Vietnam visa for South Africa citizens
- Visa requirements
- How to apply
- Embassy and Consulate of Vietnam in South Africa
- Vietnam Visa fees for ZA residents
- Today's holidays in South Africa
- Information for ZA passports traveling to Vietnam
As of 2023, it is mandatory for South African nationals to have a valid visa before arriving in Vietnam. The following documents may require:
- South African passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the arrival date.
- Passport has at least 2 blank visa pages.
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?

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 |
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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.
Questions and Answers (06)
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)
@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.
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?
@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)
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:
- Apply for a visa at the embassy of Vietnam in South Africa
- Apply for a visa on arrival
Contact sales if you have additional questions.
Contact support if you already submitted your visa application on our website.
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