Vietnam Visa for Australian Citizens: e-Visa Guide

Visa required · e-Visa
Apply about 14 days before arrival
Decision in 8–10 business days
Verified 24 October 2026

Plusvisa is a private visa application service, not a government agency or embassy. Official government source: National Portal on Immigration (Vietnam e-Visa System), evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.

Table of contents

Do you need a visa?
Types and cost in AUD
How long you may stay
Documents
When to apply
Eligibility check
How to apply
FAQ
Australia vs. Vietnam essentials

Passport
Valid 6+ months on arrival
Counted from arrival. Needs at least one blank page.
Stay on e-visa
Up to 90 days
Single stay, multiple entries within that period.
Entry points
Named gate only
The gate you name on the application must be the one you use.

Two routes into Vietnam

Most people
e-Visa
Apply online on Vietnam's official e-visa portal. Open to all nationalities, including Australian. No embassy visit is needed. Approved e-visa allows a single stay of up to 90 days.
Other purposes
Embassy visa
Work, study or stays beyond the e-visa's scope need a visa from a Vietnamese embassy or consulate before you travel. Australia's Vietnamese embassy is in Canberra.

Vietnam e-Visa types and cost for Australian citizens, in Australian Dollars

e-Visa	Validity	Processing	Government fee	All-in with Plusvisa*
Tourist E-visa eVisa	90 days Single entry	8–10 business days	US$25 ≈ $38	≈ $82
Tourist E-visa eVisa	90 days Multiple entry	8–10 business days	US$50 ≈ $76	≈ $135
Business trip E-visa eVisa	90 days Single entry	8–10 business days	US$25 ≈ $38	≈ $82
Business trip E-visa eVisa	90 days Multiple entry	8–10 business days	US$50 ≈ $76	≈ $135

* The government fee is the government's own charge, never refundable. All-in adds Plusvisa's service fee, per traveller; it is refunded if we cause a refusal.

The 90-day rule, and what it does not mean

An Australian passport holder with an e-visa may stay up to 90 days per visit. The e-visa allows multiple entries within that 90-day period. Australia has no visa-free stay for Vietnam on the official list.

Arrive

Leave

Tourist E-visa: 90 days per visit.

Arrive 1 March

63 of 90 days

1 Mar – 2 May: 63 of the 90 days this visa allows in one visit.

e-Visa stay: Up to 90 days from the date of entry, single stay, with multiple entries during that period. Check the exit date on your e-visa.
Visa-free days do not apply: Australia is not on Vietnam's visa-exemption list. The 45-day visa-free stays on the official list are for other passports.
Extensions: Visa-free stays generally cannot be extended inside Vietnam. For other visa types, contact the Vietnam Immigration Department before your permitted stay ends.
Overstaying: Overstaying is an immigration offence. It can bring fines, and in serious or repeated cases deportation or an entry ban. The official portal does not publish a fixed fine amount.

Your document checklist

Four things to have ready before you start your application, as an Australian applicant.

Passport data page scan
Clear colour scan of the personal details page. Passport valid 6+ months from arrival with at least one blank page.
Digital portrait photo
Recent photo, straight at the camera, no glasses, plain background. Upload as a separate file from the passport scan.

Only for some visa types

Proof of onward travel and accommodation
Only if Shown only if asked by an immigration officer on arrival. Return or onward flight ticket and hotel booking, on paper or phone.
Pre-arrival declaration QR code
Only if All non-Vietnamese passport holders arriving by air. Complete the online pre-arrival declaration up to 3 days before, or on, arrival. Show the QR code to immigration.

When should you apply?

Processing takes 8–10 business days. Enter your arrival date and we'll work backwards.

Arrival in Vietnam

Processing

Standard8–10 business days

Pick your arrival date

1
Apply online
—
Form and uploads, about 30 min
2
Pay the fee
—
By card, on the portal
3
Processing
8–10 business days
Official estimate
4
Approval emailed
—
Keep a copy on your phone
5
Arrive in Vietnam
—
Show the approval at the border

No official earliest or latest date was confirmed. The 14-day figure is a planning buffer, not an official processing time. Check the portal for current timing.

Four questions, 20 seconds

Is your passport an ordinary Australian passport, valid 6+ months from your arrival date, with at least one blank page?
Is your trip for tourism or another purpose the e-visa covers?
Will you stay 90 days or less in one visit?
Will you enter and leave by one of the official gates, and can you name it on your application?

Result

Answer all four

Four quick checks of the rules that most often catch travellers out, and we'll tell you where you stand.

The application, step by step

Before you apply

1
Confirm you need the e-visa
Australia is not on Vietnam's visa-exemption list. Choose the airport, land or sea gate you will use, because the e-visa is valid only there.
2
Prepare your documents
Scan your passport data page and take a digital portrait photo that meets the official rules.

On the official portal

3
Complete the online application
On the official portal, upload your passport scan and photo, and enter your travel details. Use your passport details exactly as printed.
The portal's notice points to new domains: thithucdientu.gov.vn and evisa.gov.vn. Check the current address before you apply.
4
Pay the e-visa fee
Pay by card on the portal. The fee is set by Vietnam's government and paid in US dollars. Your bank converts from Australian dollars. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.
5
Wait for processing
Immigration reviews the application. Do not submit a second application while the first is pending.

After you apply

6
Check your result
Use the official e-visa lookup page with your registration code, email and date of birth.
Check the current lookup address on the portal.
7
Print your e-visa
Print the approved e-visa and carry it with your passport. Some airlines check it before boarding.
8
Complete the pre-arrival declaration
Fill in the online pre-arrival declaration up to 3 days before, or on, arrival. Show the QR code to immigration.

