Yes, Latvian citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Latvia is in the EU, but it is not one of the 24 European countries that Vietnam lets in visa-free for 45 days. The simplest choice is therefore the Vietnam visa for Latvian 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 also the most practical route. This page covers who handles what, how to enter Latvian letters and surnames, the non-citizen passport question, winter timing, costs and worked examples.
Vietnam visa for Latvian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Latvia is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival. The Latvian eID card is not accepted.
- Vietnamese embassy: none in Latvia.
- Latvian help in Vietnam: the embassy in Beijing and the 24/7 consular line +371 26337711.
How many Latvian visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 3,112 arrivals from Latvia in 2019. The number fell to just 15 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 969 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 468 Latvians arrived, almost half of the previous year’s total. So, as with Lithuania and Estonia, most trips happen in the northern winter.
Vietnam visa for Latvian citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa on your Latvian passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Almost every trip |
| Second passport from a listed country | Up to 45 days | Free | Dual citizens, for example Latvian-Swedish or Latvian-German |
| 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 |
Non-citizen passport holders
Some long-term residents of Latvia travel on a Latvian non-citizen’s passport (nepilsoņa pase) rather than a citizen’s passport. This page is about citizens’ passports. If you hold a non-citizen’s passport, the rules may differ, so contact us or a Vietnamese embassy before you apply, rather than paying a fee that may be refused.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Latvian citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Enter your name without Latvian letters if the form refuses them. Letters such as ā, č, ē, ģ, ī, ķ, ļ, ņ, š, ū and ž appear without marks in the two lines at the bottom of your data page, so Bērziņš becomes BERZINS. Copy that spelling.
- Use the exact surname form in your passport. Latvian surnames differ for men and women, for example Bērziņš and Bērziņa, so make sure each family member’s form matches their own passport.
- 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, then choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry.
When to apply for the Vietnam visa for Latvian citizens
Vietnam is 5 hours ahead of Riga 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 Riga, it is already 8 pm in Hanoi and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- December to March: the peak months for Latvian travelers. 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. So for February trips, apply before late January.
Embassies and consular help
Vietnam for Latvia. Vietnam has no embassy in Riga, and Latvia is covered by a Vietnamese embassy elsewhere in Europe; for years this was the embassy in Stockholm. You need it only for paper visas or special cases, so confirm the current arrangement with the embassy before sending documents. For most trips, the e-visa makes this unnecessary.
Latvia in Vietnam. Latvia’s embassy in Beijing covers Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, call the Latvian consular line on +371 26337711. In addition, other EU embassies in Hanoi can help EU citizens whose country has no embassy there.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Latvian 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.
Worked examples
- Couple from Riga, 3 weeks in southern Vietnam in January: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), applied in December.
- Family of four, father Bērziņš and mother Bērziņa: four e-visas, each with the surname form from that person’s own passport.
- Latvian-Swedish dual citizen, 2-week holiday: no visa needed on the Swedish passport, because the trip is under 45 days.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Latvian citizens
Do Latvian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Latvia is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Latvia?
No. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online instead.
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; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia; EU Delegation to Vietnam consular contacts (July 2026). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
