Vietnam visa for South Korea citizens

Do South Korean passport holders need a visa for Vietnam?

Vietnam's visa exemption list includes Korea (South) ; therefore, South Korean citizens can stay in Vietnam for up to 15 days without obtaining a visa. However, certain conditions must be fulfilled:

• You must provide a passport that is valid for at least six months after the arrival date in Vietnam.
• The passport needs to have at least two blank pages for the visa stamp. 

If you wish to stay in Vietnam for more than 15 days or participate in activities that are not covered under the visa exemption program, such as working or studying, you will need to obtain a visa. Popular visa types for South Korean visitors to Vietnam include business, tourism, work, and family visit visas.

Visa requirements in brief:

How to apply for a Vietnamese visa on a South Korean passport

Visa at the Vietnam Embassy in South Korea

South Korean nationals can apply for a Vietnam visa at the Vietnam Embassy in Seoul. To apply, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Your original passport, which must have at least two blank pages for the visa stamp and be valid for at least six months beyond your entry date into Vietnam.
• A completed visa application form that you can download from the embassy's website or obtain in person.
• One recent passport-size photo.
• Payment of the visa fee.
• After submitting your application, wait for the approval and then pick up your visa at the embassy.

Apply for e-visa online

If you plan to travel to Vietnam for either tourism or business purposes, you are also eligible for a Vietnam e-visa. The e-visa allows a single entry and a stay of up to 30 days. To apply for an e-visa, follow these steps:

• Visit the Vietnam e-visa website at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/ and complete the application form, providing all the required information.
• Upload a recent passport-style photo and a scanned copy of the biographical page of your passport. 
• Pay the e-visa fee of 25 USD ~ 32967 Won online. 
• After approximately three working days, your e-visa application will be reviewed, and if approved, you will receive your e-visa via email.

Apply for a visa on arrival

Vietnam offers visas on arrival to South Korean passport holders traveling by air and arriving at one of the international airports in Vietnam. To apply for the visa on arrival, you need to follow a few steps:

• Obtaining a visa approval letter from a trustworthy visa agency in Vietnam.
• Pay the visa approval letter processing fee online using a credit or debit card, and wait for the letter to arrive by mail.
• Upon arrival at one of Vietnam's international airports, including Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat present the visa approval letter, your passport, and two passport-size photos then pay the visa stamping fee and receive your visa.

How much is the visa fee for South Korean passports?

Fee comparison 

Travel tips for South Korean citizens visiting Vietnam

How to get there

To travel from South Korea to Vietnam, you can take a variety of direct and connecting flights provided by Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, T’Way Air, and VietJet Air. Popular destinations for taking flights between the two countries are Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island.

Seoul - Ho Chi Minh City

Busan - Hanoi

Weather information

In general, Vietnam is warmer and more humid than South Korea, with a tropical climate and two main seasons (rainy and dry seasons). South Korea has a humid continental and oceanic climate with four distinct seasons. This country also experiences colder temperatures in winter.

• Climate: Vietnam has a tropical climate, while South Korea has a humid continental and oceanic climate.
• Temperature: Vietnam is warmer than South Korea. In Vietnam, the average temperature ranges from 20-28°C (68-82°F) in the north and 25-33°C (77-91°F) in the south, while in South Korea, the average temperature ranges from -6°C to 30°C (21°F to 86°F).
• Seasons: Vietnam has two main seasons: the rainy season (May-October) and the dry season (November-April). On the other hand, South Korea has four distinct seasons: spring (March-May), summer (June-August), fall (September-November), and winter (December-February).
• Humidity: The average relative humidity in Vietnam is around 80% which is higher than that in South Korea, which ranges from 50-70%.
• Rainfall: Vietnam receives more rainfall than South Korea. The annual rainfall in Vietnam is 1,500mm-3,000mm (59-118 inches), while this figure in South Korea is 1,000mm-1,500mm (39-59 inches).