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Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes.

Chinese citizens need a visa for Vietnam. For a typical tourist trip, the Vietnam e-visa covers it.

  • eVisa

    Tourist E-visa

    Entry

    Single entry

    Validity

    30 days

    Processing
    8–10 business days
    Total cost
    ¥400 (US$56)

  • eVisa

    Business trip E-visa

    Entry

    Single entry

    Validity

    30 days

    Processing
    8–10 business days
    Total cost
    ¥400 (US$56)
  • Pre-checked

    Reviewed

    Expert check before submission

  • 8–10 business days

    Processing time

  • +21k

    21K+

    Applications processed

  • Available now

    24/7

    Expert human assistance

Vietnam Visa for Chinese Citizens: e-Visa and Entry Rules

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

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
  1. Do you need a visa?
  2. Types and cost in CNY
  3. How long you may stay
  4. Documents
  5. When to apply
  6. Eligibility check
  7. How to apply
  8. FAQ
  9. China vs. Vietnam essentials

  • Passport

    Valid 6 months on arrival

    Also needs at least 1 blank page.

  • e-Visa stay

    Up to 90 days per stay

    Multiple entries within the 90 days.

  • Entry

    Only through named gates

    13 airports, 16 land gates, 13 sea gates.

Two routes into Vietnam

  • Most travellers

    e-Visa

    Apply online on the official Vietnam Immigration Department portal. No embassy visit is needed. You receive a registration code by email. Print the approved e-visa and show it on arrival.

  • Other purposes

    Embassy visa

    Work, long-term study and other purposes the e-visa does not cover need a visa from a Vietnamese embassy or consulate before you travel.

Vietnam e-Visa types and cost for Chinese citizens, in Chinese Yuans

e-VisaValidityProcessingGovernment feeAll-in with Plusvisa*

Business trip E-visa

eVisa

30 days

Single entry

8–10 business days

US$27 ≈ ¥193

≈ ¥400

Tourist E-visa

eVisa

30 days

Single entry

8–10 business days

US$27 ≈ ¥193

≈ ¥400

* 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 30-day rule, and what it does not mean

A Chinese passport holder on the e-visa can stay up to 90 days per stay, with multiple entries during that period. The e-visa is not a right to stay longer.

Business trip E-visa: 30 days per visit.

Arrive 1 March

21 of 30 days

1 Mar – 21 Mar: 21 of the 30 days this visa allows in one visit.

  • e-Visa stay: The e-visa allows a single stay of up to 90 days, with multiple entries in that time. Stay within the 90 days from your entry date.

  • Visa-free rules do not apply: Vietnam's 45-day visa-free rule covers only the listed countries. China is not on that list, so it does not apply to Chinese passport holders.

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

  • Overstaying: Overstaying is an immigration offence. It can lead to fines and, in serious or repeated cases, deportation or a future entry ban. The official portal does not publish a fixed fine.

  • Entry gate: The e-visa is valid only through the gate named on your application. Enter and leave by that gate.

Your document checklist

Four things to have ready before you start your application, as a Chinese applicant.

  • Passport data page scan

    Clear colour scan of the personal details page. Valid at least 6 months from your entry date, with at least 1 blank page.

  • Digital portrait photo

    Recent photo, looking 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 an immigration officer asks on arrival. Return or onward flight ticket and hotel booking, on paper or on your phone.

  • Pre-arrival declaration QR code

    Only if Arriving by air. Complete the online declaration up to 3 days before arrival, or on arrival, then 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.

Processing

Standard8–10 business days

Pick your arrival date

  1. 1

    Apply online

    —

    Form and uploads, about 30 min

  2. 2

    Pay the fee

    —

    By card, on the portal

  3. 3

    Processing

    8–10 business days

    Official estimate

  4. 4

    Approval emailed

    —

    Keep a copy on your phone

  5. 5

    Arrive in Vietnam

    —

    Show the approval at the border

No earliest or latest limit found on the official portal. The portal says processing takes 3 working days. 14 days leaves room to fix and resubmit a rejected upload.

