Yes, Saudi citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Saudi Arabia is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Saudi 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.
Travel between the two countries is growing fast. More than 20,000 passengers flew between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia in 2024, 64% more than the year before, and two-way trade reached about US$2.7 billion in 2023. This page covers the e-visa, how the different weekends affect processing, flights, Ramadan and Eid timing, halal food and mosques in Vietnam, and the embassies on both sides.
Vietnam visa for Saudi citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Saudi Arabia 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, Monday to Friday on Hanoi time.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 4 hours ahead of Riyadh.
- Flights: no direct flights yet; one-ticket connections through the Saudia and Vietnam Airlines codeshare.
- Embassies: Vietnam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in Hanoi.
How many Saudi visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 2,502 arrivals from Saudi Arabia in 2019. The number fell to 191 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 581 in 2022. Notably, most Saudi visitors come on business, which is why the multiple-entry e-visa is often the better choice.
Vietnam visa for Saudi citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One holiday or one business trip |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Several business 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 |
| Embassy visa, Riyadh | Depends on type | Set by the embassy | Work, study and special cases |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Living in Saudi Arabia with another passport?
This page is for Saudi citizens. If you live or work in Saudi Arabia on another passport, the rules for that nationality apply, not your Saudi residence (iqama). Importantly, travelers with passports from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya and several other countries currently cannot get a Vietnam visa; see our page on nationalities that cannot get a Vietnam visa right now before you book.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Saudi citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The Saudi national ID card is not accepted.
- Copy the English spelling of your name from the passport, including parts such as “bin” or “Al”, in the same split between surname and given names. Do not change the spelling, for example Mohammed instead of Muhammad.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. A head covering worn for religious reasons is normally fine if your whole face is visible. 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: weekends, Ramadan and Eid
Vietnam is 4 hours ahead of Riyadh all year. In addition, the weekends are different: Saudi Arabia rests on Friday and Saturday, while Vietnam’s immigration office works Monday to Friday. So Friday is a working day in Vietnam, but Sunday is not. For example, if you apply on Thursday evening in Riyadh, Friday counts as your first working day, and the visa is usually ready by Tuesday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2027: Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, just after Vietnam’s Tet holiday starts on 6 February. Processing slows or pauses around Tet; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. So for an Eid al-Fitr trip in March, apply in January.
- Eid al-Adha and summer: the busiest leisure travel periods from Saudi Arabia. Apply at least 2 weeks before you fly.
Flights from Saudi Arabia
There are no direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Vietnam yet, although Vietnam’s Prime Minister agreed in 2023 to consider them. However, Vietnam Airlines and Saudia now have a codeshare agreement, so you can fly from Riyadh or Jeddah to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City on one ticket, with one check-in. Other common routes connect in Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.
Halal food and mosques in Vietnam
Muslim travelers find Vietnam easier than many expect. In Ho Chi Minh City, the Saigon Central Mosque on Dong Du Street is surrounded by halal restaurants. In Hanoi, the Al-Noor Mosque on Hang Luoc Street is in the Old Quarter. Many hotels in both cities and in Da Nang offer halal breakfast on request, so ask when you book.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Saudi citizens cost
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Saudi bank cards usually pay in US dollars without problems, although your bank may add a foreign-transaction fee. 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 on both sides
Embassy of Vietnam in Riyadh. It handles paper visas and consular matters. However, you do not need to visit it for an e-visa.
Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Hanoi. Contact it if you lose your passport or need consular help in Vietnam. The two countries have had diplomatic relations since 1999.
Worked examples
- Family from Riyadh, 2 weeks in Da Nang and Hoi An after Eid al-Adha: one single-entry e-visa per person (US$25 each), applied 3 weeks ahead.
- Buyer from Jeddah sourcing seafood and coffee, three trips in 2 months: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering all visits within 90 days.
- Couple from Dammam, 10 days in Phu Quoc only, flying directly to the island: no visa needed under the 30-day Phu Quoc exemption, as long as they stay on the island.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Saudi citizens
Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Saudi Arabia is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, in Riyadh. You do not need to visit it for an e-visa.
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; Hanoi Times; Arab News (December 2024); Bac Ninh TV (October 2023). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
