Vietnam Visa for Lao Citizens
As of 2025, Lao nationals traveling to Vietnam for tourism or short business trips can stay for up to 30 days without a visa. Lao passport holders are also eligible for the 90-day e-Visa program if they plan to stay longer in Vietnam.
- Lao Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the arrival date.
- Passport has at least 2 blank visa pages.
| Type of visa | Requirements | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | Visa not required | 30 days |
| E-visa | Not Eligible | N/A |
Highlights
- Lao citizens can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 30 days.
- For stays exceeding 30 days, Lao citizens can apply for an e-visa, visa-on-arrival or visa stickers at a local Vietnamese embassy.
Do Lao passport holders need a visa for Vietnam?
No.
Lao passports do not need a visa to visit Vietnam. However, a visa is required for:
- Stays longer than 30 days
- Work or employment
- Investment activities or projects
- Journalism or media work
Can Lao citizens get an e-visa?
Yes.
In fact this is now the most convenient way for Lao visitors to obtain a visa for Vietnam.
Validity
Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry
Processing time and fee
Processing time: 3–7 business days
Fee: $25 (single entry) or $50 (multiple entry)
How to apply
Apply online via the official government portal: evisa.gov.vn
Or apply through a visa agency.
If you apply for an e-visa with us the processing time and fees are as follows:
| Type of visa | Processing time | Fee* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month Multiple Entry (Tourism) | Standard processing (5-7 working days) | 1,384,333 LAK |
| Urgent 2 Working Days (Mon-Fri) | 1,989,978 LAK | |
| Urgent 1 Working Day (Mon-Fri) | 2,128,412 LAK | |
| Emergency (4 Working Hours) | 2,561,016 LAK | |
| 3 Month Multiple Entry (Tourism) | Standard processing (5-7 working days) | 1,384,333 LAK |
| Urgent 2 Working Days (Mon-Fri) | 1,989,978 LAK | |
| Urgent 1 Working Day (Mon-Fri) | 2,128,412 LAK | |
| Emergency (4 Working Hours) | 2,561,016 LAK | |
| 3 Month Single Entry (Tourism) | Standard processing (5-7 working days) | 951,729 LAK |
| Urgent 2 Working Days (Mon-Fri) | 1,557,374 LAK | |
| Urgent 1 Working Day (Mon-Fri) | 1,695,808 LAK | |
| Emergency (4 Working Hours) | 2,128,412 LAK | |
| 1 Month Single Entry (Tourism) | Standard processing (5-7 working days) | 951,729 LAK |
| Urgent 2 Working Days (Mon-Fri) | 1,557,374 LAK | |
| Urgent 1 Working Day (Mon-Fri) | 1,695,808 LAK | |
| Emergency (4 Working Hours) | 2,128,412 LAK |
* The fee already includes visa processing fee and government visa fee
Can Lao citizens get a visa-on-arrival?
Yes.
But please note that you need a pre-approved visa letter before boarding the plane to Vietnam. Upon arrival at Vietnamese airport you need to present this letter along with your passport to get the visa stamp and enter Vietnam.
Validity
Up to 30 days, single or multiple entry
Processing time and fee
Processing time: 3–5 business days
Fee: $25 (single entry) or $50 (multiple entry) plus the visa approval letter fee.
How to apply
Apply online through a visa agency.
If you apply for a visa-on-arrival with us the processing time and fees are as follows:
| Type of visa | Processing time | Fee* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month Single Entry | 05 Working Days | 432,604 LAK |
| 03 Working Days | 951,729 LAK | |
| 02 Working Days | 1,124,770 LAK | |
| Super Urgent (2-4 Working Hours) | Contact us | |
| 3 Month Single Entry | 05 Working Days | 605,646 LAK |
| 03 Working Days | 951,729 LAK | |
| 02 Working Days | 1,297,812 LAK | |
| Super Urgent (2-4 Working Hours) | Contact us | |
| 1 Month Multiple Entry | 05 Working Days | 605,646 LAK |
| 03 Working Days | 1,124,770 LAK | |
| 02 Working Days | 1,297,812 LAK | |
| Super Urgent (2-4 Working Hours) | Contact us | |
| 3 Month Multiple Entry | 05 Working Days | 778,687 LAK |
| 03 Working Days | 1,297,812 LAK | |
| 02 Working Days | 1,470,854 LAK | |
| Super Urgent (2-4 Working Hours) | Contact us |
* The fee does NOT include the visa stamp fee at the Vietnam airport.
