Yes, Samoan citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Samoa is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Samoan 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.
Many Samoans also hold a New Zealand or Australian passport, but neither country is on Vietnam’s exemption list, so an e-visa is needed on those too. This page covers the steps, payment, the large time difference, flights, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Samoan citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Samoa is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- New Zealand or Australian passport: e-visa needed as well.
- 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.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 6 hours behind Apia.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Samoa from Wellington; Samoa has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Samoan visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 32 arrivals on Samoan passports in 2019. None arrived in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed. In 2022 the figure was back to 28, close to the pre-pandemic level, and January 2023 brought another 4.
Vietnam visa for Samoan citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One holiday, study or work 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 |
Only a passport on the Vietnam visa exemption list, such as a British one, would let you travel visa-free. Whichever passport you use, use it for check-in, arrival and departure.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Samoan 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. Matai (chiefly) titles are not part of the passport name unless they are printed there. Copy the split 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.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Samoan 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; if your local card cannot make online payments in US dollars, a relative in New Zealand or Australia can pay for you. 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: the date line, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 6 hours behind Samoa. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, which helps you: a form sent at 2 pm on a Friday in Apia arrives at 8 am on Friday in Hanoi, so processing can start the same day. Monday morning in Apia, however, is still Sunday evening in Hanoi. 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 Apia through Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney or Nadi, then on to Asia. Check the transit rules where you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Samoa. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Apia. Instead, Vietnam’s ambassador to New Zealand, based in Wellington, is also accredited to Samoa and presented his credentials there in April 2026. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Samoa for Vietnam. Samoa has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Apia, which will tell you which Samoan mission can help.
Worked examples
- Rugby player from Apia joining a 4-week coaching programme in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa, with the club’s details on the form.
- Samoan-New Zealander from Auckland, 2 weeks in Hanoi: an e-visa on either passport, since neither is exempt.
- Public servant from Salelologa on a regional workshop in Da Nang: a single-entry e-visa (US$25), with the organiser’s letter ready.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Samoan citizens
Do Samoan citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Samoa is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Samoa?
No. Vietnam’s ambassador in Wellington covers Samoa. 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.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; The World and Vietnam Report (April 2026). Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
Checking a different passport? Our Vietnam visa requirements by nationality list covers all 196 passports from A to Z.
