Visa Requirements for Vietnamese Citizens

Vietnamese citizens can visit approximately 55 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival in 2025. Popular visa-free destinations include Thailand (60 days), Singapore (30 days), Malaysia (30 days), Indonesia (30 days), Philippines (30 days), Cambodia (30 days), Laos (30 days), Chile (90 days), Panama (90 days), and Kazakhstan (30 days). Countries like Maldives, Nepal, and Seychelles offer convenient visa-on-arrival options for Vietnamese travelers.

The US B1/B2 tourist and business visa costs $185 (approximately 4,500,000 VND) for Vietnamese applicants. This is a non-refundable application fee paid before scheduling your visa interview at the US Embassy in Hanoi or the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa costs £127 (approximately 3,900,000 VND) for Vietnamese citizens applying for stays up to 6 months. VFS Global charges an additional service fee of around 600,000 VND. Priority processing is available for £500 extra (5 working days) or £1,000 for Super Priority (next working day).

Schengen visa processing for Vietnamese applicants typically takes 15 to 30 calendar days from the date of application. During peak travel season (April to August), processing can extend to 45 days. The Schengen visa fee is €80 (approximately 2,150,000 VND) and allows travel to all 29 Schengen member countries.

Standard visa requirements for Vietnamese citizens include: valid passport with 6+ months validity and 2 blank pages, recent passport-size photographs (specifications vary by country), bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months showing sufficient funds, employment letter or business registration certificate, confirmed flight itinerary and hotel bookings, travel insurance (mandatory for Schengen), household registration book (sổ hộ khẩu), and cover letter explaining travel purpose.

The US B1/B2 visa approval rate for Vietnamese applicants is approximately 75% to 80% based on recent fiscal year data. Approval rates are higher for applicants with strong ties to Vietnam, previous international travel history, stable employment, and clear documentation of funds and property ownership.

No, Vietnamese citizens cannot get a visa on arrival in Japan. Vietnamese passport holders must apply for a Japanese visa in advance through the Embassy of Japan in Hanoi or the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. The tourist visa costs approximately 700,000 VND and processing takes 5 to 7 working days. However, Vietnam is part of Japan's designated country list for easier visa processing.

Vietnamese applicants face higher rejection rates for Schengen visas from certain countries, particularly France (rejection rate around 20%), Germany (18%), and Italy (16%). Common rejection reasons include insufficient financial documentation, unclear travel purpose, weak ties to Vietnam, and incomplete applications. The UK has a rejection rate of approximately 18% for Vietnamese tourist visa applications.

To maximize visa approval chances: apply at least 4 to 8 weeks before travel, provide 6 months of bank statements showing consistent income and savings, include tax receipts and employment contracts, show property ownership through land use right certificates (sổ đỏ), document previous international travel stamps, provide a detailed day-by-day travel itinerary, and ensure all documents are properly translated and notarized where required.