payment, the time difference, flights through Addis Ababa or Dubai, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Djiboutian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Djiboutian passport: visa needed. Djibouti is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- French passport: visa-free for up to 45 days, if you also hold one.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 4 hours ahead of Djibouti City.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Djibouti from Cairo; Djibouti has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Djiboutian visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 31 arrivals on Djiboutian passports in 2019 and 8 in 2020. None arrived in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and only 1 came in 2022, so the market is still recovering.
Vietnam visa for Djiboutian citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One business trip or holiday |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Repeat trips, for example to meet shipping partners |
| 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 |
Djiboutians who also hold a French passport can travel on it instead, visa-free for up to 45 days. Check the full Vietnam visa exemption list and use the same passport for check-in, arrival and departure.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Djiboutian citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Use the Latin spelling of your name. Names written in Arabic or Somali are transliterated in the passport; copy that spelling from 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.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Djiboutian 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. If your local card is not enabled for this, a business partner or 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: Ramadan, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 4 hours ahead of Djibouti all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 2 pm on a Friday in Djibouti City arrives at 6 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Ramadan and Eid: government offices in Djibouti slow down in this period, so get documents such as a new passport ready earlier.
- 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 connect in Addis Ababa, Dubai or Istanbul on the way to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Djibouti. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Djibouti. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Cairo, Egypt, covers Djibouti. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Djibouti for Vietnam. Djibouti has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Djibouti City. French passport holders can also ask the Embassy of France in Hanoi.
Worked examples
- Port logistics manager from Djibouti City visiting Hai Phong port: a single-entry e-visa with “business” as the purpose and Cat Bi airport or Noi Bai as the entry gate.
- Couple from Djibouti City, 2 weeks in Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each).
- Djiboutian-French student, 3 weeks in Hanoi: visa-free on the French passport for up to 45 days.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Djiboutian citizens
Do Djiboutian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Djiboutian passport. With a French passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Djibouti?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Cairo covers Djibouti. 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. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
