Thanks to its long coastline, Vietnam is a popular destination among cruise travelers. Several highlights of the country, such as the spectacular Ha Long Bay, are particularly well-suited for visiting by cruise ship. River cruises in Vietnam are also very popular, especially along the Mekong River. Keep reading if you are eager to learn more about the visa for your cruise in Vietnam.
Visa requirement for Vietnam
Most travellers need a visa to enter Vietnam, regardless of how they arrive in the country. There is an exception to the visa requirement for travellers with passports from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. These travellers are allowed to stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days without a visa. However, if staying in Vietnam for more than 45 days, travellers from these countries also need a visa.
Cruise visa for Vietnam
For cruise travellers, it's best to utilize an e-visa for Vietnam, which can be applied for online. Applicants need to fill out a brief online form, providing contact information, as well as details about the travel plans and passport information of each traveler for whom a visa is requested. Subsequently, the visa fees can be paid online, and applicants must submit a passport photo and a scan/photo of the passport for each traveller. With these steps completed, the application is submitted for processing. The e-visa is typically issued via email after an average of 13 days (or after an average of 5 days for urgent requests).
Apply now for a visa for your cruise in Vietnam
Arrival and departure locations for the Vietnam visa
When submitting the visa application, you'll need to specify the location in Vietnam where you'll enter and exit the country. Applicants have the option to choose from 8 international airports, 9 seaports, and 16 land border crossings. It's essential to determine your arrival and departure locations in Vietnam before applying for the visa. If you're unsure, you can inquire with your travel organization. If your arrival or departure location is not listed on the visa requirements page, check if the border crossing has a different name or spelling. If your arrival or departure location is genuinely not on the list, you cannot use the e-visa for Vietnam and must apply for a visa at the Vietnamese embassy.
Arrival and departure location for a sea cruise
Travellers arriving in Vietnam as part of a sea cruise can usually easily determine which seaport they'll arrive at and depart from. For the visa application, all seaports where international passenger ships dock can be selected as arrival and departure locations.
Arrival and departure location for a river cruise
Travellers planning an international river cruise to or from Vietnam also need to specify the location where they'll enter and exit Vietnam for their visa application. It may sometimes be unclear which arrival or departure location to choose for a river cruise. Most international river cruises take place on the Mekong, often visiting both Cambodia and Vietnam. Châu Đốc or Tân Châu is usually the first or last place visited in Vietnam. However, this does not affect the visa application..
For those arriving or departing Vietnam on a Mekong cruise, you can always choose the Song Tien border crossing on the visa application form for Vietnam. This falls under the category of land border crossings. Also, consider that for a Mekong cruise in Vietnam and Cambodia, you often need visas for both countries.
Applying for the Vietnam visa online
For a cruise in Vietnam, you can easily apply for the visa online. If you'll be visiting multiple seaports in Vietnam during your cruise, apply for a multiple-entry visa. If you'll only be docking at one seaport in Vietnam or entering the country once during your river cruise, a single-entry visa will suffice. You can choose which type of visa to apply for in the application form.