Vietnam visa for South Africa citizens

Visa requirements

Type of visa Requirements Maximum stay
Tourist visa Visa required N/A
E-visa Not Eligible N/A

How to apply

If you're traveling to Vietnam from South Africa, you can choose one of the following methods to secure a visa.

  • Visa on arrival
  • Visa at embassy

Embassy and Consulate of Vietnam in South Africa

City Address
Pretoria 87 Brooks Street, Brooklyn, Pretoria, Republic Of South Africa.
Close now

Vietnam visa fees for ZA residents

Visa types Standard processing (5-7 working days) Urgent processing (2 working days)
E-Visa (1 Month Single Entry) 878 ZAR 1,372 ZAR

Standard Processing time: e-Visa will be processed by 13:30 June 14, 2023 (Local Nelspruit time).

Today's holidays in South Africa

  • There are no national holidays being observed in the South Africa today (Friday, June 02, 2023).
  • The upcoming public holiday is Youth Day, which will occur in 1 week, 6 days from now.

Holidays are calculated using the local time in Pretoria.

Information for ZA passports traveling to Vietnam

Do South African citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Hoi An is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam ( Photo: Shutterstock)

As a South African citizen, you NEED a valid visa to enter Vietnam for tourism, business, and other purposes. There are two ways to obtain a visa for Vietnam including getting in person at Vietnam Embassy in South Africa and applying for a visa on arrival.

South African passport holders are currently NOT eligible for the Vietnam e-visa scheme.

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

Visa at the Vietnam Embassy in South Africa

To obtain a Vietnam visa in person, you can contact Vietnam Embassy in South Africa directly and complete necessary requirements. If you are residing outside South Africa, you can contact the local embassy or consulate where you are living.

Apply for a visa on arrival

South Africans are eligible for a visa on arrival at any of Vietnam's international airports. It is required to obtain a visa approval letter prior to your arrival in Vietnam and present it to immigration officials to get your visa stamped.

How much is the visa fee for South African passports?

Visa on arrival

  • Approval letter fee: depending on types of visa and stay durations
  • Stamping fee:
    • Single entry: 25 USD ~ 453 ZAR
    • Multiple entry: 50 USD ~ 907 ZAR

Travel tips for South African nationals visiting Vietnam

How to get there

Connecting flights between South Africa and Vietnam are available with at least one or more transit. Popular international airlines providing flights between the two countries are Qatar Airways, Emirates Airlines, and Airlink.

Cape Town - Ho Chi Minh City

Route

Airlines

Estimated prices (per person/ one way)

Cape Town - Ho Chi Minh City

Qatar Airways

12040 ZAR

Cape Town - Ho Chi Minh City

Emirates Airlines

13353 ZAR

Johannesburg - Ho Chi Minh City

Route

Airlines

Estimated prices (per person/ one way)

Johannesburg - Ho Chi Minh City

Qatar Airways

10188 ZAR

Johannesburg - Ho Chi Minh City

Emirates Airlines

11809 ZAR

Bloemfontein - Ho Chi Minh City 

Route

Airlines

Estimated prices (per person/ one way)

Bloemfontein - Ho Chi Minh City 

Airlink + Emirates Airlines

12889 ZAR

Bloemfontein - Ho Chi Minh City 

Airlink + Qatar Airways

12658 ZAR

Weather information

  • Climate: While Vietnam typically features tropical monsoon climate, South Africa experiences varied climate because of its diverse geography. The eastern and southern parts of the country have a subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, and mild winters, while the western parts have a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.
  • Temperature: The average temperature in Vietnam varies from 22°C (71.6°F) to 27°C (80.6°F), this figure for South Africa ranges from 15°C (59°F) to 28°C (82.4°F).
  • Weather: During the rainy season, heavy rain and occasional storms often occur in Vietnam while in South Africa, there are thunderstorms and occasional heatwaves in summer and coldness in winter.
View more

Questions and Answers (06)

Ask your question
Contact Information
Q
Retief Jordaan
South Africa on May 31, 2023

I will hopefully be coming to Halong Bay, Vietnam sometime early next year on the Clipper Round The World Yacht race. Is the only option available to visit the Embassy in Pretoria, or is there other options available (i.e. online applications)

Reply
Your Reply
No more than 2,000 characters, please.
A Lina Tran Answered on May 31, 2023

@Retief Jordaan, E-visas are expected to be available to all nationalities starting in July/August. Therefore, if you plan to travel to Vietnam next year, you may be able to apply for an e-visa at that time.

Helpful
Q
Lynne Du Toit
South Africa on May 29, 2023

Do you think the eVisa for South Africans will be available in June, and if so what is the processing time, and, will the Tour Operator letter still be required for eVisas?

