Yes, Nepali citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Nepal is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Nepali 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.
For Nepali travelers, the visa itself is the simple part. The usual problems are paying in US dollars with a Nepali card, matching the name exactly, and knowing that the e-visa does not allow work. In addition, neither country has an embassy in the other. This page covers all of it, with timing, costs and worked examples.
Vietnam visa for Nepali citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Nepal 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.
- Payment: you usually need a dollar card or a card from abroad.
- Work: not allowed on an e-visa. A job needs a work permit and work visa.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Nepal from New Delhi; Nepal covers Vietnam from Bangkok.
How many Nepali visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 5,396 arrivals from Nepal in 2019. The number fell to 47 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 1,213 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 306 Nepalis arrived.
Vietnam visa for Nepali citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa on your Nepali passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Tourism, family visits and business meetings |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Work visa (LD) with work permit | Linked to the permit | Arranged by the employer | Taking a job in Vietnam |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Nepal does not allow dual citizenship, so almost every Nepali traveler uses the Nepali passport.
Paying for the Vietnam visa for Nepali citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. However, most ordinary Nepali debit cards cannot pay in US dollars online. Usually you need a dollar card issued by your bank against your passport, within the bank’s limit, or a card issued abroad, for example by a relative. Check this before you start, because a failed payment can delay your application. 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.
Tourist visa or work visa?
The e-visa covers tourism, family visits and business meetings, not employment. If you are going to Vietnam for a job, your employer must first get a work permit, and you then receive an LD work visa or a temporary residence card. Nepal also has its own rules for citizens taking jobs abroad, so check them with the Department of Foreign Employment before you go. Above all, never use false documents or a fake job letter: Nepal’s government publicly warned against this in February 2026, and it can lead to a refusal or a ban.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Nepali citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Copy your name exactly as printed, in the same split between surname and given names. If your passport shows only one name, follow the two lines of letters at the bottom of the 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. There are no direct flights from Kathmandu, so most people connect through Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or another hub.
When to apply: time difference and festivals
Vietnam is 1 hour 15 minutes ahead of Nepal. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so if you apply at 4 pm on a Friday in Kathmandu, it is already 5:15 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Dashain and Tihar (October to November): the busiest travel season from Nepal. 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.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Nepal. Vietnam’s embassy in New Delhi, India, covers Nepal and Bhutan. There is also a Vietnamese honorary consul general in Kathmandu, appointed in 2016. You do not need either for an e-visa.
Nepal for Vietnam. Nepal’s embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, is accredited to Vietnam. Contact it if you lose your passport or need consular help during your trip.
Worked examples
- Couple from Kathmandu, 10 days in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay after Tihar: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), paid with a dollar card, applied 3 weeks ahead.
- Trader from Pokhara visiting suppliers twice in 2 months: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering both visits within 90 days.
- Engineer offered a job in Ho Chi Minh City: a work permit and LD visa through the employer, not an e-visa.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Nepali citizens
Do Nepali citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Nepal is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Nepal?
No. The Vietnamese embassy in New Delhi covers Nepal, and there is an honorary consul general in Kathmandu.
Can I work in Vietnam on an e-visa?
No. For a job you need a work permit and a work visa or residence card.
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 India; VietNamNet (October 2016); Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok; The Kathmandu Post (February 2026). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
