Yes, citizens of Papua New Guinea need a visa for Vietnam. PNG is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Papua New Guinea 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.
Neither country has an embassy in the other, so the e-visa is also the most practical route. This page covers the steps, payment, which passport to use if you hold two, flights through Asia, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Papua New Guinea citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- PNG passport: visa needed. Papua New Guinea is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- British passport: visa-free for up to 45 days. Australian passport: e-visa needed.
- Best option on a PNG passport: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 3 hours behind Port Moresby.
- Embassies: neither country has an embassy in the other.
How many visitors from Papua New Guinea go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 166 arrivals on PNG passports in 2019. The number fell to 13 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed. In 2022 it rose to 105, almost two thirds of the 2019 level, and January 2023 brought another 20 visitors.
Vietnam visa for Papua New Guinea citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One holiday, study or business trip |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Several trips, or side trips to Cambodia or Thailand |
| 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 |
Some Papua New Guineans also hold an Australian or British passport. Only the British one is on the Vietnam visa exemption list; Australians need an e-visa too. Choose one passport and use it for check-in, arrival and departure.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a PNG citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Enter your name exactly as your passport splits it. Copy the given names and surname from 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.
Paying for the Vietnam visa for Papua New Guinea 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. Some PNG bank cards are limited for foreign online payments, so check with your bank first. If yours does not work, an employer 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: holidays, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 3 hours behind PNG all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, which helps you: a form sent at 11 am on a Friday in Port Moresby arrives at 8 am on Friday in Hanoi, so processing can start the same day. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Christmas and school holidays: December and January are busy. 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 Port Moresby through Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong or Brisbane, then on to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Check the transit rules where you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Papua New Guinea. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Port Moresby. A non-resident Vietnamese ambassador covers PNG; the current one presented his credentials in Port Moresby in August 2023. For a paper visa, contact the Vietnamese embassy in the country where you live. You do not need any embassy for an e-visa.
Papua New Guinea for Vietnam. PNG has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Department of Foreign Affairs in Port Moresby, which will tell you which PNG mission can help.
Worked examples
- Public servant from Port Moresby on a 2-week course in Hanoi: a single-entry e-visa, with the host institution’s details on the form.
- Couple from Lae, 10 days in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), flying through Manila.
- Businesswoman from Mount Hagen visiting coffee processors in the Central Highlands twice in two months: a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50).
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Papua New Guinea citizens
Do Papua New Guinea citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. PNG is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Papua New Guinea?
No. A non-resident ambassador covers PNG. 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; Vietnam Government News (August 2023). Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
