Yes, Mauritanian citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Mauritania is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Mauritanian 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.
Mauritania’s large fishing industry gives it real links with Asian seafood buyers, and Vietnam is a major seafood processor. This page is about Mauritania, not Mauritius. Below you will find the e-visa steps, name spelling, payment, flights, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Mauritanian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Mauritania 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, with blank pages.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Nouakchott.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Mauritania from Rabat; Mauritania has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Mauritanian visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 10 arrivals on Mauritanian passports in 2019. None arrived in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, but 10 came in 2022, a full return to the pre-pandemic level, and 2 more in January 2023.
Vietnam visa for Mauritanian citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One business trip or holiday |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Repeat visits to seafood buyers |
| 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 |
If you also hold a passport on the Vietnam visa exemption list, such as a French or Spanish one, the rules for that passport apply instead. Use the same passport for check-in, arrival and departure.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Mauritanian citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Use the Latin spelling of your name. Mauritanian names often include “Ould” or “Mint” and a father’s name. Copy them exactly as printed in 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 Mauritanian 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. If your local card is not enabled for this, a business partner or relative abroad can pay with an international Visa or Mastercard. 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: Ramadan, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Mauritania all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 11 am on a Friday in Nouakchott arrives at 6 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Ramadan and Eid: plan document preparation around these periods, and 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. Apply in January for a February trip.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most travelers fly from Nouakchott through Casablanca, Istanbul or Paris, then on to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Mauritania. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Nouakchott. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Rabat, Morocco, covers Mauritania. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Mauritania for Vietnam. Mauritania has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nouakchott, which will tell you which Mauritanian mission can help.
Worked examples
- Seafood exporter from Nouadhibou meeting processors in Ca Mau: a single-entry e-visa with “business” as the purpose and the buyer’s details on the form.
- Couple from Nouakchott, 2 weeks in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each).
- Fisheries official attending two meetings in Nha Trang within two months: a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50).
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Mauritanian citizens
Do Mauritanian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Mauritania is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Mauritania?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Rabat covers Mauritania. 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.
