Vietnam visa category

Based on the purposes of entry, it is categorized to 21 main types: DL, DN1, DN2, NG, DH, LV, HN, PV, VR, TT, LĐ 1, LĐ2, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, ĐT4, SQ... in which there are 6 most popular types of visa including:

• Tourist visa (DL)
• Business visa (DN1-DN2)
• Working visa (LĐ1-LĐ2)
• Investment visa (ĐT1 - ĐT4)
• Relatives visiting or family visa (TT)
• Electronic visa (evisa)

1. Tourist visa (DL)

• Available 1 month single entry and 1 month multiple entry.
• Maximum stay in Vietnam of 30 days.
• One-time extension of 30 days after your arrival in Vietnam.

Based on the way of issuance, tourist visa is categorized into visa on arrival, traditional visa (visa applying at the Vietnam Embassy) and electronic visa (e-visa).
Visa on arrival is issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department, it is benifical for those who stay far from the Vietnam Embassy. The validity of visa on arrival is from 1 to 3 months with single or multiple entry.
Traditional visa (visa applying at the Vietnam Embassy) is issued by the Vietnam Embassy in foreign countries. It is good for those stay not far from the Vietnam Embassy and have plenty of time. As a traditional visa is issued before travelling to Vietnam with a visa stamp glued on your passport, it would give you a peace of mind for your trip. However, once the visa is issued it has the same validity regardless of whether it is visa on arrvial, traditional visa or e-visa.
Electronic visa (e-visa) is issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department through a government's website. It is a good way to get 1 month single entry tourist visa now. The foreigners can easily get a visa within 3 - 5 working days (sometime it takes up 15 days in case the visa application need to be further verified by the Vietnam Immigration Department)
Both visa on arrival and e-visa can be applied online and processing time can be shortened to 4 working hours to 1 working day, it is good for those who have an urgent business in Vietnam or who need a visa at the last minutes.

2. Business visa (DN1, DN2)

• Applicants should obtain the approval through their sponsor in Vietnam.
• Multiple entry and stay of three months is available.

There are several categories business visa available at present. The most popular business visa using today is the DN visa. DN visa is the visa granted to those who travel Vietnam for working with the Vietnamese Enterprises. DN visa validity can be 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year. Learn more about Vietnam business DN visa.

3. Investment visa (DT1 - DT4)

Investment visa is granted to the foreigners who invest in Vietnam through a legit company by owning or sharing a contributed capital. Based on the capacity of the investment capital, it is categorized to ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3 or ĐT4

3. Diplomatic and official visa

• No fees unless otherwise agreed upon between Vietnam and applicant’ s country.
• On applying this visa, the applicant must submit an official letter from the concerned agencies of local government, foreign embassies or consulates accredited to the applicant’s country, international organizations, or other accredited organizations based in that country.

4. Student visa

A student visa is usually arranged after your arrival. It's acceptable to enter Vietnam on a tourist visa, enroll in a Vietnamese language course and then apply at the immigration police for a change in status. In reality, the easiest way to do it is to contact a travel company and have them help you make the application.

5. Visa extensions

If you've got the dollars, they've got the rubber stamp. Tourist-visa extensions cost as little US$10, but it is easier to pay more and sort this out through a travel agency. Getting the stamp yourself can be a bureaucratic nightmare. The procedure takes two or three days and you can only extend one time for 30 days. In theory you should be able to extend your visa in any provincial capital. In practice it goes smoothest in major cities, such as Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi, Danang and Hue, which cater to mass tourism.