Vietnam Visa for US Citizens
Vietnam visa for US citizens: Americans need a visa, usually the 90-day e-visa from $47 all-in. Urgent cut-offs in Eastern and Pacific time, steps, documents.
A Vietnam visa for US citizens is required for every trip: the United States is not on Vietnam's visa-free list, so Americans need a visa, and the usual choice is the e-visa, valid for up to 90 days. Through us it costs from $47 all-in for single entry and $82 for multiple entry. This guide covers the e-visa, prices, urgent cut-offs in Eastern and Pacific time, the steps, documents, visa on arrival and the embassy. You can apply for your e-visa with us whenever your passport is ready.
The time difference matters more for Americans than for most travelers. Vietnam is 11 to 15 hours ahead of the continental US, so a Vietnamese working day runs through the American evening and night. Ordered during the US day, an urgent e-visa often arrives that same evening.
Vietnam visa for US citizens at a glance:
| Visa-free? | No |
| Usual visa | E-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry |
| Price through us | From $47 single, $82 multiple, government fee included |
| Fastest option | Emergency: order on a US weekday, get it the same evening (Eastern time) |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months from your entry date, with two blank pages |
Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. US citizens need a visa for any visit to Vietnam, whatever the length or purpose. The United States is not on Vietnam's unilateral exemption lists or on the bilateral list published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (checked October 2026).
If someone in your group holds another passport, check Do I need a visa for Vietnam?.
The Vietnam e-visa for American passport holders
The Vietnam e-visa for US citizens allows a stay of up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry, under Law 23/2023/QH15. It covers tourism, family visits and short business trips, and you apply online.
The e-visa is accepted at 79 border gates: 15 international airports, 26 land border gates and 38 seaports (as of October 2026). That covers flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York into Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, usually via Asia, and overland routes from Cambodia or Laos.
Vietnam visa cost for US citizens
The Vietnam visa cost for US citizens through us is $47 all-in for a single-entry e-visa at Standard speed, government fee included. The table lists every speed per person, slowest first. Prices last updated: 2026-10-07.
| Speed | Single entry (USD) | Multiple entry (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, 5 to 7 working days | $47 | $82 |
| 3 working days | $69 | $98 |
| 2 working days | $92 | $116 |
| 1 working day | $99 | $123 |
| Same day | $118 | $150 |
| Super Urgent | $169 | $212 |
| Emergency | $260 | $285 |
| Weekend and public holidays | $250 | $280 |
A 90-day e-visa costs the same as a 30-day one. We refund 100% if the e-visa is refused, unless the application had false information, or if it arrives after the delivery time shown at checkout. Applying yourself on evisa.gov.vn costs US$25 single or US$50 multiple, with no refund if refused. Our full price table explains what each price covers.
Vietnam visa for US citizens: urgent cut-offs in US time
Standard takes 5 to 7 working days. Urgent speeds run on Vietnam's clock: a Vietnamese working day starts at 8:00, which is 20:00 the evening before in New York (standard time).
The first table converts the three same-day cut-offs. US daylight saving time runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
| Cut-off (Vietnam) | Eastern, standard | Eastern, daylight | Pacific, standard | Pacific, daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same day, 14:15 | 2:15 | 3:15 | 23:15 the day before | 0:15 |
| Super Urgent, 15:30 | 3:30 | 4:30 | 0:30 | 1:30 |
| Emergency, 17:30 | 5:30 | 6:30 | 2:30 | 3:30 |
In practice, most Americans order during their own day, after those cut-offs, and the order runs in Vietnam's next morning. The second table shows the fastest result by the US day you order on, assuming no Vietnamese public holiday.