Vietnam E-visa versus Vietnam Visa-on-arrival - Which one is better?
It depends on your personal preference.
Below we list the pros and cons of Vietnam e-visa and Vietnam visa on arrival which you can decide which one works best for you as Lao citizens.
| E-Visa | Visa On Arrival | |
|---|---|---|
| Lao citizens can apply | Yes | Yes |
| Airport/ Seaport/ Landport | All airports/ Seaports/ Landports | Only airport |
| Max stay | 90 days | 30 days |
| Wait time at airport | None | 30 minutes on average |
| Processing time | 3-5 working days | 2-4 working days |
| Fast track service available | Yes | Yes |
| Fastest processing time (fast-track service) | 4-8 hours | 2 hours |
| Document received | E-visa (pdf) to your email |
- Visa approval letter (pdf) to your emai
- Visa stamp at Vietnam airport |
| Fee | $25-$50 | Varies |
| How easy to obtain (out of 5 with 5 being the easier) | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Pros | No need to wait at Vietnam airport | No need to submit photo thus reduce risk of delay |
| Cons | Can meet with delay if you do not submit quality passport photos and photos scan | 30 minutes wait time at Vietnam airport to get visa stamp |
| Common issues |
Wrong details on application (name spelling/ name order/ date of birth/ passport
expiration date)
Photos do not meet requirement (photo format, background light) |
Forget to obtain the visa approval letter prior to boarding plane |
* Note: As of 2024, online e-visas accounted for 80% of the 148,655 Lao entries into Vietnam, while visa-on-arrival service made up only 3%, or around 4,460 applicants. (Sources: immigration.gov.vn/vietnamtourism.gov.vn)
Can Lao citizens apply for a visa at the Vietnamese Embassy?
Yes.
You can apply in person or by mail for a visa to enter Vietnam at the closest
Vietnamese Embassy or consulate. Since each of them can require a slightly different
set of documents it is best to contact them directly and fulfill the requirement.
Below is the listings of Vietnamese embassies and consulates in Laos:
Tel: (856) 41 212418
Fax: (856) 41 212182
Email: tlsxavan@laotel.com
Website: https://vnconsulate-savannakhet.mofa.gov.vn/
Tel: (00 856) 31212827
Fax: (00 856) 31252947
Email: vnemb.la@mofa.gov.vn
Website: https://vnconsulate-pakse.mofa.gov.vn/
Tel: (856 - 71) 254747
Fax: (856 - 71) 254746
Email: tlsqlpb@yahoo.com
Website: https://vnconsulate-luang-prabang.mofa.gov.vn/
Tel: + 856 21451990 Or +856 21413403
Fax: +856 21 413379
Email: vnemb.lao@gmail.com; vnemb.lao@mofa.gov.vn
Website: https://vnembassy-vientiane.mofa.gov.vn/
Office closures
Office hours may change during Vietnamese and Lao public holidays. Please contact the consular office in advance to confirm opening times.
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Independence Day | Sept. 2, 2025 |
| National Day | Dec. 2, 2025 |
| International New Year's Day | Jan. 1, 2026 |
| New Year's Day | Jan. 1, 2026 |
Summary
- Lao citizens can travel to Vietnam without a visa for up to 30 days.
- Current available method of application: e-visa/ visa-on-arrival/ visa at the embassy.
- Allow at least 2 weeks in advance of your trip to apply for your visa. However if you are late you can always get a fast track service to get the visa on time for your travel.
- Take into account Vietnam public holiday which will affect your visa processing time.
- Each method of visa application requires a different set of information, make sure to read instructions carefully and provide the necessary information and documents.
Visa samples and downloads
Questions and Answers (0)
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Frequently asked questions
1. Can I use the e-Visa if I fly from countries other than Laos?
Yes.
2. Do Vietnamese passport holders residing in Laos need a visa to enter Vietnam?
You do not need a visa to access Vietnam as long as your passport is valid.
3. Do I need to have a transit visa to transit through Vietnam?
Laotian nationals are exempt from a Vietnam visa for 30 days so you do not need a visa to transit through the country.
4. How much does it cost for an e-visa to Vietnam?
The fee for an e-visa to Vietnam is 25 USD ~ 426948 LAK
5. What is the validity of the Vietnam visa exemption program for Laotian citizens?
You have a maximum of 30 days to enter Vietnam without a visa.
6. How many visitors from Laos travel to Vietnam annually?
Contact sales if you have additional questions.
Contact support if you already submitted your visa application on our website.
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