I want to travel to vietnam for 5 days only, should i secure a visa prior to my departure going to Ho Chi Minh?

Dear Sir,

Thanks fro your question.

Dear Sir,

Thanks for your mail.

1. Firstly, we need to know your nationality and if you are in some case, you don't need to get visa on arrival if you stay in Vietnam 5 days:

1.1 Only the citizens of below countries are able to visit Vietnam without an entry visa:

- Most citizens of ASEAN member-countries as Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos do not need a Vietnam visa if they visit Vietnam within 30 days. The Philippine passport holders do not need a Vietnamese visa for 21 days. The passport holders of Brunei are not required to get a visa to Vietnam for 15 days. They could apply for popular passport type with return tickets.

- Citizens of Myanmar, and Timor-Leste are all required Visa Vietnam.

- The Passport Holders from Korea, Japan, Russia and the Scandinavian nations (as Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland) do not need a visa to Vietnam if they intend to stay in the country within 15 days. They could also apply for popular passport type with return tickets.

- All other citizens are required to get a Vietnam entry visa (issued prior to departure by local consulates or embassies) or a pre-approved letter for picking up an entry visa (issued on arrival at Vietnam's International Airports) at the airport. Both are supplied before arrival in the country.

1.2 Some exceptions: 

- No visa is required for travel in Vietnam for less than 90 days or several visits within 6 months for citizens of France who holds valid diplomatic or official passports. 

- No visa is required for travel in Vietnam for less than 90 days or several visits within 6 months for citizens of Chile who holds valid diplomatic or official passports.

- No visa is required for 60 days per time with APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Holders from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies.

- Foreigners and Vietnamese is holding foreign passport who enter Vietnam through an international border gate to travel on Phu Quoc Island and stay there for less than 15 days will also be exempted from Vietnam visa application. Passports must be valid for at least 45 days. After arriving on Phu Quoc Island, the Vietnamese immigration department is responsible for issuing visas on the spot if visitors want to travel other localities or stay in the island for more than 15 days.

- No visa required for Vietnamese overseas for less than 90 days staying if they are holding Vietnam visa exemption certificate.

2. If you are not in above case, you need to get visa on arrival and please fill out the visa application form here: http://www.vietnam-evisa.org/apply-visa.htmland settle the payment, the we will send you approval letter in 2 working days.

Regards,

Evisa Team