Vietnam eVisa vs Visa on Arrival for US Travelers: How the Embassy Visa Differs
Short answer: For a typical US trip, request the electronic visa before you travel at evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn. It is available to citizens of all countries and territories and can last up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry. Visa on arrival is not that visa. The embassy notice that uses those words limits it to listed emergencies, and it still requires an approval letter signed and sealed by the embassy before the trip. A standard visa filed at the embassy is a separate path. US passport holders are not covered by Vietnam’s current 45-day unilateral/tourism visa-exemption schemes. Optional help for an eligible eVisa request: Vietnam eVisa. Stand: 26 September 2026.
Navigation: ← Vietnam · eVisa guide · Embassy visa · Start Vietnam eVisa help
Three paths at a glance
| Electronic visa | Visa on arrival | Embassy standard visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you apply | evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn, before travel | Only the emergencies on the embassy notice, and only with an embassy approval letter before the trip | In person at the embassy, or by mail to the embassy |
| Who it covers / length | Available to citizens of all countries and territories; up to 90 days, single or multiple entry | Not a holiday visa you start after you land | Filed at the embassy. US citizens can be granted multiple visas of up to one year on that process |
These are three different paths. A holiday does not start in the middle column. If you will request the electronic visa, open the eVisa guide. If you will file at the embassy, open the embassy visa guide.
When the eVisa is the path
The electronic visa is available to citizens of all countries and territories. That includes a US passport. It can last up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry. Submit the application and check the result at evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn.
US passport holders are not covered by Vietnam’s current 45-day unilateral/tourism visa-exemption schemes. Unless another exemption fits the itinerary, a typical US trip uses this visa. Open the eVisa guide for the request itself. Optional help with an eligible request sits on the Vietnam eVisa product page.
What visa on arrival is
Visa on arrival is not the electronic visa, and it is not the standard visa you file at the embassy.
The embassy notice that uses “visa upon arrival” says visitors can apply for one at an international airport or border gate only in the circumstances it lists: a family funeral, care for a seriously ill family member, emergency technical support, medical care for a seriously ill patient, natural-disaster or epidemic relief, an invitation from the Vietnamese government, or another emergency. Even then, visitors must obtain an approval letter signed and sealed by the embassy before the trip.
That is not a visa you start after you land on a holiday. For an ordinary US trip, request the electronic visa before travel.
When the embassy visa is the other path
A standard visa is filed at the embassy in person or by mail. You apply at the embassy, not on the electronic-visa portal, and not under the arrival notice.
If the applicant has not had a letter of approval, the embassy page says processing is five working days after a complete application. The embassy’s reference to visas of up to one year for US citizens applies to its standard-visa process, not to the eVisa.
Use this path when you will file at the embassy and need the length and timing on that page. The embassy visa guide covers how that filing works.
What stays outside these paths
Some trips start from an exemption.
A week only on Phu Quoc can. Foreign passports may enter and leave the island for up to 30 days without a visa, including when you transit through another international border gate of Vietnam before the island. That exemption is island entry and exit. It does not cover a mainland city stay, so a Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City itinerary still needs the electronic visa or the embassy standard visa.
A US passport for a city stay is the other case. US passport holders are not covered by Vietnam’s current 45-day unilateral/tourism visa-exemption schemes. Stay with an exemption only when it covers the trip. Otherwise use the electronic visa or the embassy standard visa.
FAQ
Can a US tourist get a Vietnam visa after landing?
Not for an ordinary trip. The embassy notice limits a visa upon arrival to the emergencies it lists, and those visitors must obtain an approval letter signed and sealed by the embassy before the trip.
Is visa on arrival the same as an embassy visa?
No. Visa on arrival is that emergency notice. The embassy standard visa is a filing you make at the embassy, in person or by mail, before you travel. The electronic visa is the other pre-travel path, requested at evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn.
How long is a Vietnam eVisa?
Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
Does Phu Quoc need any of these?
Foreign passports may enter and leave Phu Quoc for up to 30 days without a visa, including transit through another international border gate before the island. That is island entry and exit, not a mainland waiver.
How my-evisas.com can help
You can request the electronic visa yourself at evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn, or file the embassy visa yourself. my-evisas.com can help with an eligible eVisa request. Vietnamese authorities decide the result of an application and whether you enter.
Provided - Assistance with an eligible Vietnam eVisa request
Not provided - Embassy filing in person or by mail - An approval letter for visa upon arrival
Sources
- Embassy of Vietnam in India — E-visa: https://vietnamembassydelhi.in/e-visa-application/ (accessed 26 September 2026)
- Embassy of Vietnam in the United States — Visa application process: https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/consular/visa-application-process (accessed 26 September 2026)
- Embassy of Vietnam in the United States — Electronic visa and visa exemption policy: https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/news/2023/10/new-policy-electronic-visa-and-visa-exemption (accessed 26 September 2026)
- Embassy of Vietnam in the United States — Visa upon arrival notice: https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/vi/node/4817 (accessed 26 September 2026)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam — Visa exemption list: https://mofa.gov.vn/tin-chi-tiet/chi-tiet/viet-nam-39-s-visa-exemption-list-57163-172.html (accessed 26 September 2026)
- Embassy of Vietnam in Algeria — Tourism visa exemption: https://vnembassy-algiers.mofa.gov.vn/tin-chi-tiet/chi-tiet/viet-nam-exempts-visas-under-the-tourism-development-stimulus-program-61155-1368.html (accessed 26 September 2026)
Important Notice
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. my-evisas.com is a private service provider and not a government authority, embassy, or consulate.
Visa requirements and entry regulations can change at short notice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Only the official regulations in force at the time of your application are authoritative.
As of: 26 September 2026
Binding and up-to-date information is provided exclusively by the relevant official authorities. Please verify the currently applicable requirements before your application or travel: https://evisa.gov.vn