Yes, Vanuatu citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Vanuatu is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Vanuatu 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.
In May 2025, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister proposed talks on a visa exemption agreement with Vietnam, but no agreement is in force yet. This page covers the e-visa steps, payment, what holders of Vanuatu passports obtained by investment should know, flights, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Vanuatu citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Vanuatu 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, longer around Tet.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 4 hours behind Port Vila.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Vanuatu from Canberra; Vanuatu has no mission in Vietnam.
How many visitors from Vanuatu go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 499 arrivals on Vanuatu passports in 2019, a high number for a country of about 300,000 people. Only 2 arrived in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed. In 2022 the figure rose to 147, and January 2023 alone brought another 43.
Vietnam visa for Vanuatu citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One holiday, study or business 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 |
Vanuatu passports obtained by investment
Many Vanuatu passports belong to people who became citizens through the investment programme and were born elsewhere. For them, the same e-visa rules apply. Enter your place of birth exactly as the passport shows it, and answer the form’s questions about other nationalities and previous passports truthfully. Officers can see where you were born, and a mismatch can lead to delays or a refusal. If you also hold a passport on the Vietnam visa exemption list, you may use that passport instead, for the whole trip.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Vanuatu 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. Copy the given names and surname 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 Vanuatu 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 bank card cannot make online payments in US dollars, a relative or employer abroad 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: holidays, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 4 hours behind Vanuatu all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at noon on a Friday in Port Vila arrives at 8 am on Friday in Hanoi, and processing can start the same day. 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 Port Vila through Brisbane, Sydney, Nadi or Auckland, then on to Asia. Check whether you need a transit visa for the country where you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Vanuatu. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Port Vila. Instead, Vietnam’s ambassador to Australia, based in Canberra, is also accredited to Vanuatu; the current ambassador presented his credentials in Port Vila in May 2025. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Vanuatu for Vietnam. Vanuatu has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Port Vila, which will tell you which mission can help.
Worked examples
- Teacher from Port Vila on a 2-week study tour in Hanoi: a single-entry e-visa (US$25), with the host school’s details on the form.
- Businessman from Luganville visiting suppliers in Ho Chi Minh City twice in two months: a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50).
- Investor-citizen living in Singapore, 10 days in Da Nang: a single-entry e-visa on the Vanuatu passport, with the true place of birth on the form.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Vanuatu citizens
Do Vanuatu citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Vanuatu is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Vanuatu?
No. Vietnam’s ambassador in Canberra covers Vanuatu. 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; Vietnam News Agency (May 2025). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
