Yes, Salvadoran citizens need a visa for Vietnam when they travel on a Salvadoran passport. El Salvador is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the usual choice is the Vietnam visa for Salvadoran 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.
Two things make the process simpler for Salvadorans: the fee is charged in US dollars, El Salvador’s own currency, and the whole application is online, which matters because neither country has an embassy in the other. This page covers which passport to use, the 13-hour time difference, timing around Semana Santa and the August festivals, flights, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Salvadoran citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed on a Salvadoran passport: yes.
- Spanish passport: up to 45 days visa-free for dual citizens.
- Best option otherwise: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 or US$50.
- Payment: in US dollars, so no currency conversion.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 13 hours ahead of San Salvador.
- Embassies: neither country has one in the other.
How many Salvadoran visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,011 arrivals from El Salvador in 2019. The number fell to 60 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 285 in 2022. In January 2023, 92 Salvadorans arrived.
Vietnam visa for Salvadoran citizens: which passport to use
| Passport or option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish passport (dual citizens) | Up to 45 days | Free | Short trips |
| E-visa on your Salvadoran passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Everyone else, and longer trips |
| 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 |
- Salvadoran and Spanish: El Salvador and Spain have a dual nationality agreement, and Spain is on Vietnam’s 45-day list. Enter on the Spanish passport, then use the same one for check-in, entry and exit.
- Salvadoran and American: no help here, because the US also needs a visa. That matters for the large Salvadoran community in the United States.
- Trips longer than 45 days: use the Salvadoran passport with a 90-day e-visa.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Salvadoran citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The DUI is not accepted for Vietnam.
- Enter both surnames. Salvadoran passports usually show two surnames; type both in the surname field, in the same order. If the form will not take accents or ñ, copy the spelling 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 single or multiple entry and your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry.
When to apply: the 13-hour time difference and holidays
Vietnam is 13 hours ahead of El Salvador all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so if you apply at 7 pm on a Thursday in San Salvador, it is already 8 am on Friday in Hanoi, and Friday counts as your first working day. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Semana Santa (22 to 28 March 2027) and the August festivals: the busiest travel weeks. 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.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most routes connect in the United States, which needs a US visa, or in Madrid or Bogotá.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Salvadoran citizens cost
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Because El Salvador uses the US dollar, you pay exactly that amount with no currency conversion, although your bank may charge a fee for international online payments. 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.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for El Salvador. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 2010. There is no Vietnamese embassy in San Salvador; instead, a non-resident Vietnamese ambassador is accredited to El Salvador. You do not need an embassy for an e-visa.
El Salvador in Vietnam. El Salvador has no embassy in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact El Salvador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel on.
Worked examples
- Couple from San Salvador, 2 weeks in Vietnam over Semana Santa: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), applied in early March.
- Salvadoran living in Los Angeles, 3 weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) on the Salvadoran passport.
- Salvadoran-Spanish dual citizen, 10-day trip: no visa needed on the Spanish passport, because the trip is under 45 days.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Salvadoran citizens
Do Salvadoran citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Salvadoran passport. El Salvador is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in El Salvador?
No. A non-resident Vietnamese ambassador covers El Salvador. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online instead.
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; VietnamPlus (March 2015). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
