Yes, Macau residents need a visa for Vietnam. Holders of a Macao SAR passport are not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, and neither are Portuguese passport holders, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Macau residents 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.
Vietnam is close: Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City are about two hours’ flying time away, and Vietnam is one hour behind Macau. This page covers which passport to use, how to fly, where to get help, timing and worked examples.
Vietnam visa for Macau residents: quick facts (November 2026)
- Macao SAR passport: visa needed. Use the 90-day e-visa, US$25 single / US$50 multiple entry.
- Portuguese passport: visa needed too. Portugal is not on the exemption list.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time: Vietnam is 1 hour behind Macau.
- No Vietnamese mission in Macau: the nearest are the consulates general in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
- Help in Vietnam: China’s embassy in Hanoi and consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City assist Macau SAR residents.
How many Macau visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 6,705 arrivals from Macau in 2019. Then the number collapsed: 243 in 2020, none in 2021 and only 13 in 2022, because Macau kept strict travel restrictions until early 2023. In January 2023, just 4 Macau visitors were recorded. As a result, many Macau residents planning a trip now are travelling to Vietnam for the first time in years and do not know the current rules.
Vietnam visa for Macau residents: your options
| Passport or option | Visa needed? | Best choice |
|---|---|---|
| Macao SAR passport | Yes | E-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 / US$50 |
| Portuguese passport | Yes | E-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 / US$50 |
| British, German, French or other listed passport | No, up to 45 days | Travel on that passport |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | Letter needed before the flight | Some urgent air arrivals only |
| Phu Quoc island | No, up to 30 days | Direct flights to Phu Quoc only |
The Macau resident identity card is not a travel document for Vietnam, so you need a passport.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Macau resident
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Copy the name exactly as in the passport. Macao SAR passports print names in Latin letters, often in Cantonese romanisation such as “Chan Tai Man”, and sometimes with a Portuguese name as well. Do not add an English name that is not printed.
- Choose the right nationality. Select the nationality that matches the passport you will travel with: Macao SAR for a Macao SAR passport, or Portugal for a Portuguese one.
- 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.
Flights from Macau
Most Macau residents fly from Hong Kong International Airport, which has frequent flights to Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, or from Guangzhou. In addition, charter flights linked Macau and Nha Trang in 2023, so check whether a direct service runs on your dates. Whichever route you take, put your Vietnamese arrival airport on the e-visa form.
When to apply for the Vietnam visa for Macau residents
Vietnam is 1 hour behind Macau, so your working day and Hanoi’s almost match. If you apply at 5 pm on a Friday in Macau, it is 4 pm in Hanoi, so the application is still received that working day, and Monday is the first full working day after it. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Chinese New Year: Vietnam’s Tet falls at the same time. In 2027 both start on 6 February, so processing slows or pauses just when Macau travelers want to go. In 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February, so apply in January.
- Easter, the October Golden Week and Christmas: busy weeks for short trips. Apply at least a week before you fly.
Where to get help
Vietnamese missions. There is no Vietnamese consulate in Macau. The nearest are the consulates general in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, which handle paper visas and consular matters. You do not need them for an e-visa.
Help in Vietnam. If you lose your Macao SAR passport or need consular help, contact the Embassy of China in Hanoi or the Chinese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, which assist Macau SAR residents. Portuguese passport holders can contact the new Embassy of Portugal in Hanoi, which opened in February 2026.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Macau residents 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 pataca 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 Macau, 5 days in Da Nang over Easter: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), flying from Hong Kong.
- Macanese family with Portuguese passports, 10 days in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay: e-visas on the Portuguese passports, because Portugal also needs a visa.
- Casino supplier visiting factories in Ho Chi Minh City every month: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering trips for up to 90 days.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Macau residents
Do Macau residents need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Macao SAR passport and on a Portuguese passport. Apply for the e-visa online.
Is there a Vietnamese consulate in Macau?
No. The nearest Vietnamese missions are in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
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; Macau Daily Times (April 2023); VietnamPlus (February 2026). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
