Yes, Eritrean citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Eritrea is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Eritrean 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.
Many Eritreans live in Europe, and those who have become Swedish, German, Norwegian or British citizens can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days on that passport. This page covers both routes, how Eritrean names should be entered, flights, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Eritrean citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Eritrean passport: visa needed. Eritrea is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Swedish, German, Norwegian or British passport: visa-free for up to 45 days.
- Best option on an Eritrean passport: 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 Asmara.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Eritrea from Cairo; Eritrea has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Eritrean visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 14 arrivals on Eritrean passports in 2019. None arrived in 2020 or 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and 5 came in 2022. January 2023 brought 1 more.
Vietnam visa for Eritrean 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 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. A residence permit in Europe does not count. Check the full Vietnam visa exemption list before you decide.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as an Eritrean citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Enter your names as the passport splits them. Eritrean names usually combine your own name, your father’s name and sometimes your grandfather’s name. Copy which one appears as the surname 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 Eritrean 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. Cards issued in Eritrea generally cannot be used, so a relative or sponsor abroad usually 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: holidays, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 4 hours ahead of Eritrea all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 2 pm on a Friday in Asmara arrives at 6 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Summer visits: many families in the diaspora travel in July and August. Apply at least 3 weeks before you fly.
- 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. Travelers from Asmara usually connect through Cairo, Istanbul or the Gulf, then on to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Eritrea. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Asmara. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Cairo, Egypt, covers Eritrea. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Eritrea for Vietnam. Eritrea has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Asmara, or the Eritrean embassy in the country where you live.
Worked examples
- Eritrean-Swedish nurse from Stockholm, 3 weeks in Vietnam: visa-free on the Swedish passport for up to 45 days.
- Trader from Asmara visiting suppliers in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa, paid by a relative abroad.
- Student with an Eritrean passport studying in Cairo, 2 weeks in Hanoi: a single-entry e-visa (US$25).
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Eritrean citizens
Do Eritrean citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on an Eritrean passport. With a passport from an exempt country such as Sweden or Germany, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Eritrea?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Cairo covers Eritrea. 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.
