Vietnam Visa For Cruise Ship Passengers

Cruise passengers can now choose between using an e-visa - accepted at 39 designated seaports - or obtaining a loose-leaf visa upon arrival at Vietnam’s seaports. The application fee for these visas ranges from US$25 to US$80, depending on the cruise operator you are traveling with.

How to apply for a Vietnam visa if you arrive by sea?

The two most common visa types for sea arrival are e-visa and loose leaf visa.

E-visa

E-visa is applicable for visitors arriving at one of Vietnam’s seaports. You can follow the step-by-step guide below.

Step 1- Check Your Cruise Itinerary and Port of Entry

Before applying, confirm the following with your cruise operator:

- Name of the Vietnamese seaport where you will arrive. If you arrive at multiple Vietnam’s seaports, name the first one that you arrive at.

- Your arrival date

- Whether your cruise line requires you to obtain your own e-visa or they arrange a group visa on your behalf.

You must enter Vietnam only through the port listed on your e-visa, so accuracy is essential.

Step 2 - Prepare the Required Documents

If your cruise line does not prepare a group visa on your behalf and you need to apply on your own, prepare the following:

- A passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry

- A passport-style photo (4x6 cm or digital equivalent)

- A scanned copy of your passport main page

- A credit/debit card for the online payment

Make sure your passport image and portrait photo are clear and not blurry (read our guidelines)

Step 3- Submit Your Application Online

Go to Vietnam’s official immigration website: https://evisa.gov.vn/

or

You can apply on our website: https://www.myvietnamvisa.com/application.html (Please note we charge additional fee for our application service)

Then:

1. Select “Apply Now” or “For foreign individuals”
2. Fill in your personal details exactly as shown in your passport
3. Enter your arrival port (choose the correct seaport from the drop-down list), make sure to double check this information with your cruise line organizers
4. Upload required photos
5. Choose your entry date (must match your cruise schedule and be the first date of entry into Vietnam)
6. Pay the visa fee ( US $25 for single entry / US $50 for multiple entry)

After payment, you will receive a confirmation code to track your application.

Step 4 - Wait for Approval (5-7 Working Days)

Processing time typically takes 5–7 business days, but can be longer if your application has errors or requires additional documents.

You can check the status of your application using the registration code on the official website: https://evisa.gov.vn/e-visa/search

Once approved, download and print the PDF e-visa.

Step 5 - Bring a Printed Copy Onboard

Cruise passengers must carry:

- A printed copy of the e-visa letter (recommended to print 2 copies)

- A passport valid for 6 months

- Cruise documents showing your arrival and departure ports

Cruise staff or immigration officers may check these before disembarkation.

Present the E-Visa at the Vietnamese Seaport

Upon arrival, show:

- Your printed e-visa

- Your passport

Immigration officers will stamp your passport for entry. No additional payment is needed.

List of Cruise ports in Vietnam that accept e-visa (39 Ports)

• Hon Gai Port – Quang Ninh
• Cam Pha Port – Quang Ninh
• Hai Phong Port – Hai Phong
• Nghi Son Port – Thanh Hoa
• Vung Ang Port – Ha Tinh
• Chan May Port – Thua Thien Hue
• Da Nang Port – Da Nang
• Nha Trang Port – Khanh Hoa
• Quy Nhon Port – Binh Dinh
• Dung Quat Port – Quang Ngai
• Vung Tau Port – Ba Ria–Vung Tau
• Ho Chi Minh City Port – Ho Chi Minh City
• Duong Dong Port – Kien Giang
• Van Gia Port – Quang Ninh
• Diem Dien Port – Hung Yen
• Hai Thinh Port – Ninh Binh
• Ninh Binh Port – Ninh Binh
• Cua Lo – Ben Thuy Port – Nghe An
• Son Duong Port – Ha Tinh
• Gianh Port – Quang Tri
• Hon La Port – Quang Tri
• Cua Viet Port – Quang Tri
• Thuan An Port – Hue
• Ky Ha Port – Da Nang
• Sa Ky Port – Quang Ngai
• Vung Ro Port – Dak Lak
• Ca Na Port – Khanh Hoa
• Ninh Chu Port – Khanh Hoa
• Phu Quy Port – Lam Dong
• Lien Huong Port – Lam Dong
• Ben Luc Port – Tay Ninh
• Dong Thap Port – Dong Thap
• Soai Rap – Hiep Phuoc Port – Dong Thap
• My Thoi Port – An Giang
• Hon Chong Port – An Giang
• An Thoi Port – An Giang
• Truong Long Hoa Port – Vinh Long
• Giao Long Port – Vinh Long
• Nam Can Port – Ca Mau

Loose-leaf visa on arrival

Cruise passengers can also apply for a loose-leaf visa when arriving at a seaport in Vietnam (certain nationalities do not need a visa for Vietnam, check if you are eligible for a visa exemption here). Both the arrival and departure procedures are easy and straightforward:

• Arrival procedure: The cruise or local tour operator will hand you the application form to fill out. Upon disembarking, you can submit this form, your passport and pay the applicable fee. The border services officer will issue a loose-leaf visa document.
• Departure procedure: As you complete your excursion in Vietnam and return to your cruise, you must show both your passport and the visa to receive the confirmation of departure issued by the border service officers. The visa shall be deemed invalid at this point.

