Vietnam Visa Requirements for US Citizens: E-Visa, Fees and Timing
Do Americans need a visa for Vietnam? Yes, for every trip, whatever its length. The Vietnam visa requirements for US citizens come down to one document for most travelers: an e-visa of up to 90 days, which you can apply for online from $47, government fee included. Below are the visa options, costs, processing times in US time zones, documents and tips. For other passports, see visa requirements by nationality .
Do Americans need a visa for Vietnam? Yes, for every trip, whatever its length. The Vietnam visa requirements for US citizens come down to one document for most travelers: an e-visa of up to 90 days, which you can apply for online from $47, government fee included. Below are the visa options, costs, processing times in US time zones, documents and tips. For other passports, see visa requirements by nationality.
The rules below are as of October 2026. When it is evening in the continental US, it is already the next morning in Vietnam, so when you order matters almost as much as which speed you pick.
Vietnam visa for Americans at a glance:
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Visa needed | Yes, the US is not on Vietnam's visa-free list |
| Best option for most trips | E-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry |
| Price through us | From $47, government fee included |
| Price on evisa.gov.vn yourself | $25 single, $50 multiple |
| Fastest speed | Last-Minute Emergency (1.5 working hours) |
Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. As of October 2026, the United States is not among the 24 countries with a 45-day visa exemption, so US citizens need a visa for any visit, including a short stopover outside the airport. That applies to every US passport type used for tourism or business.
Since August 2023, the e-visa has been open to all nationalities for up to 90 days, so a trip to the embassy is rarely needed. Before you travel, the US State Department's Vietnam page is worth a check for current safety and entry notes.
E-visa or visa on arrival for Americans
Americans can choose an e-visa or a visa on arrival approval letter. The e-visa suits most trips because it works at every type of border crossing and needs no cash on landing.
| E-visa | Visa on arrival | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Airports, land border gates and seaports | Airports only |
| What you carry | The e-visa PDF | An approval letter, then a visa at the airport counter |
| Payment | Once, online | Service fee online from $28, stamping fee of $25 (single) or $50 (multiple) in cash at the airport |
| Length | Up to 90 days | As stated on your approval letter |
Visa on arrival can work for Americans flying into one of the main airports with US dollars in hand. Our visa on arrival application explains the letter.
Vietnam visa cost for US citizens
The Vietnam visa cost for US citizens is $25 for a single-entry e-visa if you apply yourself at evisa.gov.vn, or from $47 through us, government fee included. Prices are in US dollars, so there is no currency conversion. Prices last checked: 2026-10-24.
| Speed | Single entry (USD) | Multiple entry (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (5-7 working days) | $47 | $82 |
| 3 Working Days | $69 | $98 |
| 1 Working Day | $99 | $123 |
| Same day (4-8 working hours) | $118 | $150 |
| Super Urgent (2.5 working hours) | $169 | $212 |
| Last-Minute Emergency (1.5 working hours) | $219 | $255 |
| Weekend & Public Holidays | $250 | $280 |
If your e-visa arrives after the estimated delivery time shown at checkout, we refund 100%. Our full price table also lists 2 Working Days and 3-month e-visas.
Processing time and US time zones
A standard e-visa through us takes 5-7 working days, Monday to Friday in Vietnam. For faster speeds, Vietnam's working day runs through the American evening and night, so an order after dinner in the US reaches us during office hours in Vietnam.
| Vietnam time (working day) | New York, standard time | New York, daylight time | Los Angeles, standard time | Los Angeles, daylight time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00, urgent speeds open | 20:00 previous day | 21:00 previous day | 17:00 previous day | 18:00 previous day |
| 14:14, last Same day order | 2:14 | 3:14 | 23:14 previous day | 0:14 |
| 17:30, last Last-Minute Emergency order | 5:30 | 6:30 | 2:30 | 3:30 |
| 18:00, last 1 Working Day order | 6:00 | 7:00 | 3:00 | 4:00 |
Daylight time runs from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November. Example: you order on a Monday at 20:00 in Los Angeles in daylight time, which is 10:00 Tuesday in Vietnam. Last-Minute Emergency delivers by 11:30 Vietnam time, or 21:30 Monday in Los Angeles; Same day delivers by 18:00 Vietnam time, or 4:00 Tuesday. If your flight is that close, compare speeds on our urgent e-visa page.
