Yes, Israeli citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Israel 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 Israeli 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. Israelis who also hold a passport from certain EU countries have a visa-free option, explained below.
Vietnam is a classic destination for Israeli backpackers after the army and for families during the holidays. This guide covers what matters to Israeli travelers in particular: the Sunday-to-Thursday week, the holiday seasons, the flight situation in 2026, dual nationality, and the embassies on both sides.
Vietnam visa for Israeli citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes, for mainland Vietnam.
- Best option: 90-day e-visa, US$25 single / US$50 multiple entry.
- Dual citizens: a passport from a listed EU country can give 45 days visa-free.
- Vietnamese embassy in Israel: Tel Aviv. Israeli embassy in Vietnam: Hanoi.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 5 hours ahead of Israel in winter, 4 hours in summer.
Do Israeli citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam’s unilateral exemption covers 24 countries, mostly in Europe plus Japan and South Korea, and bilateral agreements cover several ASEAN neighbours, Chile and Panama. Israel is in neither group. Therefore, every Israeli tourist, business traveler or student needs a visa for the mainland. Check the latest list in our guide to who is exempted from Vietnam visa.
The only exception is Phu Quoc island, where any foreign visitor can stay for up to 30 days without a visa when arriving directly from abroad or after transiting through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City without leaving the airport.
How many Israelis visit Vietnam?
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security recorded 44,816 Israeli arrivals in 2019. During the border closures the number fell to 152 in 2021, and it recovered to 10,339 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 5,359 Israelis arrived, a sign of how popular winter trips to Vietnam are.
Vietnam visa for Israeli citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Almost every trip, including long backpacking routes |
| Passport of a listed EU country (dual citizens) | Up to 45 days | Free | Short trips on a German, Polish, French or other listed passport |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Embassy visa, Tel Aviv | Depends on type | Set by the embassy | Special cases |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Vietnam visa for Israeli citizens with a European passport
Many Israelis also hold a European passport. If yours is from one of the 24 countries on Vietnam’s 45-day list, such as Germany, Poland, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Romania or the Netherlands, you can enter visa-free for up to 45 days on that passport. However, use the same passport from check-in to exit, and keep the trip within 45 days. Passports from Portugal, Greece, Austria, Ireland and Lithuania are not on the list, so holders of those passports still need a visa. For longer backpacking trips, the 90-day e-visa is usually the better choice anyway.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as an Israeli citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. If you travel on a travel document rather than a passport, contact the Vietnamese embassy first, because the e-visa asks for passport details.
- Use the Latin spelling of your name exactly as printed in the passport. Do not type your name in Hebrew, and do not change the transliteration.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, and a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through a service if you want your form checked.
- Choose multiple entry if you plan to continue to Laos or Cambodia and come back; many backpacking routes do.
- Pay, wait and print. Keep the registration code, then print and check the e-visa.
The Sunday-to-Thursday week
Israel works Sunday to Thursday, but the Vietnam Immigration Department works Monday to Friday. So an application paid on a Sunday in Tel Aviv waits until Monday in Vietnam. Similarly, Friday is a normal working day in Vietnam even though it is the start of the weekend in Israel. For example, if you pay on Thursday evening in Israel, it arrives on Friday morning in Vietnam, and Friday can count as day 1. Read how working days are counted in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
When to apply: holidays and Tet
Israeli travel to Vietnam peaks in the winter months and around the Sukkot and Passover holidays. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s Tet holiday 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 two to three weeks before a holiday trip.
Flights from Israel to Vietnam in 2026
There are currently no regular direct flights between Israel and Vietnam. El Al planned a Tel Aviv to Hanoi route, but in August 2026 it said it could not launch it yet. As a result, most travelers connect through hubs in Asia, Europe or the Gulf. If you stay airside during a connection, you normally do not need a visa for that stop, but always check its transit rules. Once you arrive, the e-visa works at 17 airports and many land gates; see the Vietnam e-visa ports of entry.
Business trips and the free trade agreement
Israel and Vietnam signed a free trade agreement on 25 July 2023. For meetings, trade fairs and short visits, choose the business purpose on the e-visa form. However, if you will work in Vietnam, you need a work permit and a work visa sponsored by the employer.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Israeli citizens cost?
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Since the fee is charged in US dollars, Israeli banks may add a currency conversion fee. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the exact total for an Israeli passport appears before payment. See our Vietnam visa cost guide.
Embassies on both sides
- Embassy of Vietnam, Tel Aviv: 4th Floor, Beit Asia, 4 Weizman Street, Tel Aviv.
- Embassy of Israel, Hanoi: also responsible for Laos. Contact it if you lose your passport or need consular help in Vietnam or Laos.
Before you fly, check the Israeli National Security Council’s travel warnings and your travel insurance, especially if you plan to ride a motorbike.
Worked examples
- Two friends after the army, 10 weeks through Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia: each needs one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50). The whole 70-day trip fits inside its 90-day validity, so it covers every return to Vietnam.
- A family of five from Haifa, 12 days over Passover: five single-entry e-visas, 5 × US$25 = US$125, applied for three weeks before departure.
- An Israeli with a German passport, 3 weeks in Vietnam: no visa needed, as long as the whole trip is flown on the German passport.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Israeli citizens
Can Israelis 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.
Is there a direct flight from Tel Aviv to Vietnam?
Not at the moment. Most travelers connect through another hub.
How long can Israeli citizens stay?
Up to 90 days with an e-visa. A tourist e-visa generally cannot be extended inside Vietnam.
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.
Sources: Vietnam National E-Visa Portal (evisa.gov.vn); Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrivals by nationality, 2019 to January 2023; Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP and 229/NQ-CP on visa exemption; Embassy of Israel in Vietnam. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
