Yes, Greek citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Many travelers expect otherwise, because Vietnam now lets 24 European countries in visa-free for 45 days, including neighbouring Bulgaria. Greece is not one of them. The simplest choice is therefore the Vietnam visa for Greek 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.
This page covers why Greece is left out, the options for dual citizens, how to write a Greek name in Latin letters, seafarers joining ships in Vietnam, timing around Orthodox Easter and August, costs and the embassies on both sides.
Vietnam visa for Greek citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Greece is not on Vietnam’s 45-day exemption list.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
- Government fee: US$25 single entry, US$50 multiple entry.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival, with blank pages. The Greek ID card is not accepted.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 5 hours ahead of Athens in winter, 4 in summer.
- Embassies: Vietnam in Athens (since 2012), Greece at 411 Au Co, Hanoi (since 2007).
Why Greece is not visa-free when Bulgaria is
Vietnam grants visa exemptions country by country, not to the EU as a whole. Resolution 44/NQ-CP gives 45 days to 12 countries, such as Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Then Resolution 229/NQ-CP added 12 more in August 2025, including Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Austria, Ireland and the Baltic states are still outside both lists. You can check the full list on our page who is exempted from Vietnam visa.
How many Greek visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 6,658 arrivals from Greece in 2019. The number fell to 107 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and then bounced back to 3,045 in 2022, almost half the pre-pandemic level in the first year of reopening. In January 2023 alone, 829 Greeks arrived.
Vietnam visa for Greek citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa on your Greek passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Almost every trip |
| German, French, British or other listed passport | Up to 45 days | Free | Short trips by dual citizens |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Embassy visa, Athens | Depends on type | Set by the embassy | Work, study and special cases |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Dual citizens: which passport to use
- Greek and German, French, Italian, British or another listed country: enter on that passport and stay up to 45 days without a visa. Then use the same passport for check-in, entry and exit.
- Greek and Australian, American, Canadian or Cypriot: no help here, because those countries also need a visa. Apply for the e-visa on the passport you fly with.
- Trips longer than 45 days: use your Greek passport with a 90-day e-visa instead.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Greek citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The Greek identity card works only inside Europe.
- Use the Latin spelling printed in your passport, for example Georgios, Dimitrios or Papadopoulou. Do not write your own transliteration, a shorter form such as “George”, or Greek letters. The two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page show the exact form.
- 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 single or multiple entry. For example, pick multiple entry if you will also visit Cambodia or Laos and come back.
- Choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry, which includes 39 seaports.
Greek seafarers and ship crews
Greece has one of the world’s largest merchant fleets, so many Greek visitors to Vietnam are officers and engineers joining or leaving ships at ports such as Hai Phong, Cai Mep or Da Nang. The e-visa is valid at Vietnam’s main seaports and airports. However, crew changes are usually arranged by the ship’s local agent, who should confirm the right visa type and the exact entry gate before you fly.
When to apply: time difference and holidays
Vietnam is 5 hours ahead of Athens in winter and 4 hours ahead in summer. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so if you apply at 3 pm on a Friday in Athens, it is already 8 pm in Hanoi and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Orthodox Easter, August and Christmas: the busiest travel periods from Greece. Orthodox Easter falls on 2 May 2027. Apply at least 2 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.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Greek citizens cost
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Because it is charged in US dollars, your bank may add a conversion fee on top of the euro amount. 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.
Embassies on both sides
Embassy of Vietnam in Athens. It was inaugurated in March 2012 and handles paper visas and consular matters. However, you do not need to visit it for an e-visa.
Embassy of Greece in Hanoi, 411 Au Co Street, Tay Ho, Hanoi. It has operated since 2007. Contact it if you lose your passport or need consular help during your trip.
Worked examples
- Couple from Athens, 2 weeks in August: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), applied in mid-July.
- Chief engineer from Piraeus joining a ship in Hai Phong: an e-visa or crew visa confirmed by the ship’s agent, with Hai Phong port or Hanoi airport as the entry gate.
- Greek-German dual citizen, 3-week holiday: no visa needed on the German passport, because the trip is under 45 days.
- Student from Thessaloniki, 2 months in Vietnam and Cambodia: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering both Vietnam legs within 90 days.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Greek citizens
Do Greek citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Greece is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Greece?
Yes, in Athens, since 2012. You do not need to visit it for an e-visa.
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; Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs; EU Delegation to Vietnam consular contacts (July 2026); VietNamNet (March 2012). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
