Vietnam Visa for Hong Kong Citizens: e-Visa and How to Apply

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?
Which Hong-Kong passport
Types and cost in HKD
How long you may stay
Documents
When to apply
Eligibility check
How to apply
FAQ
Hong Kong vs. Vietnam essentials

Passport
Valid 6 months on arrival
Counted from your arrival date, with at least 1 blank page.
e-Visa stay
Up to 90 days per stay
Multiple entry allowed within that period.
Entry points
Air, land and sea gates only
Choose one gate on the form. The e-visa is valid only there.

Two routes into Vietnam

Most travellers
e-Visa
Apply online on the official Vietnam Immigration portal for a tourist trip. No embassy visit is needed. The approved e-visa is printed and shown at the gate you named.
Other purposes
Embassy visa
Work, study, and stays beyond 90 days need a visa from a Vietnamese embassy or consulate before you travel. Check the purpose on the official portal first.

Which Hong-Kong passport are you holding?

Hong Kong passports come in more than one version. Check which one you hold before you apply.

HKSAR passport
e-Visa eligible
Apply for the e-visa with this passport and travel on it. The visa is tied to the passport number you enter.
British National (Overseas) passport
Check first
No official Vietnam guidance for BNO-only holders was confirmed for this guide. Check the official portal and consider the Vietnamese embassy or consulate before applying.

Vietnam e-Visa types and cost for Hong-Kong citizens, in Hong Kong 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	US$54
Tourist E-visa eVisa	90 days Multiple entry	8–10 business days	US$50	US$89
Business trip E-visa eVisa	90 days Single entry	8–10 business days	US$25	US$54
Business trip E-visa eVisa	90 days Multiple entry	8–10 business days	US$50	US$89

* 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 e-visa allows one stay of up to 90 days, with multiple entries during that period. Hong Kong passport holders are not on the visa-exempt list, so visa-free stays do not apply to you.

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: The e-visa allows a stay of up to 90 days from entry. The exact period is set on the visa. Check it on the approved e-visa before you fly.
Multiple entry: Multiple-entry e-visas let you leave and return within the validity period. Each stay must stay within the approved limit.
Extensions: The e-visa 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 amount.
What the 90 days does not mean: 90 days is the maximum stay, not a guaranteed period. Immigration sets the period on each visa. Leave on or before the date shown on your visa.

Your document checklist

Four things to have ready before you start your application, as a Hong-Kong applicant.

Passport data page scan
Clear colour scan of the personal details page. Valid 6 months from arrival, with at least 1 blank page. Scan file must be under 200KB.
Digital portrait photo
Recent, straight-on, no glasses, plain background, uploaded as a separate file. Under 50KB. Keep it under the portal size limit.

Only for some visa types

Pre-arrival declaration QR code
Only if All non-Vietnamese passport holders arriving by air. Complete online up to 3 days before, or on, arrival. Show the QR code or printed form to immigration.
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. Keep on paper or on your phone.

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

The official portal says processing takes 3 working days. The 14 days leaves room to fix a rejected upload and resubmit. No earliest or latest limit is set by the destination guide.

Four questions, 20 seconds

Is your trip for tourism or a short visit?
Will you stay 90 days or less in one visit?
Do you hold a valid HKSAR passport that will be valid 6 months after arrival, with a blank page?
Will you enter and leave by an air, land or sea gate on the official list?

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 your passport
Your HKSAR passport must be valid 6 months from arrival, with at least 1 blank page. Check this before you start.
2
Choose your entry gate
Pick the air, land or sea gate you will use. The e-visa is valid only at that gate, and it cannot be changed later.
3
Prepare your files
Scan your passport data page. Take a straight-on portrait photo without glasses. The portrait must be under 50KB and the passport scan under 200KB.

On the official portal

4
Submit your details
Upload the passport scan and photo on the official portal. Enter your details exactly as printed in your passport. You will receive a registration code by email.
5
Pay the e-visa fee
Pay by card on the portal. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.
6
Wait for processing
The official portal says processing takes 3 working days. Do not submit a second application while the first is pending.

After you apply

7
Check your result
Enter your registration code, email and date of birth on the official lookup page.
8
Print your e-visa
Print the approved e-visa and carry it with your passport. Show it at the gate you named.
9
Complete the pre-arrival declaration
If you arrive by air, complete the 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 Hong-Kong travellers actually ask

Yes. Hong Kong is not on Vietnam's visa-exempt list. Most tourist trips use the e-visa, which you apply for online before you travel.

The e-visa allows a single stay of up to 90 days, with multiple entries during that period. Check the dates on your approved visa before you fly.

No. The e-visa must be applied for and approved online before you travel. You then print it and show it at the gate you named.

Only at the air, land and sea gates on the official list. The gate you name on the application is the only one the visa accepts. The list can change, so check the official portal before you book.

No official Vietnam guidance on BNO passports was confirmed for this guide. Check the official portal before you apply, and use your HKSAR passport if you hold one.

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

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

The e-visa cannot be extended from inside Vietnam. For other visa types, contact the Vietnam Immigration Department before your permitted stay ends.

Visa sorted

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

Your Hong-Kong 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 G. A G-to-A adapter works for the whole trip.

Voltage

220 V · 50 Hz

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

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 Hong Kong

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).

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

Hong Kong

--:--:--

Hanoi

--:--:--

How much to tip, in HKD

Restaurant bill

₫2,000

Restaurants

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

0–10%

on a ₫2,000 bill: ₫0

Hotel porters and housekeeping

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

₫10,000–₫50,000

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

Spas and salons

Increasingly expected in tourist areas.

5–10%

on a ₫2,000 bill: ₫100

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 US$54 all-in.

Compare visa types

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Do Hong-Kong citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Tourist E-visa

Business trip E-visa