Thanks to its long coastline, Vietnam is a popular destination among cruise travellers. 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.
The Ha Long Bay is a beautiful destination for a cruise
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 their contact information, as well as details about their travel plans and the passport information of each traveller for whom a visa is requested. Subsequently, the visa fees can be paid online, and applicants must submit a photograph and a scan/photo of the passport of 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 need to specify the location in Vietnam where you will enter and exit the country. Applicants have the option to choose from 8 international airports, 9 seaports, and 16 land border crossings. It is 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. Is your arrival or departure location not listed on the visa requirements page? Please check if the border crossing has a different name or spelling first. 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
In most cases, travellers arriving in Vietnam as part of a sea cruise can easily determine which seaport they will arrive at and where they depart from the country. 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 will enter and exit Vietnam. 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 River, and go from Cambodia to Vietnam or the other way around. Châu Đốc or Tân Châu is usually the first or last place visited in Vietnam. However, this does not affect the visa application.
If you arrive in or departing from Vietnam on a Mekong cruise, you should always choose the ‘Song Tien’ border crossing on the visa application form for Vietnam. This falls under the category of land border crossings (‘Landport’). Also, you should keep in mind 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 visit multiple seaports in Vietnam during your cruise, you should apply for a multiple-entry visa. If you will only dock at one seaport in Vietnam or if you enter 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.