Step 2

Before You Go to Vietnam: Visa, Money & Vaccines

Vaccines, visa, money: what to do and when

Your pre-trip timeline

What to prepare and when, before you take off. Tap a task to jump to the details.

Step 1 6-8 weeks before

Vaccines

Make sure to schedule an appointment with a travel clinic about 6 to 8 weeks before departure for your travel vaccines. They will provide you with an updated list of recommended vaccines based on your specific itinerary.

Step 2 3+ weeks before

E-Visa

Many nationalities need a visa to enter Vietnam. Check whether yours is exempt. Processing can take time, and if they catch a small mistake in your form, they will send it back for corrections, which delays the whole process.

Valid for: Up to 90 days
Apply: 3+ weeks ahead
Cost: $25 / $50

How to apply

1Go to the official Vietnam government website. You can use travel agencies, but it's highly recommended to do it yourself. Beware: searching online brings up a lot of fake or unreliable third-party websites.
2Fill out the online form and choose your visa: single-entry ($25) lets you enter only once, and is no longer valid once you leave. Multiple-entry ($50) lets you enter and exit as many times as you want within your chosen timeframe.
3Upload a picture of your passport page and a recent portrait photo. For the portrait: white background, no glasses, and absolutely no smiling!
4Double-check every detail before you submit. A small mistake gets the form sent back for corrections.

Official e-visa website

Step 3 1 week before

Airport fast track

What is fast track? A paid airport service: a staff member meets you as you get off the plane and takes you through passport control in a dedicated lane, so you skip the regular queue. You then collect your bags and exit as usual.

Why it matters in Vietnam: Immigration queues at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City airports can be very long, especially for evening arrivals: often an hour or more, longer at peak times.

Regular queue: 1 hour+
With fast track: Minutes

Is it worth it?

Worth it if: you land in the evening, travel with kids, or arrive after a long flight with a connection.
Less worth it if: you land in the morning and aren't in a rush.

Step 4 Within 72h before landing

Digital arrival card

All travelers must complete a 100% free Digital Arrival Card. You can only fill it in during the 72 hours before you land, not earlier. It's highly recommended to finish it before you take off.

Cost: Free
Submit: Within 72 hours before landing
Best time: Before take-off

Step 5 On arrival

Cash & money

The official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). Here is how you should handle your daily spending:

How to pay

Bring cash: you will absolutely need cash for street food, night markets and smaller local vendors.
Credit cards: widely accepted at large chain stores and hotels, and essential for ride-hailing apps like Grab (the local Uber).
Digital wallets & QR codes (VNPAY): you'll see locals scanning QR codes everywhere to pay. Many local apps require a Vietnamese bank account, but tourists can use VNPAY. Link your international credit card to it, and you can scan and pay at thousands of shops, restaurants and cafes, just like a local.

Exchanging & withdrawing money

Bring US dollars: it's highly recommended to bring crisp, clean USD bills to exchange on arrival. Larger bills like $50 or $100 usually get better exchange rates.
Where to exchange: only use authorized banks or official money exchange counters.
ATMs: withdrawing cash is very convenient, but local bank fees add up quickly. We highly recommend downloading the ATM Fee Saver app to find nearby ATMs with zero or low withdrawal fees.