Do Australians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Australia is not among the countries Vietnam exempts from visas, so Australian passport holders need a visa for every trip – holidays, visiting family or short business trips. The simplest way is the Vietnam e-Visa, applied for online before departure and valid for up to 90 days.
Only Phu Quoc island is different: arriving directly in Phu Quoc, you can stay up to 30 days on the island without a visa, but not travel on to the mainland. Details for every nationality: Vietnam visa requirements.
Vietnam e-Visa for Australians: the essentials
| Vietnam e-Visa | |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Citizens of every country, since 15 August 2023 |
| Length of stay | Up to 90 days |
| Entries | Single or multiple |
| Government fee | USD 25 (single) or USD 50 (multiple) – not refundable if refused |
| Official processing | About 3 working days; allow up to 5 in busy periods |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months from your entry date |
| Where to apply | Official portal evisa.gov.vn, or through a licensed agency |
Documents to prepare
- Australian passport with at least 6 months' validity on your arrival date
- Photo or scan of the passport photo page, with the two lines of code at the bottom visible
- Recent portrait photo: plain white background, no glasses, face fully visible
- Entry date and arrival airport (for example Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi)
- An email address for the approved e-Visa
Processing times – and why Australians have it easy
Vietnam is only 3–4 hours behind Sydney and Melbourne (1 hour behind Perth), so Vietnamese office hours overlap with your working day. 08:00–16:30 in Vietnam is 12:00–20:30 in Sydney during daylight saving.
Standard processing takes about 5 business days with us (around 3 working days at the Immigration Department). For trips that are coming up fast:
| Option | Submit (Vietnam time) → result |
|---|---|
| Standard | About 5 business days |
| Urgent 3 days | Submit 08:00–16:30 → result after 2 days (17:00) |
| Urgent 2 days | Submit 08:00–16:30 → result the next day |
| Urgent 1 day | 08:00–10:00 → same day 17:00 10:30–16:30 → next day 12:00 |
| Urgent 4 hours | Before 09:00 → 11:30 09:00–14:30 → same day 17:00 |
| Urgent 2 hours | Before 15:00 → same day 17:00 |
| Urgent 1 hour | About 1 hour (during working hours) |
| Weekend & public holiday | Submit 08:00–14:30 → same day 17:00 |
Times are Vietnam time (GMT+7). Example: submit before 15:00 Vietnam time (19:00 in Sydney in summer) on the 2-hour option and you have the e-Visa by 17:00 Vietnam time the same day.
Busy seasons to plan around
- December–January: Australian summer holidays bring the most travellers to Vietnam – apply as soon as your flights are booked.
- Lunar New Year (Tết), 6 February 2027: government offices close for several days and applications pile up before and after.
- Easter and school holidays: airports and immigration halls are busiest; consider airport FastTrack.
Arriving in Vietnam
Direct flights connect major Australian cities with Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Your airline checks the e-Visa at check-in, so keep the PDF on your phone or a printed copy with your passport.
Travelling with kids or elderly parents? FastTrack staff meet you with a name sign and take you through immigration in a priority lane – VIP service starts at the aircraft door and helps with luggage to your car:
Apply with Thai Viet Tourism
- Online form: single or multiple entry, processing speed, passport and portrait upload – our form checks the photos first.
- Payment: international card or PayPal; prices on the English site are shown in US dollars.
- Delivery: we file through the official portal evisa.gov.vn and email your e-Visa the moment it is approved.
FAQ
Can I use one e-Visa for the whole family?
No. Each traveller needs their own e-Visa, children included.
I hold an Australian and a Vietnamese passport – which do I use?
If you enter Vietnam on a valid Vietnamese passport you don't need a visa. On your Australian passport you do.
How long can I stay?
Up to 90 days per e-Visa. Choose multiple entry if you plan a side trip to a neighbouring country and come back.
What if my flight is tomorrow?
Use an urgent option – read Flying to Vietnam tomorrow without a visa?.
Thai Viet Tourism is a licensed private travel agency (International Tour Operator Licence No. 48-472/2025/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT), not a government website and not affiliated with the Vietnam Immigration Department. We submit your application on your behalf through the official portal evisa.gov.vn; the visa is issued solely by the Vietnam Immigration Department. You can also apply yourself at evisa.gov.vn. Our price includes the government fee plus our service fee.