How to apply for a Vietnam visa online?

There are 2 options for getting a visa to Vietnam now:

1. Vietnam e-visa

The Vietnam e-visa is a complete visa for Vietnam. It is granted by the Vietnam Immigration Department via the government visa portal.
To apply for a Vietnam e-visa, foreigners will need a scanned photo of passport, a portrait photo taken at present and a credit card to conduct the payment online. The Vietnam e-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days and allows single or multiple entries.
The processing time for an e-visa is 3-5 working days. Sometimes, if the visa application needs further verification by the Vietnam Immigration Department officers, or the visa information (or photos) is not correct, the processing time will take longer.

Below are the simple steps to apply for a Vietnam e-visa:

Prepare a copy of your passport and a portrait photo;

Fill in the application form and upload the photos;

Make an online payment for the visa service fee;

Get the visa done on time as you requested via email (*);

Print out the visa to get on the plane and enter Vietnam;

2. Vietnam visa on arrival

This is a type of visa that has long been used in Vietnam. To apply for a visa on arrival, you will authorise a Vietnam visa agency to arrange a visa approval letter for you. The visa approval letter, issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department, allows you to board the plane and collect the visa stamp upon arrival at the airport.
A Vietnam visa on arrival is valid for 1 month and allows single or multiple entries. It is helpful for those with urgent business in Vietnam who forgot to apply for a visa in advance.
Please note that a visa on arrival must be accompanied by a pre-arranged approval letter and 25 USD in cash for the stamping fee. Without a visa approval letter, you cannot board the plane and therefore cannot enter the country.

The difference between Vietnam e-visa and visa on arrival

The Vietnam Immigration Department issues both the Vietnam e-visa and the visa on arrival, and they carry the same validity for entry into Vietnam once granted. However, there are several key differences between the two types of visas, as shown in the table below: