Vietnam Visa for Swiss Citizens: Stay Limits and Entry Rules

No visa needed
Apply about 3 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 CHF
How long you may stay
Documents
When to apply
Eligibility check
How to apply
FAQ
Switzerland vs. Vietnam essentials

Stay per visit
Up to 45 days
Tourism only. Counted from entry.
Passport validity
Valid 6 months on arrival
Applies to every entry route.
Advance step
Pre-arrival declaration
Required for arrivals by air.

Three routes into Vietnam

Most people
Visa-free entry
Under Resolution 229/NQ-CP, Swiss citizens can enter for tourism for up to 45 days from entry. No application is needed. The exemption runs to 14 August 2028.
Longer stay
e-Visa
For a stay over 45 days, apply for the e-visa on the official portal before you travel. It allows a single stay of up to 90 days.
Other purposes
Embassy visa
Work, study and other purposes the e-visa does not cover need a visa from a Vietnamese embassy or consulate before you travel.

Vietnam visa types and cost for Swiss citizens, in Swiss Francs

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

Swiss citizens may stay up to 45 days per visit for tourism, under Resolution 229/NQ-CP. The 45 days run from your date of entry.

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 tourist stay: Up to 45 days from entry, for tourism. Leave Vietnam before day 45. The exemption runs to 14 August 2028.
No extension inside Vietnam: Visa-free stays generally cannot be extended from inside the country, per the destination guide. Plan your exit date before you arrive.
Re-entry: The official text I read does not set out re-entry rules after a visa-free stay. Check with the Vietnamese embassy or consulate before a second trip.
Longer stays or other purposes: Stays over 45 days need an e-visa, which allows up to 90 days. Work, study and other purposes need an embassy visa.
Overstaying: Overstaying is an immigration offence. The destination guide notes fines and possible entry bans. No fixed fine is published on the official portal.

Your document checklist

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

Passport
Valid at least 6 months from your entry date, with at least one blank page. Applies to every entry route.

Only for some visa types

Pre-arrival declaration QR code
Only if Arrivals by air. Completed online up to 3 days before, or on, arrival. Show the QR code or printed form to immigration.
Digital portrait photo
Only if E-visa applicants only. Recent straight-on photo, no glasses, plain background. Uploaded as a separate file.
Proof of onward travel and accommodation
Only if Only if an immigration officer asks. Return or onward ticket and hotel booking, 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

No visa application is needed for a stay up to 45 days. The pre-arrival declaration can be filed up to 3 days before arrival. For an e-visa, see the destination guide.

Three questions, 20 seconds

Is your trip for tourism, a holiday or a family visit?
Will you stay 45 days or fewer on this visit?
Is your Swiss passport valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date?

Result

Answer all three

Three 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
Confirm it is valid at least 6 months after your arrival date and has at least one blank page.
2
Confirm your stay
Make sure the visit is for tourism and ends within 45 days of entry. Longer stays need an e-visa.

On the official portal

3
Complete the pre-arrival declaration
If you fly in, file the online declaration up to 3 days before, or on, arrival. Keep the QR code ready.
No visa application is needed for a visa-free stay.

After you apply

4
Show your documents at entry
Show your passport and, if you flew in, your QR code. Keep hotel and onward travel details ready in case an officer asks.
If you need an e-visa instead, apply only on the official portal at evisa.gov.vn.

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

Questions Swiss travellers actually ask

No, not for a tourist trip of up to 45 days. Vietnam's Resolution 229/NQ-CP sets this for Swiss citizens from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028. Other purposes and longer stays need an e-visa or embassy visa.

Up to 45 days from the date you enter, for tourism. You cannot extend the stay inside Vietnam, so leave before day 45. For a longer stay, apply for an e-visa before you travel.

No application is needed for a visa-free stay. If you fly in, complete the pre-arrival declaration online up to 3 days before, or on, arrival, and show the QR code to immigration.

No. Visa-free entry covers tourism. Work, study and other purposes need a visa from a Vietnamese embassy or consulate before you travel.

The official text I read does not set out re-entry rules after a visa-free stay. Check with the Vietnamese embassy or consulate that covers Switzerland before you plan a second entry.

Overstaying is an immigration offence. The destination guide notes fines and possible entry bans, and the official portal does not publish a fixed fine amount. Plan your exit date before you arrive.

No. A visa-free stay needs no photo upload and no portal account. Keep your passport valid for 6 months after arrival and carry proof of onward travel in case an officer asks.

Visa sorted

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

Your Swiss 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 Switzerland

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

Bern

--:--:--

Hanoi

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How much to tip, in CHF

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 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 Swiss citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Tourist E-visa

Business trip E-visa