Four questions, 20 seconds

  1. Is your trip tourism, family or a short visit, with no paid work or study?

  2. Is your passport valid at least 6 months from your entry date, with at least 1 blank page?

  3. Are you travelling on an ordinary passport, not an emergency or laissez-passer document?

  4. Will you enter and leave by one of the official gates named 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. 1

    Check your entry gate

    Choose the airport, land gate or sea gate you will use. The e-visa is valid only through the gate named on your application.

    The gate list can change. Check it on the official portal before you book.

  2. 2

    Prepare your files

    Scan your passport data page. Take a digital portrait photo: straight on, no glasses, plain background. Keep the scan and the photo as separate files.

On the official portal

  1. 3

    Apply on the official portal

    Go to the Vietnam Immigration Department e-visa portal. Upload your passport scan and photo, and fill in your travel details. Enter your name and passport number exactly as they appear in your passport.

    The portal's notice says the e-visa system moved to new domains in November 2024. Use the domain the portal currently links to.

  2. 4

    Pay the fee by card

    Pay on the portal when you submit. You receive a registration code by email. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.

  3. 5

    Do not submit twice

    Submitting a second application while one is pending can cause delays or confusion.

After you apply

  1. 6

    Check your result

    Enter your registration code, email and date of birth on the official e-visa lookup page.

  2. 7

    Print the e-visa

    Print the approved e-visa and carry it with your passport. Some airlines check it before boarding.

  3. 8

    Complete the pre-arrival declaration

    Air arrivals must complete the online pre-arrival declaration up to 3 days before arrival, or on arrival. Show the QR code to immigration.

    Link is the official declaration portal named in the destination guide. I could not open it to check.

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

Questions Chinese travellers actually ask

Yes. China is not on Vietnam's list of visa-exempt countries. Most Chinese travellers apply for the e-visa online before they travel.

Up to 90 days per stay. The e-visa allows multiple entries within that time.

No. That rule applies only to the countries on Vietnam's visa-exempt list. China is not on that list.

No. The destination guide says the e-visa must be approved online before you travel. Print it to show at the border.

Only the official airports, land gates and sea gates on the list. You must use the one you named on your application. The list can change, so check it on the official portal.

Air arrivals must complete the online pre-arrival declaration up to 3 days before arrival, or on arrival. Show the QR code to immigration.

Not on the e-visa. Contact the Vietnam Immigration Department before your permitted stay ends if you need to stay longer for another purpose.

Visa sorted

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

Your Chinese plug fits. Here's what to expect.

  • Type A

    Two flat pins

  • Type C

    Two round pins · 2.5 A

  • Type F

    Two round pins · 16 A

Type A

Type A and C sockets are used both at home and in Vietnam, so your own plugs fit — though you may meet the other types too.

Voltage

220 V · 50 Hz

Same as China — phones, laptops and shavers work with only an adapter, no converter.

Pack: nothing special — your type A and C plugs go straight in. A small power strip is still handy where hotel rooms have one socket.

Vietnam drives on the right — just like home

Compare traffic side:

Vietnam · right-hand traffic — same as China

  • 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).

₫

¥1 ≈ ₫3,553.3 · 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)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec20.3°23.4°26.6°30.4°31.8°31.9°31.7°31°30.2°27.7°24.7°20.8°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
MonthHigh, °CLow, °CRain, mm
January20.310.631.9
February23.41321.8
March26.616.249
April · best30.419.977.7
May · best31.823.3178.9
June31.925201.3
July31.725299.8
August3124.8321.8
September · best30.223.2222.9
October · best27.719.8124
November · best24.715.852.2
December20.811.225.1

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

Beijing

--:--:--

Hanoi

--:--:--

How much to tip, in CNY

₫50,000

₫50,000(¥14.07)

Restaurants

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

0–10%

on a ₫50,000 bill: ₫0 · ¥0

Hotel porters and housekeeping

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

₫10,000–₫50,000

¥2.81–¥14.07

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

¥14.07–¥42.21

Spas and salons

Increasingly expected in tourist areas.

5–10%

on a ₫50,000 bill: ₫2,500 · ¥0.70

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 ¥400 all-in.

Compare visa types
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