Reply
Your Reply
No more than 2,000 characters, please.
A Lina Tran Answered on May 29, 2023

@Lynne Du Toit, As far as we know, the e-visa system is expected to be available for all nationalities, possibly by late June. Therefore, if your trip is in early June, you can contact one of the travel agencies below for assistance in obtaining the visa approval letter for your travel.

  • Aurora travel (vietnamstay.com)
  • Exo Travel (https://www.exotravel.com)
Helpful
Q
Jevauhn
South Africa on May 21, 2023

Hi Lina my wife and I are planning to go Hanoi Vietnam next month. If we apply for e-visa 01 June 2023 does one still need an organized tour and an operator to apply on your behalf or can you do the e-visa without assistance from an organised tour agency.

Reply
Your Reply
No more than 2,000 characters, please.
A Lina Tran Answered on May 21, 2023

@Jevauhn, Unfortunately, the e-visa system is not yet available for South African passports. However, if you are traveling on a tour program, you can ask the tour operator to obtain an approval letter for your entry.

Helpful
Q
Rieshqa Noordien
South Africa on May 17, 2023

I have already booked my flights and tour to visit Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in June. Now I see that South Africans are not allowed to get an E-visa. What should I do now? please advise.

Reply
Your Reply
No more than 2,000 characters, please.
A Lina Tran Answered on May 17, 2023

@Rieshqa Noordien, The e-visa system will soon be made available for all nationalities, including South African passport holders. If you are not traveling until June, please wait for the visa policy updates by early June.

5 people found this helpful
Helpful
Q
Najmah Omarjee
South Africa on April 28, 2023

Do south african passport holders need a visa for vietnam while on a cruise

Reply
Your Reply
No more than 2,000 characters, please.
A Lan Answered on April 28, 2023

@Najmah Omarjee, If you plan on staying on board the cruise ship, you may not require a visa for Vietnam. Nevertheless, we recommend that you reach out to your cruise operator for confirmation.

Helpful
Q
Aimee-Louise Frangos
South Africa on April 26, 2023

I am a South African citizen and require a visa for as short as 3 days from 9 or 10 May 2023. I will be arriving at Noi Bai International Airport from Suvarnabhumi Airport. I intend on departing again from Noi Bai International Airport on 12 May. I am of the understanding that South Africans are not eligible for e-visas, and further that the the visa on arrival procedure has changed - you now require pre-approval. I also believe that the visa regulations may be changed between 29 April and 3 May. Kindly advise whether you are able to obtain a short stay tourist visa on my behalf as well as the total cost, excluding the 25 USD airport immigration stamp.

Reply
Your Reply
No more than 2,000 characters, please.
A Lina Tran Answered on April 26, 2023

@Aimee, Visa on arrival is only available if you travel on an organized tour with a local tour operator. As such, we recommend that you contact the Vietnam Embassy in Bangkok to obtain a visa before your trip.

2 people found this helpful
Helpful
Load More (04)

Frequently asked questions

1. Do I need a visa to enter Vietnam if I am a UK citizen residing in South Africa?

Whether you need a visa to enter Vietnam or not depends on your nationality, not your residing country. So if you are a UK citizen living in South Africa, you are EXEMPTED from a Vietnam visa for stays of up to 15 days. You must obtain an e-visa, a visa on arrival, or a visa at the Vietnam Embassy in South Africa for extended stays.

2. Are South African nationals eligible for a Vietnam e-visa?

Citizens from South Africa are not granted a Vietnam e-visa and you must obtain the visa at Vietnam Embassy or on arrival at a Vietnam international airport.

3. Are South African people eligible for a Vietnam visa exemption?

South Africa is NOT on the Vietnam exemption list (which includes 25 countries), so you must apply for a visa to visit Vietnam.

4. Is there a Consulate General of Vietnam in South Africa?

There is no Consulate General of Vietnam in South Africa but the Vietnam Embassy is located at 87 Brooks St., Brooklyn, Pretoria, South Africa.

5. Is the e-visa option available for South African residents who plan to visit Vietnam?

Unfortunately, South African citizens are not eligible for the e-visa program. Alternative options are:

Contact sales if you have additional questions.

Contact support if you already submitted your visa application on our website.

Back to top

Why apply with us

  • 99% on time delivery
  • Easy & simple form
  • 15+ years of experience
  • No hidden charges
  • 100% money back guarantee for declined applications
Apply Now

Need more help?

Contact us at:
Questions? Chat with us!)
(8.00 AM-16.00 PM, GMT+7, Whatsapp)
Sat Jun 03 2023, 02:21:13 (Hanoi)
Excellent 4.8 out of 5

Recommended on