Vietnam Entry and Travel Practicalities for Medical Visitors

Vietnam entry and travel essentials

• Resolution 229’s tourism-development programme names citizens of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.^[4]
• For citizens of its 12 named countries, Resolution 229 provides up to 45 days from entry for tourism, regardless of passport type, subject to entry conditions including six months’ passport validity and no case where entry is barred by law. It applies 15 Aug 2025–14 Aug 2028; Resolution 11’s 2025 Poland, Czech Republic and Switzerland exemption ceased on 15 Aug 2025.^[1]
• Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists 30-day bilateral exemptions for ordinary-passport travellers from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in a table dated 30 June 2025. Check current official conditions for the relevant passport and travel purpose.^[2]
• The Immigration Department describes the eVisa route for foreign applicants outside Vietnam. Listed conditions include holding a valid passport and not falling within Article 21 entry-suspension cases.^[3]
• The Vietnam Immigration Department asks applicants outside Vietnam for required information, a passport data-page image and a straight-looking photo without glasses, then says a registration code follows.^[5]
• The Vietnam Immigration Department instructs applicants to pay the e-visa fee before checking results with the registration code, registration email and date of birth; if approved, print the e-visa for entering and leaving Vietnam.^[6]
• Vietnam MFA lists a 45-day exemption for citizens of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Russia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, regardless of passport type or entry purpose (15 Mar 2025–14 Mar 2028), subject to Vietnam’s entry conditions. BNO passports are excluded; Korea diplomatic/official passports have a separate 90-day bilateral term.^[7]
• The Embassy of Vietnam in Japan states that foreigners entering and exiting Vietnam must have a passport or accepted substitute and a Vietnamese visa, except in cases of visa exemption.^[8]

Hospital profiles in Vietnam

• FV HospitalFV Hospital lists free interpretation in Japanese, Korean, Khmer, Chinese, Russian, French, English and other languages, available 24/7 upon request.^[9]
• City International HospitalCity International Hospital lists its campus address in Ho Chi Minh City.^[10]
• Hoan My Da Nang HospitalHoan My Da Nang says its outpatient care is equipped to meet the needs of international patients and referrals from other hospitals.^[11]
• Hanoi French HospitalHanoi French Hospital accepts outpatient appointment requests by telephone or request form.^[12]
• Hong Ngoc – Phuc Truong Minh General HospitalPhuc Truong Minh checks record-copy applications for validity and requires board approval before the clinical department prepares a copy.^[13]
• Vinmec Smart City HospitalVinmec lists Smart City (Hanoi) among the hospitals on its online consultation-request form.^[14]

Visa exemptions and the eVisa route

For Resolution 229’s tourism-development programme, Vietnam names citizens of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. This is the country list for that programme, not a complete visa-exemption list. ^[4]

The programme provides up to 45 days from entry for tourism, regardless of passport type, subject to the stated entry conditions, including a passport valid at least six months and not being in a case where entry is not allowed under Vietnamese law. It runs from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028. The prior 2025 Resolution 11 exemption for Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland ceased on 15 August 2025. The programme is for tourism purposes. ^[1]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs separately lists a unilateral exemption for citizens of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. It allows 45 days from entry regardless of passport type or entry purpose, subject to Vietnam’s entry conditions, and is effective from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028. The Ministry lists Republic of Korea diplomatic and official passports under a separate 90-day bilateral term; other Republic of Korea passport types receive the 45-day unilateral term. British National Overseas passports are not exempt. ^[7]

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists 30-day bilateral exemption entries for ordinary passports from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in a table dated 30 June 2025. Check current official conditions for the traveller’s nationality and passport type. ^[2]

The Embassy of Vietnam in Japan states that foreign entrants must have a passport or accepted passport substitute and a Vietnamese visa, except in cases of visa exemption. A traveller outside every applicable exemption therefore needs a visa; eligible foreign applicants outside Vietnam may use the Immigration Department’s eVisa route under its published conditions. ^{[8] [3]}

The Immigration Department describes its eVisa route for foreign applicants outside Vietnam. Listed conditions include holding a valid passport and not falling within Article 21 entry-suspension cases. This is a route description, not an individual eligibility decision. ^[3]

Vietnam’s Immigration Department directs eVisa applicants to thithucdientu.gov.vn and evisa.gov.vn to submit applications and check results, according to a notice dated 11 November 2024. The Department describes eVisas as valid for up to 90 days, for single or multiple entry. Check the current official portal before applying. ^{[15] [16]}

For the published application steps, the Department asks foreign applicants outside Vietnam to provide required information, a passport data-page image and a straight-looking photograph without glasses; it says a registration code follows. After fee payment, applicants can check results with the code, registration email and date of birth. If approved, print the eVisa for entering and leaving Vietnam. ^{[5] [6]}

The Department states that processing takes 3 working days after fee payment and that applications with missing, incorrect or unidentified information are not accepted. This is a stated processing period, not an approval or entry guarantee. ^[17]

Vietnam government eVisa application fees

Vietnam Immigration Department government e-visa administration fees. The Department states that an application fee is not refunded if the application is refused. Applications with missing, incorrect or unidentified information are not accepted; the stated processing period begins after payment and does not guarantee approval or entry.

Money, payments and cash access

The Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism identifies the đồng as Vietnam’s currency and describes paper and polymer banknotes, with no coins used. It says cash is used for small purchases and street vendors, while most establishments accept major cards. The authority reports that international cards such as Visa are accepted at more than 20,000 ATMs nationwide and that ATMs are common in Vietnamese cities. ^{[19] [20] [21]}

The Tourism Authority lists currency-exchange vendors inside international airports before the exit gates. At destinations, it says exchange is usually available at hotels, tourist hotspots and local banks. Card providers set conversion rates and swiping fees; with few exceptions, larger travel expenses can be paid by card on site or online in advance. ^{[22] [20]}

Before travel to remote destinations, the Tourism Authority advises withdrawing extra cash, particularly for purchases from local artisans. ^[23]

Mobile service, calls and internet

The Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism lists Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone among Vietnam’s major mobile operators. Prepaid SIM cards are sold at major airports and shops, and registration requires showing a passport. ^[24]

The authority lists +84 as Vietnam’s international dialing code. Within Vietnam, it gives the format 0 plus area code and telephone number; from Vietnam to another country, it gives 00 plus country code, area code and telephone number. ^[25]

Ride-sharing apps such as Grab operate cars and motorbikes in Vietnam’s main cities and require a local SIM. The authority describes free public internet at several tourist hubs and major airports; local 3G or 4G packages are an option for remote areas or frequent internet use. ^{[26] [27]}

Emergency contact and holiday planning

The Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism lists 115 for ambulance service and recommends arranging travel insurance before a Vietnam trip. ^{[28] [29]}

For Tet, the authority says most businesses and restaurants close, public-transport hubs fill in the days before the holiday, and transport booked over Tet should be confirmed well in advance. ^[30]