Yes, Surinamese citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Suriname is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Surinamese 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 people of Surinamese origin live in the Netherlands and hold a Dutch passport, which has been visa-free for Vietnam for up to 45 days since August 2025. This page covers both cases, how to enter Surinamese names, flights, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Surinamese citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Surinamese passport: visa needed. Suriname is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Dutch passport: visa-free for up to 45 days.
- Best option on a Surinamese passport: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 10 hours ahead of Paramaribo all year.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Suriname from Brasília; Suriname has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Surinamese visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 61 arrivals on Surinamese passports in 2019. Only 1 arrived in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and 14 came in 2022. January 2023 brought another 5. Visitors on Dutch passports are counted as Dutch.
Vietnam visa for Surinamese citizens: your options
| Passport or option | Entry rule | Maximum stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surinamese, single-entry e-visa | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 |
| Surinamese, multiple-entry e-visa | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 |
| Dutch passport | Visa-free | 45 days | Free |
| Any passport, Phu Quoc only | Visa-free on the island | 30 days | Free |
The result depends on the passport you travel on, not on where you live. Check the full Vietnam visa exemption list if you are unsure.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Surinamese 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. Surinamese names come from many traditions, and prefixes such as “van” or long Hindustani and Javanese names are often split in different ways. 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 Surinamese 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. Some Surinamese bank cards have tight limits on payments in foreign currency, so check yours first; a relative abroad can also 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: holidays, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 10 hours ahead of Suriname all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 10 am on a Friday in Paramaribo arrives at 8 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- December and school holidays: the end of the year is the busiest travel time. Apply at least 3 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 routes go from Paramaribo to Amsterdam, then on to Asia. Check whether you need a transit visa for the airport where you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Suriname. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Paramaribo. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brasília, Brazil, covers Suriname. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Suriname for Vietnam. Suriname has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paramaribo. Dutch passport holders can also ask the Embassy of the Netherlands in Hanoi.
Worked examples
- Couple from Paramaribo, 2 weeks in Hanoi and Hoi An: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), flying through Amsterdam.
- Dutch-Surinamese family from Rotterdam, 3 weeks in the south: visa-free on their Dutch passports for up to 45 days.
- Rice farmer from Nickerie on a study tour of the Mekong Delta: a single-entry e-visa, with the host organisation’s details on the form.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Surinamese citizens
Do Surinamese citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Surinamese passport. With a Dutch passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Suriname?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Brasília covers Suriname. 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.
Checking a different passport? Our Vietnam visa requirements by nationality list covers all 196 passports from A to Z.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
