Yes, Montenegrin citizens need a visa for Vietnam when they travel on a Montenegrin passport. The simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Montenegrin 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.
If you also hold another passport, it matters which one: a Croatian passport has been visa-free for Vietnam for up to 45 days since August 2025, while a Serbian passport still needs a visa. This page explains which passport to use, how to apply, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Montenegrin citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Montenegrin passport: visa needed. Montenegro is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Croatian passport: visa-free for up to 45 days. Serbian passport: e-visa needed.
- Best option on a Montenegrin passport: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 6 hours ahead of Podgorica in winter, 5 in summer.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Montenegro from Bucharest; Montenegro has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Montenegrin visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 154 arrivals from Montenegro in 2019. The figure fell to 10 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, then rose to 97 in 2022, close to two thirds of the 2019 level. January 2023 alone brought another 39 visitors.
Vietnam visa for Montenegrin citizens: which passport to use
| Passport | Entry rule | Maximum stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montenegrin | E-visa or other visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 single / US$50 multiple |
| Croatian | Visa-free | 45 days | Free |
| Serbian | E-visa or other visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 single / US$50 multiple |
| 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. For a stay longer than 45 days, a Croatian passport holder can 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 Montenegrin citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The identity 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, which show how letters such as č, ć, š, ž and đ are written there.
- 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 Montenegrin 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 Montenegrin bank cards work for online payments in US dollars, but turn on online payments with your bank 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 6 hours ahead of Montenegro in winter and 5 hours ahead in summer. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at noon on a Friday in Podgorica arrives after office hours in Hanoi, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Christmas and New Year: many families travel between New Year and Orthodox Christmas on 7 January. 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 Podgorica or Tivat through Istanbul, or start from Belgrade, then continue to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Montenegro. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Podgorica. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Bucharest, Romania, covers Montenegro, according to Montenegro’s government. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Montenegro for Vietnam. Montenegro has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Podgorica, which will tell you which Montenegrin mission can help. Croatian passport holders can also ask Croatia’s foreign ministry.
Worked examples
- Couple from Podgorica, 2 weeks in Hanoi and Ninh Binh: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each).
- Yacht crew member from Kotor joining a boat in Nha Trang for 6 weeks: a single-entry e-visa, with the company’s details on the form.
- Family from Herceg Novi with Montenegrin and Croatian passports, 3 weeks in Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City: visa-free on the Croatian passports for up to 45 days.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Montenegrin citizens
Do Montenegrin citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Montenegrin passport. With a Croatian passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Montenegro?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Bucharest covers Montenegro. 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; Government of Montenegro, diplomatic missions list. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
