| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| e-Visa | USD 25 (single entry) or USD 50 (multiple) · 90 days · Apply at evisa.gov.vn |
| Processing time | 3 working days (standard) · rush available |
| PAI Card | Pre-Arrival Information · Mandatory · Free · Online arrival card |
| Phu Quoc | 30 days visa-free — but strict rules (see below) |
| Flight from India | Direct from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad · ₹15,000–₹28,000 return |
| Currency | Vietnamese Dong (VND) · ₹1 ≈ VND 300 |
| Best season | November – April (Southern & Central Vietnam) · March–May & September–November (Northern Vietnam) |
| Ideal duration | 7 – 10 nights |
The Vietnam E-Visa — What It Is and How to Apply
Indian passport holders need a visa for Vietnam. There is no visa-free option for regular tourism (Phu Quoc is a separate case — covered below). The e-Visa is the cheapest, fastest, and correct choice for 99% of Indian travelers.
Cost: USD 25 for single entry, USD 50 for multiple entry. That is roughly ₹2,100 and ₹4,200 respectively. Pay online with a credit or debit card.
Duration: Up to 90 days per visit. This is a 2023 upgrade from the earlier 30-day cap — you can now cover all three regions of Vietnam (North, Central, South) comfortably on one e-visa.
Where to apply: evisa.gov.vn — this is the ONLY official portal. Everything else is either a scam or a "visa agent" charging you 3x the price to do the same online form.
Processing time: 3 working days is the official timeline. In practice, most Indian applicants receive it in 2 days. There is a rush service available for an additional fee.
💡 Insider Tip — Apply for the Vietnam e-visa AFTER booking flights but BEFORE booking non-refundable hotels. The rejection rate is very low for Indian passports, but always confirm the e-visa PDF in your email inbox before locking in accommodation. The PDF must be printed and carried at immigration.
What you need to apply:
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Passport with 6+ months validity from your intended date of arrival
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A passport-size photo (4x6 cm, white background) — digital scan
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The passport data page — clear scan of the entire page
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Entry and exit dates, entry port (see next section), accommodation address for first night
The Entry Port Trap
Vietnam's e-visa is issued for a specific entry port. If you apply for e-visa entry at Hanoi and then decide to fly into Ho Chi Minh City instead, your e-visa will not be valid at the new port. You need to apply for a fresh e-visa.
The 8 international airports that accept e-visa entry: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Cat Bi (Hai Phong), Phu Bai (Hue), Lien Khuong (Da Lat), and Phu Quoc.
Match your e-visa entry port to your actual arrival airport. Land border crossings from Cambodia, Laos, and China are also on the accepted list — useful if you are combining Vietnam with a Cambodia or Laos leg.
The New PAI Card — Vietnam's Digital Arrival Form
Ha Long Bay — Vietnam's most iconic UNESCO seascape.
Starting in 2026, Vietnam introduced the Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) card — a mandatory digital declaration form that all international arrivals must complete. As of June 2026, PAI is enforced at Hanoi Noi Bai, Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc airports.
The PAI takes 5 minutes. It asks for your passport details, flight number, accommodation address, and a brief health declaration. File it online within 72 hours before your arrival flight. Save the confirmation QR code — immigration scans it alongside your e-visa PDF.
The PAI is free. Any website charging for it is a scam. It is not the same as the e-visa. You need both.
The Phu Quoc Visa-Free Trap (Read Carefully)
Phu Quoc is a Vietnamese island that offers 30-day visa-free entry to almost all international tourists — including Indian passport holders. This sounds great, and thousands of Indians book Phu Quoc-only trips assuming it is a straightforward visa-free destination.
Here is the trap. The Phu Quoc visa-free rule has strict conditions:
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You must fly directly to Phu Quoc from an international destination. A domestic transfer via Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi voids the visa-free eligibility — you would need a Vietnam e-visa.
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Your stay must be entirely on Phu Quoc island — you cannot travel to mainland Vietnam without a proper visa.
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Your stay cannot exceed 30 days.
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You must have proof of onward travel (a return ticket) and hotel bookings on Phu Quoc.
In April 2026, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi issued a formal travel advisory after several Indian travelers were denied entry at Phu Quoc airport for connecting via HCMC — assuming the visa-free extended to the whole journey. It does not. The moment you land on Vietnamese soil at another airport first, you need an e-visa.
If you are flying to Phu Quoc via any other Vietnamese city, get the e-visa. The Phu Quoc visa-free applies only to direct international arrivals. This is the single most common mistake Indian travelers make with Vietnam entry.
Currency, Documents, and Airport Practicalities
Vietnamese Dong is a "million rupees" currency — one lakh dong is roughly ₹340. This throws off first-timers. Have USD 100 in cash for the first day if you land at odd hours; ATMs in city centres are reliable but airport ATMs sometimes have poor rates.
Carry printed copies of: your e-visa PDF (yes, printed — Vietnamese immigration is old-school), the PAI confirmation QR, your return ticket, and your first hotel booking. Digital copies on your phone are accepted, but airport Wi-Fi has failed too many people to trust as backup.
💡 Insider Tip — Vietnamese immigration officers often stamp your entry date by writing on the printout of your e-visa PDF. Do not lose that printout for the whole trip. When leaving, you'll need to present the same document at exit.
The 90-Day Cover That Changes Everything
The old 30-day e-visa forced Indian travelers into whistle-stop trips. The 90-day version has opened up genuinely leisurely two-to-three-week Vietnam itineraries: Hanoi (2 nights) — Halong Bay overnight cruise (1 night) — Ninh Binh (2 nights) — flight to Da Nang / Hoi An (3 nights) — flight to Ho Chi Minh City (2 nights) — Phu Quoc beach finish (3 nights).
This is now the sweet spot itinerary for Indian couples and families and increasingly what Vietnam group tours from India are being built around.
📲 Planning a Vietnam Trip? Let Crafted Vacays handle the e-visa, PAI card filing, and full North-to-South itinerary — one package, zero paperwork stress. Get your free Vietnam itinerary →
The Bottom Line
Vietnam's entry process is more complex than Thailand or Malaysia. That is the truth — and it is also exactly why Crafted Vacays exists. The 90-day e-visa, the PAI card, and the Phu Quoc visa-free rules together create just enough friction that most Indian travelers benefit from having someone handle it. Do it right, and you get access to one of Southeast Asia's most rewarding, most affordable, and most exciting destinations.
Vietnam is what Thailand was fifteen years ago — undiscovered enough to feel special, developed enough to be easy.
Crafted Vacays
Travel stories & guides for the modern Indian traveler.
