Vietnam Visa for Dutch Citizens: 45-Day Visa-Free Entry

No visa needed
Apply about 14 days before arrival
Decision in 8–10 business days
Verified 19 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 EUR
How long you may stay
Documents
When to apply
Eligibility check
How to apply
FAQ
Netherlands vs. Vietnam essentials

Visa-free length
45 days, single entry
Tourism purpose only.
Passport validity
Valid 6+ months on arrival
Return ticket
Required to enter visa-free
Officers may ask to see it on arrival.

Three routes into Vietnam

Most people
Visa-free entry
Dutch citizens can enter Vietnam without any visa for a single tourist trip of up to 45 days. You need a return or onward ticket and documents showing your visit is for tourism.
Longer or repeat trips
e-Visa
Apply online for Vietnam's e-visa if your trip is longer than 45 days, you plan several entries, or your purpose is not tourism. It is open to every passport, including Dutch ones, through the official portal.
Other purposes
Embassy visa
Long-term work, study or other purposes the e-visa does not cover still need a visa from a Vietnamese embassy or consulate before you travel.

Vietnam visa types and cost for Dutch citizens, in Euros

visa	Validity	Processing	Government fee	All-in with Plusvisa*
Tourist E-visa eVisa	90 days Single entry	8–10 business days	US$25 ≈ €24	≈ €50
Tourist E-visa eVisa	90 days Multiple entry	8–10 business days	US$50 ≈ €47	≈ €83
Business trip E-visa eVisa	90 days Single entry	8–10 business days	US$25 ≈ €24	≈ €50
Business trip E-visa eVisa	90 days Multiple entry	8–10 business days	US$50 ≈ €47	≈ €83

* 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

As a Dutch citizen you can stay in Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days per entry, for tourism only. If you need longer, another purpose, or several entries, use the e-visa instead.

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.

Tourism only, 45 days, single entry: The visa-free route covers tourist trips of up to 45 days. It does not cover paid work, study or other purposes; those need an e-visa or an embassy visa.
Leaving resets the clock: If you leave Vietnam and re-enter, for example on a side trip to Cambodia or Laos, you get a fresh 45-day visa-free stay. There is no waiting period between entries.
No extension from inside Vietnam: A visa-free stay cannot be extended while you are in Vietnam. If you need more than 45 days, leave and re-enter, or apply for an e-visa before you travel.
Needs a return or onward ticket: Entering visa-free requires proof you will leave, such as a return or onward ticket, and documents showing your trip is for tourism.

Your document checklist

Six things to have ready before you start your application, as a Dutch applicant.

Valid Dutch passport
Must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date in Vietnam, with at least one blank page. Needed for both visa-free entry and the e-visa.

Only for some visa types

Return or onward ticket
Only if Visa-free entry only. Dutch citizens entering visa-free must be able to show a return or onward flight ticket. Keep it on your phone or printed.
Proof your trip is for tourism
Only if Visa-free entry only. Officers may ask for a hotel booking or itinerary showing your visit is for tourism, since the visa-free route does not cover other purposes.
Digital portrait photo
Only if e-Visa applicants only. Needed only if you apply for the e-visa: a recent straight-on photo on a plain background, uploaded as a file separate from the passport scan.
International payment card
Only if e-Visa applicants only. The e-visa fee is paid in USD by card on the official portal. A Dutch Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card works; iDEAL is not accepted.
Pre-arrival declaration QR code
Only if All air travellers. Complete Vietnam's online pre-arrival declaration up to 3 days before, or on, arrival and show the QR code at immigration. This applies whether you travel visa-free or on an e-visa.

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 minimum or maximum lead time is published for the e-visa. Apply at least two weeks ahead to leave room for processing and for a second try if your photo or scan is rejected.

Four questions, 20 seconds

Do you hold a valid, ordinary Dutch passport with at least 6 months of validity left?
Is your trip for tourism, business meetings or another purpose the e-visa covers, not long-term work or study?
Will you enter and exit through one of Vietnam's official e-visa airports, land or sea gates?
Do you need to stay longer than 45 days in one single visit, or travel for a purpose visa-free entry doesn't cover?

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
Decide: visa-free or e-visa
If your trip is tourism and 45 days or less, you likely do not need any visa. For longer stays, multiple entries, or other purposes, plan to apply for the e-visa instead.
2
Choose your entry point
Pick the airport, land or sea gate you will use. e-Visa holders must enter and exit through one of the official gates named on the application.
3
Prepare your documents
Scan your passport's data page and take a digital portrait photo. If entering visa-free, also have your return or onward ticket ready to show.

On the official portal

4
Complete the online e-visa application
Go to the official National Portal on Immigration, upload your passport scan and photo, and fill in your travel details.
5
Pay the e-visa fee
Pay online by card in USD on the same portal. A Dutch Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card works; iDEAL is not accepted. You will get a registration code by email.
6
Wait for processing
Your application is reviewed by the Immigration Department. Do not submit a second application while one is pending.

After you apply

7
Check your result online
Enter your registration code, email and date of birth on the e-visa lookup page to see if you are approved.
8
Print your visa
Print the approved e-visa to carry with your passport. Some airlines check this before boarding.
9
Complete pre-arrival steps
Fill in Vietnam's pre-arrival declaration before or on landing, whether you travel visa-free or on an e-visa, and keep proof of onward travel and accommodation ready.

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

Questions Dutch travellers actually ask

Yes. Dutch citizens can enter Vietnam without a visa for tourism trips of up to 45 days, provided you have a return or onward ticket and your passport is valid for at least 6 months.

Up to 45 days per entry, for tourism only. This is a single-entry allowance, so leaving and returning starts a new visa-free stay rather than extending the old one.

No. A visa-free stay cannot be extended from inside the country. If you need more time, leave Vietnam and re-enter for a fresh 45 days, or apply for an e-visa before you travel.

If you re-enter visa-free, you get a fresh 45-day stay with no waiting period between entries. If you would rather not clear immigration twice, a multiple-entry e-visa covers the whole loop instead.

Apply for Vietnam's e-visa online before you travel. It is open to Dutch citizens and covers longer and multiple-entry stays that visa-free entry does not.

The e-visa fee is paid in USD by card on the official portal. An international Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card works; a Dutch-only payment method like iDEAL is not accepted.

Yes. All non-Vietnamese passport holders arriving by air must complete the online pre-arrival declaration and show the QR code, whether they travel visa-free or on an e-visa.

Visa sorted

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

Your Dutch 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 C

Type C and F 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

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: nothing special — your type C and F 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 Netherlands

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).

EUR

VND

₫

€1 ≈ ₫27,411.2 · 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

Amsterdam

--:--:--

Hanoi

--:--:--

How much to tip, in EUR

Restaurant bill

₫400,000

₫400,000(€14.59)

Restaurants

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

0–10%

on a ₫400,000 bill: ₫0 · €0

Hotel porters and housekeeping

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

₫10,000–₫50,000

€0.36–€1.82

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

€1.82–€5.47

Spas and salons

Increasingly expected in tourist areas.

5–10%

on a ₫400,000 bill: ₫20,000 · €0.73

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 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 €50 all-in.

Compare visa types

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Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
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Do Dutch citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Tourist E-visa

Business trip E-visa