Official website: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn (opens in a new tab)

Questions Australian travellers actually ask

Yes. Australia is not on Vietnam's visa-exemption list, so Australians need a visa for tourism. The usual route is the e-visa, which covers stays of up to 90 days.

The destination guide says the visa-on-arrival route is for air travel only. It needs an approval letter arranged before you fly. Check the official source before relying on it.

Up to 90 days in one stay. The e-visa allows multiple entries during that period.

Official airports, land gates and sea ports. The e-visa is valid only at the gate named on your application. Check the current list on the official portal before you book.

Visa-free stays generally cannot be extended from inside Vietnam. For other visa types, contact the Vietnam Immigration Department before your permitted stay ends.

The government fee is not refunded. Check your details and documents, fix any errors, and submit a new application if you still need to travel.

Visa sorted

The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home

Your Australian plug won't fit. Here's what will.

Type A
Two flat pins
Type C
Two round pins · 2.5 A
Type F
Two round pins · 16 A

Type A

Vietnam uses type A, C and F sockets and your plugs are type I. An I-to-A adapter works for the whole trip.

Voltage

220 V · 50 Hz

Against 230 V · 50 Hz at home. Check the label on chargers and appliances: anything marked 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz works in both.

Pack: one type A adapter and a small power strip — hotel rooms rarely have more than two sockets.

Vietnam drives on the right — the opposite of home

Compare traffic side:

Vietnam · right-hand traffic — the opposite of Australia

Getting around
Cities are dense with motorbike traffic. Cross roads slowly and predictably, use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps, and book trains or flights ahead for longer trips between regions.
Health precautions
Dengue is a year-round risk, so use insect repellent and cover up. Avoid tap water and swimming in untreated fresh water. Check routine vaccines and malaria advice for rural travel with a travel clinic before you go.
Customs and etiquette
Remove your shoes before entering homes and some temples, dress modestly at religious sites, and use both hands to offer or receive money, gifts or business cards.

Vietnamese Dongs, cash and cards

Vietnam uses the Vietnamese Dong (VND).

AUD

VND

₫

$1 ≈ ₫16,751.3 · indicative mid-market rate, possibly a few days old

Carry small dong notes
Cash in Vietnamese dong is still standard for street food, markets and small shops. Watch out for the 20,000 and 500,000 notes, which are a similar blue shade.
Cards work in cities
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops in larger cities, and contactless payment is increasingly common.
Use bank ATMs and plan withdrawals
International cards work at ATMs nationwide, but local banks cap withdrawals lower than international ones. Withdraw extra cash before heading to rural areas with fewer ATMs.

Weather by month (Hanoi)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

10.6°13°16.2°19.9°23.3°25°25°24.8°23.2°19.8°15.8°11.2°

Daytime high
Grey row = night low
Best time to go

Daytime high
Grey row = night low
Best time to go

Month	High, °C	Low, °C	Rain, mm
January	20.3	10.6	31.9
February	23.4	13	21.8
March	26.6	16.2	49
April · best	30.4	19.9	77.7
May · best	31.8	23.3	178.9
June	31.9	25	201.3
July	31.7	25	299.8
August	31	24.8	321.8
September · best	30.2	23.2	222.9
October · best	27.7	19.8	124
November · best	24.7	15.8	52.2
December	20.8	11.2	25.1

Monthly averages. Source: NASA POWER climatology, 2001-2020.

April · ideal

The best window runs April, May, September, October and November.

High 30.4°CLow 19.9°CRain 77.7 mm

Sweet spot: Hanoi has a cool, misty winter from December to March, a hot and humid rainy season from June to August, and its most comfortable weather in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November).

One time zone

Canberra

--:--:--

Hanoi

--:--:--

How much to tip, in AUD

Restaurant bill

₫300,000

₫300,000($17.91)

Restaurants

Not part of Vietnamese custom, but appreciated, especially if service isn't already included.

0–10%

on a ₫300,000 bill: ₫0 · $0

Hotel porters and housekeeping

Per bag or per day, more common at higher-end hotels.

₫10,000–₫50,000

$0.60–$2.98

Taxis and ride-hailing

Rounding up the fare is common but not expected.

No tip expected

Private tour guides and drivers

Per day, more for multi-day tours.

₫50,000–₫150,000

$2.98–$8.95

Spas and salons

Increasingly expected in tourist areas.

5–10%

on a ₫300,000 bill: ₫15,000 · $0.90

SIM, eSIM or roaming?

Local SIM

Recommended

Local prepaid SIM

Airport arrival counters or shops of Viettel, Mobifone or Vinaphone in any city Usually the cheapest option, with wide 4G/5G coverage even outside major cities. Bring your passport to register the SIM.

eSIM

Travel eSIM

Online, before you travel, from an eSIM provider or your phone's own eSIM store Convenient if your phone supports eSIM, since you can activate it before landing without swapping a physical SIM.

Roaming

Roaming on your home plan

Activated through your home mobile provider before departure The simplest option but usually the most expensive; check your provider's Vietnam rates before you rely on it.

Get your Vietnam e-Visa in about ten business days, without the portal headaches

Upload a phone photo and your passport, we check them against every rule above, submit, and send your approval to your inbox. From $82 all-in.

Compare visa types

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Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
Support by email and WhatsApp

Do Australian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Tourist E-visa

Business trip E-visa