Yes, Moldovan citizens need a visa for Vietnam when they travel on a Moldovan passport. The simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Moldovan 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.
Many Moldovans also hold a Romanian passport, and that changes everything: since August 2025, Romanian citizens can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days. This page explains which passport to use, how to apply, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Moldovan citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Moldovan passport: visa needed. Moldova is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Romanian or Russian passport: visa-free for up to 45 days.
- Best option on a Moldovan passport: 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 Chisinau in winter, 4 in summer.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Moldova from Kyiv; Moldova has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Moldovan visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 786 arrivals from Moldova in 2019. The figure dropped to 29 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and rose again to 158 in 2022. January 2023 alone brought 54 visitors. These counts cover Moldovan passports only, so Moldovans who entered on a Romanian passport are counted as Romanian.
Vietnam visa for Moldovan citizens: which passport to use
| Passport | Entry rule | Maximum stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moldovan | E-visa or other visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 single / US$50 multiple |
| Romanian | Visa-free | 45 days | Free |
| Russian | Visa-free | 45 days | Free |
| Any, Phu Quoc only | Visa-free on the island | 30 days | Free |
Choose one passport and use it for the whole trip: for the airline check-in, Vietnamese immigration on arrival and departure, and the hotel registration. If you plan to stay longer than 45 days, a Romanian passport holder can also apply for a 90-day e-visa on that passport. Check the full Vietnam visa exemption list before you decide.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Moldovan citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The Moldovan ID card is not accepted for Vietnam.
- Type your name without diacritics. Copy the spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page, where ș becomes S and ț becomes T.
- 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 Moldovan citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Pay by international Visa or Mastercard; most Moldovan bank cards work for online payments in US dollars, but turn on online payments in your banking app first. 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 and the time difference
Vietnam is 5 hours ahead of Moldova in winter and 4 hours ahead in summer. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 1 pm on a Friday in Chisinau arrives after office hours in Hanoi, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Christmas and New Year: Moldova celebrates Christmas on both 25 December and 7 January, a busy time to travel. Apply in early December.
- 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 Chisinau through Istanbul, Doha or Dubai to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or start from Bucharest or Warsaw.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Moldova. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Chisinau. Instead, Vietnam’s ambassador to Ukraine, based in Kyiv, is also accredited to Moldova. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Moldova for Vietnam. Moldova has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration in Chisinau, which can tell you which Moldovan mission in the region will help. Holders of a Romanian passport can also ask the Embassy of Romania in Hanoi.
Worked examples
- Couple from Chisinau, 2 weeks in Nha Trang: both hold Romanian passports, so they travel visa-free for up to 45 days.
- IT specialist from Balti with only a Moldovan passport, 1 month in Da Nang: a single-entry e-visa (US$25).
- Traveler from Comrat touring Vietnam and Cambodia for 6 weeks: a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) on the Moldovan passport, so they can leave and come back.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Moldovan citizens
Do Moldovan citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Moldovan passport. With a Romanian or Russian passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Moldova?
No. Vietnam’s ambassador in Kyiv covers Moldova. 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.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; Embassy of Vietnam in Ukraine. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
