18 Best Things to Do in Vietnam: Complete Guide for Indian Travellers
Explore the best things to do in Vietnam with kids, family or as a couple, attractions, and prices.
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Vietnam is known for its unique culture and history, stunning landscapes, and delicious food, making it an attractive destination for Indians. If you’re planning a holiday or maybe a longer stay, then understanding the visa process is key.
Knowing how and where to apply for a Vietnamese visa may seem complicated at first, so to help, this guide breaks down the fees, requirements and processes for Indians applying for a Vietnamese visa. We'll also introduce you to the Wise Travel card, which allows you to hold 40+ currencies in on card and spend without any forex markups or hidden fees.
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To visit Vietnam, Indian passport holders generally need a visa.¹
Like most countries, Vietnam has a visa exemption list. People with an Indian Diplomatic or Indian Special passport have access to 90 days visa free, while those with an Ordinary Indian passport don’t. As a result, Ordinary passport holders require a visa.
For those passing through Vietnam to somewhere else, whether you need a visa depends on your travel plans.²
- If your connecting flight is part of a single journey and you stay inside the same terminal then you don’t need a visa
- If you book separate flights, need to switch terminals, or have to check in at the local counter then you do need a visa.
Essentially if you have to go outside the international transit area and clear Customs and Immigration, a visa is required. Since Vietnam doesn't offer a dedicated transit visa, applying for a tourist E-Visa is your best option.
Flying from India to Vietnam takes a number of hours, not to mention the cost, so the last thing you want is to be rejected at the border because of a paperwork mistake.
To enter Vietnam on an Indian passport, you will need¹³:
- Valid visa
- Valid passport
You also need to fill-out the Vietnamese pre-arrival information submission. This can be done on arrival, or in advance online. The online version can be submitted up to 3 days before you touch down in Vietnam³.
Which visa you need comes down to your reasons for visiting Vietnam. Since tourism and work are the most popular reasons to go, here are some common Vietnamese visas available to Indian passport holders.
| Visa Type | Who It’s For⁷ |
|---|---|
| DL Tourist Visa | Visiting Vietnam for tourism, valid up to 3 months |
| LD Work Visa | Going to Vietnam to work, with a validity of up to 2 years |
| DN Business Visa | Traveling to Vietnam to work with a company, valid up to 12 months |
To enter Vietnam for tourism purposes you need to apply for a DL Tourist Visa. This visa is valid for up to 90 days and can be applied for online at the Vietnam E-Visa website, up to a year in advance.⁴
Once the application is submitted it takes 5 to 30 working days to be reviewed by the Vietnamese Immigration department.⁵ The status of your application can be checked on the E-Visa website by providing your email address, application registration code, and date of birth.
Once the visa is approved you must print a physical copy to take on your trip.
To be able to work in Vietnam, you can apply for a LD1 or LD2 Work Visa. The difference between the two is whether or not you are exempt from needing a work permit.¹⁴¹⁰
Most people require a Vietnamese work permit, which means opting for the LD2 work visa. This includes Indians going to Vietnam to:⁸
The good news is, work permit applications are handled by the employer. The documents they are required to submit can vary slightly depending on the reason you are requesting a permit, but in general, you need:
Once the work permit is granted you can apply for your visa,which is done through the Vietnamese embassy.
For those who aren’t joining the local payroll, but are working alongside a Vietnamese company, there’s the DN Business Visa.
There are two types of DN visa:¹⁰
Before applying for the visa you need an Official Letter of approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department.¹¹ Your inviting or sponsoring organisation handles the online application for this on your behalf.
Once the letter has been issued, you can apply for the visa.
The costs associated with getting a Vietnamese visa vary depending on the visa type.
| Visa Type | Cost |
| Tourist Visa |
|
| Work Visa |
|
| Business Visa |
|
To check what's the INR equivalent of the visa fees listed above, use this handy calculator:
Depending on the type of visa, you can apply online or through the Vietnamese embassy.
You can complete certain Vietnamese visa applications online through the eVisa website. This is what you need to do:¹²
- Visit https://evisa.gov.vn/ and start an application
- Upload a visa application photo and the biometric page of your passport
- Check the automatically filled fields are correct
- Enter the verification code
- Check the payment information is correct then agree to proceed
- Choose your payment method
- Enter your card details
- Accept the payment terms and conditions
- Verify the OTP to successfully process the payment
Make sure you save the application code when it pops up, as you’ll need it to check on the outcome.
The first step in applying through the Vietnamese Embassy in Delhi or the Vietnamese Consulate in Mumbai is to make contact by email or over the phone. Ask them whether you need to come into the office in person or if you can apply by post, the current application fees, and what documents are needed.
| Location | Address | |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese Embassy Delhi⁹ | EP-7A, Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021 | info@vietnamembassydelhi.in |
| Vietnam Consulate Mumbai¹⁵ | Unit 805, 8Th Floor, Powai Plaza, Hiranandani Gardens, Central Avenue, Powai 400076, India | tlsq.mumbai@mofa.gov.vn |
While the Vietnamese Embassy in New Delhi doesn’t share a list of what you’ll need, it will likely include:
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Explore the best things to do in Vietnam with kids, family or as a couple, attractions, and prices.