Vietnam has quietly become one of the easiest long-haul-feeling trips a Gujarati traveller can plan, and the visa is a big reason why. Since 2023 the country runs a single global e-visa that Indian passport holders can apply for entirely online, valid for up to 90 days on either single or multiple entry, with the standard single-entry fee sitting at roughly US$25. There is no need to courier your passport anywhere, no embassy queue in Mumbai, and approval usually lands in your inbox in about three working days. If you have been putting off Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, or Da Nang because you assumed the paperwork was painful, this guide from our Surat desk walks you through every step the way we do it for our own clients.
Why Vietnam's e-visa is a genuinely easy one
For years the Vietnam visa was a confusing mix of "visa on arrival" approval letters sold by random agents, which caused endless anxiety at the airport. That old system is gone for tourists — today there is one official e-visa applied for directly on the government portal, and that is the only route you should use. It covers tourism, visiting relatives, and short business trips, and the 90-day validity with a multiple-entry option makes it flexible enough for a combined Indochina holiday. Because everything is digital, you can apply from your home in Adajan or Vesu without visiting any office. If you would rather not touch the portal at all, our team can prepare and submit the whole thing for you as part of our visa agent service in Surat.
What the e-visa costs and how long it takes
The official fee is about US$25 for a single-entry e-visa and roughly US$50 for the multiple-entry version, paid by card in US dollars on the portal itself. Processing is officially around three working days, but we always advise applying at least a week to ten days before departure so a public holiday or a document query does not squeeze your timeline. There is no genuine "express" option on the official site, so be wary of any agent promising same-day guaranteed approval at a heavy markup. When you build your overall trip budget, fold this small visa cost in alongside flights and insurance — our international trip budget planning guide from Gujarat shows how the pieces add up for a Southeast Asia holiday.
The documents you need before you start
Keep three things ready and the application takes about fifteen minutes. First, a clear colour scan of your passport bio-data page, with all four corners visible and text sharp. Second, a recent passport-style photograph on a plain white background, without glasses and with a neutral expression, saved as a clean JPG. Third, your firm travel details — intended date of entry, date of exit, and the specific port of entry such as Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), or Da Nang. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your entry date, because an expiring passport is one of the most common reasons an otherwise fine application gets held up.
Applying on the official portal, step by step
Go to the official Vietnam Immigration e-visa portal, create your login, and choose the e-visa application for an ordinary passport. You will type in your personal details exactly as they appear in your passport, upload the bio-page scan and photo, and then enter your travel dates and chosen port of entry. Pick single or multiple entry based on your itinerary — if you are hopping to Cambodia and back you want multiple entry — then pay the fee by card. After payment you receive a registration code; save it carefully, because that code is what you use to check status and download the visa once it is granted. Our Vietnam travel guide from India is worth reading alongside this so your dates and route are settled before you fill anything in.
The typos and mistakes that get applications rejected
Almost every problem we see is self-inflicted and avoidable. The biggest is a mismatch between the portal and the passport — a name spelled slightly differently, a wrong passport number, or the date of birth entered in the wrong format, since Vietnam uses day-month-year. A blurry or cropped bio-page photo, a selfie used instead of a proper passport photo, or a background that is not plain white will also trigger a rejection. Choosing the wrong port of entry is another classic; you must actually arrive at the port you named, so if your flight lands in Hanoi do not accidentally select Ho Chi Minh City. Double-check every field against your passport before you pay, because corrections after submission usually mean starting a fresh application and paying again.
Single versus multiple entry — which to pick
For a straightforward Vietnam-only holiday, single entry at around US$25 is all you need. Choose multiple entry if your plan involves leaving and re-entering the country — most commonly a side trip to Cambodia's Angkor Wat before returning to fly home from Saigon. If a two-country Indochina route appeals to you, our Vietnam and Cambodia combined trip guide from India explains how to sequence the borders and which entry type to buy. Still deciding between Vietnam and its neighbour for a first Southeast Asia trip? Our honest Thailand versus Vietnam first-trip comparison breaks down cost, food, and pace.
Extending your stay inside Vietnam
Because the e-visa can already be issued for up to 90 days, most tourists simply request the full validity they need at application time rather than extending later. If you do end up wanting more time once you are there, extensions are handled through the immigration department or a local agent inside Vietnam, and they take a few working days plus a fee, so they are not something to leave to the last minute. Overstaying even by a day carries a fine and can complicate future entries, so treat your exit date as firm. The cleaner approach is simply to apply for a longer validity up front if you suspect your plans might stretch.
What actually happens at immigration
Carry a printed copy of your approved e-visa along with your passport — do not rely only on a phone screen, as printouts move the queue faster and cover you if your battery dies. At the counter the officer scans your passport, checks the e-visa, and may ask briefly where you are staying and how long. Fill in any arrival card handed out on the plane, keep your onward or return ticket accessible, and stay relaxed; entry is usually quick once your documents match. It is also the right moment to make sure your travel insurance for Indian travellers is active, since a valid policy is your safety net for anything from a delayed bag to a clinic visit in Da Nang.
How Vietnam compares to other easy-visa options
Vietnam's e-visa sits in the sweet spot between fully visa-free destinations and the heavier embassy visas. It is more paperwork than a place you can simply fly into, but far lighter than a Schengen or US application. If you like this level of ease, our roundup of visa-on-arrival and easy-visa countries for Indians points you to other trips with a similarly gentle entry process. Once your visa is sorted and you want to lock the actual route, our seven-day Hanoi, Ha Long and Da Nang itinerary is a ready-made plan you can follow or hand to us to book.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Vietnam e-visa cost for Indians? The official fee is about US$25 for a single-entry e-visa and roughly US$50 for multiple entry, paid online in US dollars on the government portal.
How long does approval take? Usually around three working days, but apply at least a week before travel to leave room for holidays or a document query. You can start your application any time via our Vietnam visa page.
Do I need to print the e-visa? Yes — carry a printed copy along with your passport, because immigration is smoother with a physical printout and it protects you if your phone dies.
Ready to make Vietnam happen without the portal headache? Our Surat team applies e-visas for families across Gujarat every week, catches the typos before they cost you, and can package your flights, Ha Long cruise, and hotels together. Message us on WhatsApp or contact our visa desk in Surat and we will get your Vietnam application moving — you can also start your Vietnam visa application online whenever you are ready.