| You order during the US day on | Fastest speed | Arrives, Eastern (standard / daylight) | Arrives, Pacific (standard / daylight) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday to Thursday | Emergency, $260 | 21:30 / 22:30 the same evening | 18:30 / 19:30 the same evening |
| Sunday to Thursday | Same day, $118 | 2:00 / 3:00 overnight | 23:00 / 0:00 that night |
| Friday | Weekend and public holidays, $250 | 6:30 / 7:30 Saturday morning | 3:30 / 4:30 Saturday |
| Saturday | Weekend and public holidays, $250 | 6:30 / 7:30 Sunday morning | 3:30 / 4:30 Sunday |
Example: you order on a Tuesday at 10:00 EDT, which is 21:00 Tuesday in Vietnam. Emergency arrives by 22:30 EDT that evening, Super Urgent by midnight and Same day by 3:00 EDT Wednesday. For a flight on Wednesday afternoon, Same day at $118 is enough. Our urgent e-visa page covers every speed in Vietnam time.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa from the USA
You apply for a Vietnam visa from the USA online, in three steps with us:
- Fill in the form: Enter your passport details, trip dates, entry airport or gate and the speed you need.
- Pay and upload: Pay by card, then upload your passport data page and a recent photo; you can upload any time after paying.
- Receive your e-visa: We check the files, submit the application and email you the PDF.
To apply yourself, the same information goes into evisa.gov.vn. Our guide on how to apply covers both routes screen by screen, and how to apply from the USA covers timing, payment and common mistakes for Americans.
Vietnam visa requirements for US citizens
The Vietnam visa requirements for US citizens are the same as for every e-visa applicant:
- US passport book: Valid for at least 6 months from your entry date, with two blank pages. The e-visa is issued against a passport, so a passport card does not work.
- Passport data page: A clear scan or phone photo, all four corners visible.
- Portrait photo: Recent, white background, no glasses, jpg or jpeg.
- Trip details: Entry date, entry and exit airport or gate, and your first hotel in Vietnam.
- Card: A credit or debit card that allows international online payments.
The Vietnam entry requirements for US citizens at the border are your passport and the printed or digital e-visa. Our e-visa requirements page shows photo examples.
Visa on arrival for US citizens
Visa on arrival works for US citizens only on flights into Hanoi (Noi Bai), Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat), Da Nang or Cam Ranh. You need an approval letter before boarding, then pay a $25 or $50 stamping fee at the airport.
The e-visa is usually easier: no visa counter queue, and it works at land borders. Compare both when you choose a service.
Vietnam embassy in the United States
Vietnam has an embassy in Washington, DC (vietnamembassy-usa.org) and consulates elsewhere in the US. You do not need them for an e-visa. They handle passport-sticker visas for longer or special-purpose stays; contacts are on our page about the Vietnam embassy in the United States.
Tips for American travelers
Two situations catch US travelers out after the visa type is settled: ordering at the end of the US week, and planning a trip that also crosses into Cambodia or Laos.
Ordering on a US Friday or Saturday
Friday daytime in the US is already Friday night or Saturday in Vietnam, inside our weekend window (Friday 18:00 to Sunday 16:00, Vietnam time). Orders then use the Weekend and public holidays speed: a Friday order arrives by 7:30 EDT Saturday.
From Sunday daytime in the US, the working-day speeds apply again.
Combining Vietnam with Cambodia or Laos
Choose multiple entry if you will leave Vietnam and come back, for example Ho Chi Minh City, then Siem Reap, then Hanoi. If you leave once and fly home from another country, single entry is enough. Our page on the 90-day multiple-entry e-visa has more route examples.
eVisaVietnam.com is a private visa service operated by TK VIET NAM., JSC, not the Vietnamese government. You can apply yourself at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you want your documents checked and a delivery time backed by a full refund, apply for your e-visa with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Americans need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Americans need a visa for every visit to Vietnam; there is no visa-free stay for US passport holders. Most apply online for the e-visa, valid for up to 90 days, and show the PDF with their passport on arrival.
How much is the Vietnam visa fee for US citizens if I apply myself?
On evisa.gov.vn the government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, paid by card. It is not refunded if the e-visa is refused, so check your photo and passport scan before paying.
Can I get a Vietnam visa if my flight from the US is tomorrow?
Usually yes. Order Emergency during the US day, Sunday to Thursday, and it arrives by 22:30 EDT (21:30 EST) the same evening. On a Friday or Saturday, the Weekend and public holidays speed arrives the next morning, US Eastern time.
Can I use a Vietnam e-visa for a business trip from the US?
Yes, for short business visits such as meetings or trade fairs, within the 90-day limit. Taking up a job in Vietnam is outside what the e-visa covers.
