Vietnam Visa for French Citizens: e-Visa & Visa-Free Rules

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
France vs. Vietnam essentials

Visa-free stay
Up to 45 days
Entry and exit day both count towards the 45 days.
Passport validity
6+ months on arrival
Needed for both visa-free entry and the e-visa.
Longer stays
e-Visa up to 90 days
Needed if you stay over 45 days or want multiple entries.

Two routes into Vietnam

Most people
Visa-free entry
Since 15 August 2023, French passport holders can enter Vietnam without a visa for stays up to 45 days, for tourism or business, whatever the type of passport. This cannot be extended from inside Vietnam.
Longer or multiple-entry trips
e-Visa
If you plan to stay over 45 days, enter more than once, or simply want an approved visa before you fly, apply online for Vietnam's e-visa, which covers every nationality including France.

Vietnam visa types and cost for French 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

French citizens get 45 visa-free days per entry, counting the entry and exit day. An e-visa can cover a longer stay, up to 90 days, with single or multiple entries, if you apply before you travel.

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.

Visa-free stay: Stay up to 45 days without any visa, for tourism or business, whatever the purpose. The 45 days include your entry and exit day.
e-Visa stay: If you apply for an e-visa instead, it can be issued for up to 90 days, with single or multiple entries, depending on what you request.
No extension from inside Vietnam: Visa-free stays and e-visas cannot be extended once you are in Vietnam. For other visa types, contact the Immigration Department before your stay ends.
Overstaying: Staying past your 45 visa-free days or your e-visa's dates leads to sanctions. You must regularise this with Vietnamese immigration before you can leave the country.

Your document checklist

Five things to have ready before you start your application, as a French applicant.

Passport data page
Valid for at least 6 months on arrival, with one blank page. For visa-free entry just carry the passport; for an e-visa, upload a clear colour scan of the data page.

Only for some visa types

Digital portrait photo
Only if e-Visa applicants only. Only needed if you apply for an e-visa: a recent, straight-on photo without glasses, on a plain background, uploaded as its own file.
Card for the e-visa fee
Only if e-Visa applicants only. The e-visa fee is paid in US dollars on the official portal. A French-issued Visa or Mastercard can be used, but check with your bank about any foreign currency charge.
Proof of onward travel and accommodation
Only if Shown only if asked by an immigration officer. A return or onward ticket and a hotel booking, ready on paper or your phone. Applies to visa-free and e-visa entry alike, shown only if an officer asks.
Pre-arrival declaration QR code
Only if All arrivals by air. Fill this in online up to 3 days before, or on, arrival, then show the QR code to immigration. All French travellers arriving by air need this, visa-free or not.

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 was confirmed. Apply a few weeks ahead so there is time to fix a rejected photo or scan and resubmit before you fly.

Four questions, 20 seconds

Is your stay 90 days or less?
Will you enter and exit through one of Vietnam's official e-visa airports, land or sea gates?
Is your passport valid for at least 6 months after you arrive?
Is your trip for tourism, business or another purpose the e-visa covers, not work or study?

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
Check if you even need to apply
If your stay is 45 days or less, for tourism or business, you can travel visa-free and skip the e-visa application. For longer or multiple-entry trips, apply for the e-visa before you fly.
2
Prepare your documents
Scan your passport data page and take a digital portrait photo that meets the official rules, ready to upload if you need the e-visa.

On the official portal

3
Complete the online application
Go to the official National Portal on Immigration, upload your passport scan and photo, and fill in your travel details.
4
Pay the e-visa fee
Pay online by card. A French-issued Visa or Mastercard works on the portal; the charge is made in US dollars.
5
Wait for processing
Your application is reviewed by the Immigration Department. Submitting a second one while the first is pending can cause delays.

After you apply

6
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.
7
Print your visa
Print the approved e-visa to carry with your passport. Some airlines check this before boarding.
8
Complete pre-arrival steps
Fill in Vietnam's pre-arrival declaration before or on landing, whether you travel visa-free or with an e-visa.

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

Questions French travellers actually ask

No. French passport holders can stay up to 45 days without any visa, for tourism or business, as long as the passport is valid for 6 months on arrival.

No. Visa-free stays cannot be extended or renewed from inside Vietnam. Neither the French embassy nor the consulate can help with this; it is a matter for Vietnamese immigration.

Apply for an e-visa before you travel. It can be issued for up to 90 days, with single or multiple entries.

It covers both. French citizens are exempt from a visa for stays up to 45 days whatever the purpose of the trip, and whatever type of passport they hold.

You will face sanctions and must regularise your situation with Vietnamese immigration before you can leave. Getting an exit visa after a lost passport or an overstay can take at least 5 working days, sometimes longer.

Yes. The day you arrive and the day you leave both count as part of your 45 visa-free days.

No. Visa and stay matters in Vietnam are handled only by Vietnamese immigration authorities, not by the French embassy in Hanoi or the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.

Visa sorted

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

Your French 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 is 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 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 France

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

Paris

--:--:--

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 French citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Tourist E-visa

Business trip E-visa