Yes, Lesotho citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Lesotho is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Lesotho 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.
Almost every trip from Lesotho to Asia starts with the short hop from Maseru to Johannesburg, so this page covers that route, plus the e-visa steps, payment in US dollars, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Lesotho citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Lesotho is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- South African passport: e-visa needed as well.
- 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 5 hours ahead of Maseru.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Lesotho from Pretoria; Lesotho has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Basotho visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 26 arrivals on Lesotho passports in 2019. None arrived in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and 9 came in 2022. January 2023 brought another 2.
Vietnam visa for Lesotho 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 |
Lesotho has allowed dual citizenship since 2018, but a South African passport is not on the Vietnam visa exemption list either, so it needs an e-visa too. A South African residence permit does not change the result.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Lesotho citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Enter your name exactly as your passport splits it. Copy the given names and 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 Lesotho 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. Turn on international online payments with your bank first; if that is not possible, a relative or employer in South Africa or elsewhere can pay for you. 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 5 hours ahead of Lesotho all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 1 pm on a Friday in Maseru arrives at 6 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- December holidays: the long end-of-year break is the most popular time for trips abroad. 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. Most travelers fly from Maseru to Johannesburg, then connect through Doha, Dubai, Addis Ababa or Singapore to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Lesotho. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Maseru. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Pretoria, South Africa, covers Lesotho. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Lesotho for Vietnam. Lesotho has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations in Maseru, which will tell you which Lesotho mission can help.
Worked examples
- Textile manager from Maseru visiting garment suppliers near Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa with “business” as the purpose and the supplier’s details on the form.
- Couple from Teyateyaneng, 2 weeks in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), flying from Johannesburg.
- Student from Mafeteng studying in Pretoria, 4 weeks in Vietnam and Thailand: a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) to leave and come back.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Lesotho citizens
Do Lesotho citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Lesotho is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Lesotho?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Pretoria covers Lesotho. 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.
