Yes, Qatari citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Qatar is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Qatari 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.
Qatar Airways flies nonstop from Doha to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and both countries have embassies in each other’s capitals. This page covers the e-visa steps, payment, timing around Eid and Tet, costs, contacts, and what residents of Qatar with other passports should know.
Vietnam visa for Qatari citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Qatar 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 4 hours ahead of Doha all year.
- Embassies: Vietnam has an embassy in Doha; Qatar has an embassy in Hanoi.
How many Qatari visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 450 arrivals on Qatari passports in 2019. The number fell to 24 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and rose to 161 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 37 Qataris arrived. These figures count Qatari citizens only, not the many expatriates who fly from Doha on other passports.
Vietnam visa for Qatari citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One family holiday or business trip |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Several trips, or side trips to Thailand or Cambodia |
| 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 |
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Qatari citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The Qatari ID card is not accepted for Vietnam.
- Use the English spelling of your name. Copy it from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page. Enter long names exactly as split there, for example AL THANI in the surname field if that is how it appears.
- 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: Noi Bai for Hanoi or Tan Son Nhat for Ho Chi Minh City if you fly nonstop.
Travelling as a family? Each person needs a separate e-visa, children included, and each child needs a photo of their own.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Qatari citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Qatari Visa and Mastercard cards normally work for this payment. For a family of five on single-entry e-visas, the government fees come to US$125. 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: Eid, summer and the time difference
Vietnam is 4 hours ahead of Qatar all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 2 pm on a Thursday in Doha arrives at 6 pm in Hanoi, after office hours. Vietnam’s offices close on Saturday and Sunday, not Friday, so processing continues on Friday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Summer and Eid: many Qatari families travel in the hot months and over Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Apply at least 2 weeks before.
- 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: Qatar Airways flies nonstop from Hamad International to Hanoi and to Ho Chi Minh City, in about 6 to 7 hours.
Living in Qatar with another passport?
Most people flying from Doha are expatriates, and the visa rules follow the passport, not the residence permit. A Qatar residence permit does not exempt you from a Vietnam visa. Many nationalities can use the same e-visa, but some passports are currently not being approved; check our page on nationalities that cannot get a Vietnam visa before you book. Holders of passports on the Vietnam visa exemption list, such as British or German passports, can visit without a visa.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam in Qatar. The Embassy of Vietnam in Doha handles paper visas and special cases. You do not need it for an e-visa.
Qatar in Vietnam. The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Hanoi helps citizens in Vietnam, for example with a lost or stolen passport. Save its phone number before you travel.
Worked examples
- Family of five from Doha, 10 days in Da Nang and Hoi An over Eid: five single-entry e-visas (US$125 in government fees), applied for three weeks ahead.
- Investor from Al Rayyan visiting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City twice in two months: a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50).
- Couple from Al Wakrah, 7 days on Phu Quoc only: visa-free for up to 30 days on the island. Add an e-visa if they also want to visit the mainland.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Qatari citizens
Do Qatari citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Qatar is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Qatar?
Yes, in Doha. For most trips, though, you can apply for the e-visa online without visiting it.
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 the State of Qatar in Hanoi; Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs (March 2026). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