Do I need a single or multiple entry visa?

One of the most common questions we receive from sea travelers is whether they need a single-entry or multiple-entry visa.

The answer is straightforward:

If you visit multiple Vietnamese cruise ports without traveling to a third country in between, a single-entry visa is sufficient. For example, many international cruise routes dock in Ho Chi Minh City, then continue to Da Nang or Hue where you may visit Hoi An. Even though the cruise makes several stops within Vietnam, a single-entry visa is all you need.

However, if you enter Vietnam, then leave for another country such as Cambodia or Thailand, and later return to Vietnam by land, sea, or air, you must obtain a multiple-entry visa. For example, if your cruise first docks in Ho Chi Minh City, then you take a river cruise to Cambodia for a few days before returning to Ho Chi Minh City to continue your trip, you will need a multiple-entry visa.

Special Notes

• Always bring the passport and visa with you when you travel on land.
• If your cruise makes more than one stop in Vietnam, you will get the entry visa from the first port of arrival and complete the departure immigration process at the last port. At other stops in between you just need to show the passport and visa for verification purposes only.
• Your cruise organizer may offer to arrange your entry visa and charge their own fee for this service.

Questions & Answers

• Q1: I am a US citizen. Will arrive by cruise ship in Vietnam 9/03/2019 till 15/3/2019. Am I able to apply for visa by post or do I have to travel to Washington DC which is 200 miles away. Thanks. (Margaret Asher, United States)
  A: If you are living far away from the embassy, you can apply for your visa to Vietnam by post. Kindly contact the embassy of Vietnam in Washington DC for the fees and application documents.
• Q2: If I arrive Vietnam ports by cruise ship, will "visa on arrival" be workable? Or it is only good at airports? For Canadian passport holders OK ? For Hong Kong SAR passport holders OK? If I enter 2 Vietnam ports in 2 separate days all within 3 days, do I need a single or multiple entry visa? (C. Ng, from Hong Kong)
  A: You can ask the cruise operator to arrange the visa for you or you can obtain a loose-leaf visa upon landing at Vietnam seaport because visa on arrival is not available for arriving by cruise ships. For your cruise itineraries, you need a single entry visa only for cruising between different ports in Vietnam.
• Q3: We will be travelling on a cruise ship in Dec 2019, stopping in Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, and Hanoi. We want to leave the ship at the port of Hue, and travel by land from Hue to Hanoi, then join the ship again in Hanoi. What visa requirements do we need? I am a citizen of the United Sates. My friend is a citizen of Costa Rica, who also has a visa for the U.S. We will only be in Vietnam for a few days. Do we need a visa? (Gary Rose, from United States)
  A: Visas are required for US and Costa Rican passports. As you exit the cruise ship for land travel to Hanoi from Hue, it is advised that you contact the embassy of Vietnam in the US to apply for a visa before you go.
• Q4: I am planning to visit and enter Vietnam by cruise ship and travel along the coastline of Vietnam. Three stops at cruise ship ports are planned. Can I enter Vietnam with visa-on arrival that I would get at the port ? How often can I enter Vietnam while we stop along the coastline of Vietnam? (M. Horntrich, USA)
  A: Visa on arrival does not work for cruise entry,  you can apply for a loose-leaf visa at Vietnam port terminal when you arrive which will allow you to stop at as many ports as you want during your trip in Vietnam. However, it is advised that you contact your cruise operator for visa information because most cruises will offer visa arrangements for their passengers.
• Q4: We’re going to Vietnam by Princess cruise and try to apply visa online but found that all ports of entry are airport, kindly advise what should we enter. The cruise is going to Halong Bay, Da Nang, NRA Trang and Phu My, pls advise if it is treated as a single entry or multiple entries.(Loretta Lo)
  A: As the itinerary you have mentioned, you need a single entry visa only. You can either apply for a loose-leaf visa at the first port of arrival or contact Princess cruise for visa arrangements.
• Q5: We are Croatian citizens and are going to Vietnam in January 2019 by Celebrity Constellation (Singapore-Bangkok-Phu My-Chan My-Hongkong-Shanghai). Are we granted a loose-leaf visa upon arriving in the Vietnam port Phu My?.(Suncana Kukolja)
  A: Sure, you will be granted a loose-leaf visa upon arriving at Phu My Port. However, we always advise that you contact your cruise operator (Celebrity Constellation) for visa arrangement and instructions.
• Q6: I will be on a cruise and stop at Phu My one day and Nha Trang the next day. Can I get a visa before I go? How much do you charge for this for 2 US adults. Can I get the visa at the port as soon as I get off the ship or do I have to have it before I disembark?(David, USA)
  A: If you are arriving on a cruise ship, you are able to obtain a loose-leaf visa upon disembarking. However, if you want to apply for a visa before you go, we advise that you contact the embassy of Vietnam in the US for procedures.
• Q7: We will be arriving on February 22, 2019 at Nha Trang by cruise ship for one day. The next day we will arrive at Ho Chi Minh City for one day, also by a cruise ship. Do we need a one month - single entry, or a one month - multiple entry visa?(Peter Ehrlich)
  A: You can get loose-leaf visa at your first arrival port in Nha Trang and you can also use it for next entry in Ho Chi Minh city. No multiple entry is required in this case.

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