You may enter Vietnam without a visa if you (1) are a citizen of a country covered by a bilateral/multilateral visa-waiver treaty with Vietnam, (2) hold a valid Vietnam residence card (temporary or permanent), (3) enter designated border-gate economic/special administrative–economic zones that grant waivers, (4) are covered by Vietnam’s unilateral visa exemption (Article 13), or (5) are overseas Vietnamese (OV) and certain immediate family members under Government regulations. Always verify allowed stay length, entry points, and passport rules before travel.
Who this helps (and the questions it answers)
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Tourists & business visitors: “Am I visa-free and for how long?”
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Overseas Vietnamese & families: “Are my spouse/children exempt?”
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Long-stay residents: “I have a TRC/PRC—do I still need a visa?”
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Border & zone travelers: “Does my trip to a border-gate economic zone qualify for visa exemption?”
Eligibility buckets under Article 12
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Treaty-based visa exemption (bilateral/multilateral)
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Citizens of countries that have signed visa-waiver agreements with Vietnam.
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Stay length, entries, and passport conditions depend on the specific treaty.
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Use case: Short tourism or business visits under a published waiver schedule.
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Holders of Vietnam residence cards
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Temporary (TRC) or Permanent (PRC) residence card holders are visa-exempt for entry while the card is valid.
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Use case: Foreign employees, spouses, or investors already resident in Vietnam re-entering from a trip abroad.
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Entry into border-gate economic / special administrative–economic zones
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Certain designated zones allow visa-free entry per zone regulations.
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Conditions may include limited geographic movement, specific entry gates, and maximum stay caps.
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Use case: Short visits for trade, tourism, cross-border shopping, or meetings inside the zone.
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Unilateral visa exemption (Article 13)
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Vietnam grants one-way waivers to citizens of selected countries for short stays (often tourism/business).
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Terms (e.g., maximum days and re-entry gaps) are set by the Government and updated periodically.
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Overseas Vietnamese (OV) & family members
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OV with foreign passports/travel documents may qualify for visa exemption.
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Covered immediate family can include foreign spouses and children; spouses/children of Vietnamese citizens may also be exempt under Government rules.
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Use case: Visiting relatives, family reunions, personal affairs.
Important: Exemption categories are policy-driven and updated. Always check the latest Government list, stay limits, and eligible ports before travel.
Quick decision flow (copy/paste)
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✅ I’m from a treaty-waiver country → Likely exempt (confirm days, entries, entry points)
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✅ I hold a Vietnam TRC/PRC → Exempt while the card is valid
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✅ I’m entering a designated border/special zone → Check zone rules, gates, max stay
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✅ I’m from a unilaterally exempt country → Exempt per current Government schedule
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✅ I’m OV or spouse/child of a Vietnamese citizen/OV → May be exempt under current regulations
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❌ None of the above → Apply for an e-Visa (tourism/business) or the correct visa category
What to carry if you travel visa-free
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Passport valid (commonly ≥ 6 months at entry) with blank pages
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Proof of onward/return travel (airline may check)
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Accommodation/address in Vietnam (first hotel is fine)
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Evidence of eligibility (e.g., residence card, OV exemption certificate, zone entry eligibility)
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Funds/itinerary consistent with your declared purpose
When visa exemption does not fit (choose e-Visa/visa instead)
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You need a longer stay than the waiver allows
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You require multiple entries beyond the waiver’s terms
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Your purpose isn’t covered (e.g., employment requires LĐ visa)
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Your nationality isn’t on a current exemption list
FAQs
Is the visa-free stay always the same length?
No. Duration varies by treaty or unilateral program (e.g., 14/21/30/45/90 days). Confirm the exact number of days.
Can I extend a visa-free stay in Vietnam?
Extensions are policy-specific and not guaranteed. Many travelers exit and re-enter or switch to an appropriate visa.
Do residence card holders need anything else?
Carry your TRC/PRC with your passport and ensure both are valid through your travel.
VietnamEntryVisa.com (operated by Nguyen Adventure, trusted since 2010 with excellent Trustpilot/Tripadvisor ratings) helps you:
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Confirm visa-exempt eligibility for your nationality and travel plan
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Verify stay length, eligible entry ports, and documents to carry
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Secure a same-day/1-day/holiday e-Visa if exemption doesn’t apply or time is tight
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Avoid rejections with expert pre-checks and clear guidance
Travel confidently. If you’re not fully covered by Article-12 exemptions, start a fast, compliant application at VietnamEntryVisa.com.