Vietnam visa requirements for US citizens: documents
The Vietnam entry requirements for US citizens applying for an e-visa are short:
- Passport: valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date, with at least one blank page.
- Passport scan: the full photo page, including the two lines of letters and numbers at the bottom.
- Photo: 4x6 cm, white background, no glasses. A US 2x2 inch passport photo is a different size, so crop or retake it.
- Trip details: your arrival date and the airport or border gate where you will enter.
You upload the scan and photo after paying. You do not need a bank statement or a copy of your card. The same documents apply whether you travel for tourism or a short business trip.
How to apply from the US
Getting a visa for Vietnam from the US takes four online steps, with no mailing of passports:
- Step 1: Fill in the e-visa form with your arrival date, entry point and speed.
- Step 2: Pay by credit or debit card.
- Step 3: Upload your passport photo page and portrait photo.
- Step 4: Receive the e-visa by email, check every detail and print a copy.
Our guide on how to apply walks through each step and the visa on arrival route.
Vietnamese embassy in the United States
The Embassy of Vietnam is in Washington, D.C. You would only need it for a visa in your passport, such as a long-stay or work visa, because tourist and business e-visas are issued online. Contacts are on our page about the Vietnam embassy in the United States.
Traveling with people on other passports? See the rules for Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.
Tips for American travelers
Three questions come up often from American travelers: what happens with a Friday evening order, which passport a dual citizen should use, and what to check before boarding.
Ordering on a Friday evening
A Friday evening order in the US arrives on Saturday in Vietnam, so the working-day speeds will not start until Monday. The Weekend & Public Holidays speed covers that gap.
Order before 15:20 Vietnam time and the e-visa arrives by 18:30 Vietnam time the same day. From Los Angeles in daylight time, that means ordering by 1:20 on Saturday morning for delivery by 4:30.
Dual citizens
Use the passport you will travel on. The e-visa is tied to one passport number, so it must match the passport you show at check-in and at immigration. If your second passport is from a visa-free country, such as the UK, you may not need a visa at all for a stay of up to 45 days.
Before you board
Airlines check Vietnam's entry rules at check-in, so print the e-visa and keep the PDF on your phone. Check that your name, date of birth and passport number match the passport exactly, and that your arrival date falls within the e-visa's validity.
If you are ready, start your application and pick the speed that fits your flight. VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service operated by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012, not a government website. You can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for US$25.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can US citizens stay in Vietnam?
US citizens can stay up to 90 days on an e-visa, with single or multiple entries. The dates are fixed when you apply, so choose an e-visa that covers your whole trip, including any side trips to Cambodia or Laos if you plan to come back.
Can US citizens apply on evisa.gov.vn themselves?
Yes. Americans can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for $25 single entry or $50 multiple entry. Applying through us costs more but adds a check of your form and photo, faster speeds and a refund if we deliver late.
Do children need their own e-visa?
Yes. Every traveler, including babies on a parent's lap, needs their own e-visa. Children under 14 pay a government fee of $25 whatever the visa type, and one e-visa order covers up to 5 people.
Is an approval letter enough to board the flight?
For visa on arrival, yes: airlines expect the printed approval letter, and the visa itself is issued at the airport. Bring US dollars in cash for the stamping fee of $25 (single) or $50 (multiple).
Is VietnamVisa-Easy.com a government website?
No. VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service run by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012. We check and submit e-visa applications and arrange visa on arrival letters for American travelers and other nationalities.
