Yes, US citizens need a visa for Vietnam. American passports are not on Vietnam’s visa-free list, so every traveler, including children, needs a visa before boarding. The easiest option is the Vietnam visa for US citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa that costs US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry and usually takes about 3 working days. The only exception is a trip to Phu Quoc island alone, which is visa-free for up to 30 days.
This page brings together everything an American traveler needs: the options, the documents, the real costs, the Vietnamese embassy and consulates in the US, and a few tips that are specific to traveling from the United States.
Vietnam visa for US citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes, for mainland Vietnam.
- Best option: 90-day e-visa, US$25 single / US$50 multiple entry.
- Processing: about 3 working days in Vietnam.
- Passport: a US passport book valid 6 months after arrival. A passport card is not accepted.
- US travel advisory for Vietnam: Level 1, exercise normal precautions (issued 24 June 2026).
Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam grants visa-free entry to a list of mostly European and Asian countries, and the United States is not on it. Therefore, a US tourist, business traveler or student needs a visa for any stay on the mainland, even for a single night outside the airport transit area. You can check the full list in our guide to who is exempted from Vietnam visa.
There is one useful exception. Any foreign visitor, Americans included, can stay on Phu Quoc island for up to 30 days without a visa when they fly there directly from abroad or transit through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City without leaving the airport.
How many Americans visit Vietnam?
The United States is one of Vietnam’s biggest long-haul markets. The Ministry of Public Security recorded 760,599 American arrivals in 2019. After the border closures, numbers bounced back quickly: 364,808 in 2022, almost half the pre-pandemic level, and 134,579 in January 2023 alone.
Vietnam visa options for US citizens
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 single / US$50 multiple | Almost every trip |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash at the airport + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Embassy or consulate visa | Depends on visa type | Set by the mission | Special cases, long stays with a sponsor |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days, island only | Free | Beach trips to Phu Quoc only |
For most Americans, the e-visa wins: it is open to all nationalities, works at 83 airports, land borders and seaports, and needs no embassy visit. Read the full Vietnam e-visa guide for the step-by-step process.
How to apply: Vietnam visa for US citizens step by step
- Check your passport. Use a US passport book valid at least six months after you arrive, with blank pages. A passport card cannot be used for travel to Vietnam.
- Prepare two images. A 4×6 cm portrait on a white background and a full scan of your passport data page. Our Vietnam visa photo guide shows what works.
- Apply on the official portal. Go to evisa.gov.vn, or use a service if you want your form checked first.
- Choose your dates and entries. Pick single entry for a simple trip and multiple entry if you will visit Cambodia, Laos or Thailand and come back.
- Pay and wait. Pay by international card, then check your status with the registration code.
- Print the e-visa and check every detail against your passport before you fly.
Processing time from the United States
Vietnam is 11 to 15 hours ahead of the continental United States, depending on your time zone and daylight saving time. As a result, a form submitted on Friday afternoon in California reaches Vietnam on Saturday, and the 3 working days only start on Monday. So apply 2 to 3 weeks before your flight. Our guide to the Vietnam visa processing time explains how the days are counted and which holidays cause delays.
How much does a Vietnam visa cost for US citizens?
The government fee is the same for every nationality: US$25 for a single-entry e-visa and US$50 for multiple entry. If you use a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee. Also, some US banks add a foreign transaction fee when you pay the e-visa online. Compare every route in the Vietnam visa cost guide.
Vietnam embassy and consulates in the USA
You do not need to visit an embassy for an e-visa. However, the Vietnamese missions in the US issue paper visas, handle long-term and special cases, and help Vietnamese-Americans with a visa exemption certificate.
- Embassy of Vietnam, Washington, DC: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. Phone: +1 202 861 0737.
- Consulate General, San Francisco: 1700 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.
- Consulate General, Houston: 5251 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77056.
- Consulate, New York: 866 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017.
Opening hours and appointment rules change, so check the mission’s official website before you go.
Vietnamese-Americans and dual citizens
If you were born in Vietnam or have a Vietnamese parent, you may qualify for a visa exemption certificate. It allows multiple visa-free visits for up to five years, and your foreign spouse and children can also apply. You request it from a Vietnamese embassy or consulate, or from the Immigration Department in Vietnam. If you hold a valid Vietnamese passport, you can enter on that passport instead.
Before you fly: tips for American travelers
- 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.
- Enroll in STEP: the State Department’s free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program lets the US Embassy contact you in an emergency.
- US Embassy in Hanoi: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi. There is also a US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Cash: carry some US dollars if you choose visa on arrival, because the stamping fee is paid in cash.
US embassy and consulate in Vietnam
If you lose your passport or need help while in Vietnam, contact the US missions:
- US Embassy, Hanoi: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District.
- US Consulate General, Ho Chi Minh City: 4 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1.
If your passport is lost or stolen, report it to the local police first, then book an appointment for an emergency passport. After that, you also need a new Vietnamese exit visa or permission, because your e-visa was linked to the old passport number.
Worked example: a retired couple from Florida
Linda and Mark plan eight weeks in Vietnam, with a one-week side trip to Siem Reap in Cambodia in the middle. Because they will leave Vietnam and come back, they each choose a multiple-entry e-visa covering 1 February to 5 April, which is 64 days. Each pays US$50. They apply on 6 January, so even with the Tet holiday in early February, their visas are ready weeks before the flight. They also arrange a Cambodian visa separately.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for US citizens
Can US citizens get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. Read our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
How long can US citizens stay in Vietnam?
Up to 90 days with an e-visa. A tourist e-visa generally cannot be extended inside Vietnam, so choose dates that cover your whole trip.
Do US green card holders need a visa?
Yes. A visa depends on your passport, not your US residence status. Green card holders apply with the passport of their nationality.
Is Vietnam safe for Americans?
The US State Department rates Vietnam Level 1, exercise normal precautions, its lowest advisory level. Petty theft and scams are the most common issues.
Sources: Vietnam National E-Visa Portal (evisa.gov.vn); Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP and 229/NQ-CP on visa exemption; US Department of State travel advisory for Vietnam (24 June 2026); Embassy of Vietnam in the United States. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
