Yes, South African citizens need a visa for Vietnam. South Africa is not on Vietnam’s visa-free list, so every traveler, including children, needs a visa before boarding. The easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for South African 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.

This guide covers the points South African travelers ask about most: how to enter surnames such as “van der Merwe” correctly, how to plan around connecting flights, how to time the application around the December holidays and Tet, and the embassies on both sides.

Do South African citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes. Vietnam’s unilateral exemption covers 24 countries, mostly in Europe plus Japan and South Korea, and bilateral agreements cover several ASEAN neighbours, Chile and Panama. South Africa is in neither group, so South African tourists, business travelers and students need a visa for the mainland. Check the latest list in our guide to who is exempted from Vietnam visa.

The exception is Phu Quoc island, where any foreign visitor can stay up to 30 days without a visa when arriving directly from abroad or after transiting through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City without leaving the airport.

How many South Africans visit Vietnam?

Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security recorded 25,312 South African arrivals in 2019. During the border closures, arrivals fell to 395 in 2021, and recovered to 5,624 in 2022, still well below the pre-pandemic level. Because there are no direct flights, most South Africans combine Vietnam with a stopover or with other Southeast Asian countries.

Vietnam visa for South African citizens: your options

Vietnam visa for South African citizens with a second passport

Many South Africans also hold a British, Dutch, German or Portuguese passport. If yours is from a country on Vietnam’s 45-day list, such as the UK, the Netherlands or Germany, you can enter visa-free on that passport for up to 45 days. However, Portuguese passports are not on the list, so their holders still need a visa. Whichever passport you choose, use it from check-in to exit.

How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a South African citizen

1. Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
2. Enter your surname exactly as printed, including prefixes and spaces. For example, if the passport shows VAN DER MERWE, type all three words in the surname field, and do not move “van der” to the given names.
3. Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, and a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
4. Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through a service if you want your form checked first.
5. Choose multiple entry if you will visit Cambodia, Laos or Thailand and come back.
6. Pay, wait and print. Keep the registration code, then print and check the e-visa.

Flights and stopovers

There are no direct flights between South Africa and Vietnam, so travelers connect through hubs in the Middle East or Asia. If you stay airside during a connection, you usually do not need a visa for that stop, but always check the transit rules of the country where you change planes. When you choose your e-visa dates, use the date you land in Vietnam, which is often a day after you leave Johannesburg or Cape Town. Your e-visa then works at 17 airports and many land gates; see the list of Vietnam e-visa ports of entry.

When to apply: December holidays and Tet

South Africans often travel during the December and January school holidays and over Easter. Tet, Vietnam’s biggest holiday, then pauses processing for about a week; in 2026, e-visas were not processed from 14 to 22 February, and Tet 2027 starts on 6 February. Since Vietnam is 5 hours ahead, a form sent on a Friday afternoon in Johannesburg arrives after the office day in Vietnam has ended. Apply two to three weeks ahead, and see our Vietnam visa processing time guide.

How much does a Vietnam visa for South African citizens cost?

The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Your bank converts the amount from rand and may add a foreign transaction fee. With a service, the exact total for a South African passport appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.

Embassies on both sides

• Embassy of Vietnam, Pretoria: issues paper visas and handles consular matters. You do not need to visit it for an e-visa.
• Embassy of South Africa, Hanoi: contact it if you lose your passport or need consular help in Vietnam.

Before you travel, check the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) advice and make sure your travel insurance covers medical care abroad.

Worked examples

• A couple from Cape Town, 16 days in December: two single-entry e-visas, 2 × US$25 = US$50, applied for in mid-November.
• A traveler with a UK passport, 3 weeks in Vietnam: no visa needed, if the whole trip is flown on the British passport.
• A Durban family touring Vietnam and Cambodia for 4 weeks: four multiple-entry e-visas, 4 × US$50 = US$200.

FAQ: Vietnam visa for South African citizens

Can South Africans get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.

How long can South African citizens stay?

Up to 90 days with an e-visa. A tourist e-visa generally cannot be extended inside Vietnam.

Do children need their own visa?

Yes. Every traveler needs a separate application and fee.

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.

Sources: Vietnam National E-Visa Portal (evisa.gov.vn); Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP and 229/NQ-CP on visa exemption; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrivals by nationality. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.