Do you need a Vietnam transit visa? Usually not, if you stay airside. Under Article 25 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners (Law 47/2014/QH13, as amended), a foreigner in air transit is visa-exempt as long as they remain in the international transit area of the airport while waiting for the onward flight. Vietnam has no separate “transit visa” category. Once you leave the transit area, for example to self-transfer on separate tickets, re-check baggage, take a domestic flight or spend an overnight layover in a hotel, you need a visa or a visa exemption like any other visitor. Info Travel advises on your exact itinerary and arranges urgent e-visas and airport fast track. Message us on WhatsApp +84327828822.
Vietnam transit visa: what the law says
The transit chapter of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners sets out four simple rules:
- Conditions for transit (Article 23): a valid passport or international travel document, a ticket for the onward journey to a third country, and a visa for that third country unless you are exempt there.
- Transit area (Article 24): the area at an international border gate where foreigners stay before travelling on to a third country, as designated by the authority managing that gate.
- Air transit (Article 25): air transit passengers are visa-exempt but must stay in the transit area of the international airport while waiting for their flight. If they wish to visit Vietnam during the transit under a tour programme organised by an international travel company in Vietnam, a visa matching the transit time may be considered.
- Sea transit (Article 26): passengers are visa-exempt while the ship is in port if they stay in the port’s transit area; going ashore for a tour programme or leaving Vietnam through a different border gate requires a visa (for the latter, a VR visa may be considered).
So the real question behind any Vietnam transit visa search, or “do I need a visa to transit in Vietnam”, is simple: will you pass through immigration control or not?
When you need a visa for a layover in Vietnam
You need a visa, a visa exemption or a valid residence card whenever your layover takes you through passport control into Vietnam. Typical cases:
- Leaving the airport during a layover – sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, meeting friends, or simply getting fresh air outside the terminal.
- Self-transfer on separate tickets – if your two flights are not on one booking, the airline often cannot check your bag through, so you must collect checked baggage and check in again landside.
- International-to-domestic connections – a domestic flight (for example to Da Nang or Nha Trang) means you enter Vietnam at your first airport.
- Overnight layover in a city hotel – sleeping outside the airport always means entering the country.
- Changing airports or terminals landside, or continuing by land or sea.
Layover scenarios at a glance
| Your situation | Visa needed? |
|---|---|
| Through-ticket, bags checked to final destination, you stay in the international transit area | Generally no (Art. 25) |
| Separate tickets, bags must be collected and re-checked | Usually yes – you pass immigration |
| International flight connecting to a domestic flight | Yes – you enter Vietnam at the first airport |
| Long or overnight layover, leaving the airport | Yes |
| Arriving from abroad and continuing to Phu Quoc only | Phu Quoc 30-day exemption may apply (see below) |
| Cruise ship in port, staying on board or in the port transit area | No (Art. 26) |
| Going ashore from a cruise or leaving by another border gate | Yes |
Whether a through-check and airside transfer is possible depends on your airlines and the airport on the day, so always confirm with the carrier when booking.
Your options if you must enter Vietnam
Visa exemption
Citizens of countries on Vietnam’s unilateral exemption lists can stay up to 45 days without a visa (passport valid at least 6 months), and several ASEAN nationals enjoy bilateral exemptions of 14 to 30 days. Check the current Vietnam visa exemption countries list before you fly, as some resolutions limit the purpose of the visit.
E-visa
Every nationality can apply for an e-visa, valid up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, through the official portal evisa.gov.vn. The law gives the authority 3 working days to process a complete application. It is accepted at 17 international airports, including Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Da Nang and Phu Quoc. Our e-visa application guide walks through the photo and passport-scan requirements.
Phu Quoc 30-day exemption
Phu Quoc is designated a coastal economic zone where foreigners may enter without a visa and are granted 30 days of temporary stay (Government Resolution 80/NQ-CP of 2020 and the 2023 amendment to Article 31 of the law). Travellers arriving from abroad and connecting through another Vietnamese international airport may use it if they remain in the transit area and continue to Phu Quoc; if you later want to visit other provinces or stay longer, you need a visa. Ask your airline how it handles the connection.
Visa on arrival with an approval letter
If time is short, a sponsor can obtain an approval letter from the Immigration Department and the visa is stamped at the airport. See visa on arrival in Vietnam; without the letter, airlines may refuse boarding.
State fees
| Item | State fee (Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC) |
|---|---|
| Airside transit, no entry | None |
| Visa exemption / Phu Quoc entry | None |
| E-visa, single entry | USD 25 |
| E-visa, multiple entry (up to 90 days) | USD 50 |
| Visa on arrival stamping, single / multiple (up to 90 days) | USD 25 / USD 50 |
Full details are on our Vietnam visa fees page.
Transit through Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang airports
At Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Noi Bai (HAN) and Da Nang (DAD), international and domestic flights use separate terminals. Moving between an international and a domestic terminal means passing immigration, so an international-to-domestic layover counts as entering Vietnam. Pure international-to-international connections on one ticket can stay airside when the airline offers a through-check. Allow generous time: immigration queues at peak hours can be long, and our airport fast track service helps on tight connections.
What the airline checks before boarding
- Passport validity and blank pages.
- Your onward ticket and, if needed, the visa for your final destination (Article 23).
- For itineraries that enter Vietnam: a valid e-visa, an approval letter for visa on arrival, an exemption, or a residence card.
- Whether your baggage can be checked through – if not, you will have to enter Vietnam to collect it.
Info Travel transit visa service
We review your booking and tell you whether you need a visa for the layover, then arrange the fastest legal option:
- Urgent Vietnam visa – urgent e-visa or approval letter when your trip is days away.
- Airport fast track and visa stamping assistance at SGN, HAN and DAD.
- Advice for self-transfer, overnight layovers and Phu Quoc connections.
Service fees depend on nationality and urgency; we send an exact quote on WhatsApp +84327828822 before any work starts.
FAQ
Do I need a visa to transit in Vietnam?
Not if you stay in the international transit area on a connecting itinerary. Article 25 of Law 47/2014 exempts air transit passengers who remain airside.
Can I leave the airport during a layover in Vietnam?
Only with a visa, a visa exemption or a residence card, because leaving the airport means passing immigration.
I have separate tickets and checked baggage. What should I do?
Assume you must enter Vietnam to collect and re-check your bag, so obtain an e-visa in advance unless your nationality is exempt.
Is there a special Vietnam layover visa?
No. If you need to enter during a layover, you use the normal options: exemption, e-visa or visa on arrival with an approval letter.
Info Travel – visa solutions for foreigners in Vietnam
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