The essential traveller’s guide to fast and legal Vietnam visa processing during Lunar New Year 2026
Vietnam’s Lunar New Year is the most significant celebration of the year to the Vietnamese people. During this festive season, the entire country becomes a vibrant symphony of red lanterns, pink and yellow blossoms, and a joyful atmosphere filled with hope, renewal, and togetherness. But for many travellers, this holiday becomes the most stressful time to obtain a visa.
In 2026, the Lunar New Year holiday will run from February 14 to February 22 (9 days)
Usually occurring in January or February, the main Tet celebration lasts 5 to 9 days. This is the longest holiday in Vietnam, during which the Vietnam Immigration Department, as well as other public institutions such as schools, public service offices, banks, and government offices, are officially closed. Thousands of travellers are encountering the same issue with their Vietnam visa application these days: the e-visa system appears overloaded, customer support is unavailable, and their applications are frozen with no updates in sight.
Your entire trip to Vietnam is ready to go – your flight is confirmed, your hotel is booked, and your itinerary is set for an unforgettable holiday. But with the Tet holiday approaching and the visa application pending, the fear of having to cancel the trip can be incredibly stressful.
Thankfully, even when most public services pause for the holiday, there are still legitimate emergency pathways that can get your visa approved on time. These expedited e-visa options ensure you can obtain an entry visa into the country, allowing you to enjoy the festivities as planned – even if your departure is just hours away.
This guide will walk you through the fastest, safest, and most effective visa solutions available during Lunar New Year, when official channels are temporarily closed.
Why should you apply for Vietnam early, before the Tet holiday?
Securing a Vietnam visa during the Lunar New Year period can be far more complicated than at any other time of the year. Tet is the country’s longest and most important holiday, during which government offices, immigration departments, embassies, and consulates all close completely for several days. With officers off duty and systems overloaded by a surge of last-minute applications, visa processing slows dramatically – or stops altogether.
Even though the online e-visa portal remains accessible, no approvals can be issued without human review. This creates significant delays, uncertainty, and frustration for travellers whose trips fall near or during the holiday. As a result, thousands of visitors each year find themselves facing stalled applications, unanswered support requests, and the risk of missing their planned flights.
Available options for Vietnam visa during Tet holiday
1. Vietnam e-visa (works only if approved before the Tet holiday)
The Vietnam e-visa system is a convenient online platform, but it does not issue approvals during Tet because immigration officers are off duty. While the website may still accept applications, these applications remain pending until after the holiday.
2. Emergency visa approval letter (the fastest and most reliable option during Tet)
This is the only visa solution that continues to operate even when the entire country is on holiday, making it the top choice for travellers who need urgent entry into Vietnam.
Licensed visa agencies have access to internal immigration channels that still process emergency requests. Through these authorised channels, the visa agencies can obtain a visa approval letter, which allows you to board your flight to Vietnam and receive a visa on arrival at the airport. This will help you enter Vietnam legally and without delay.
Step-by-step guide to get an emergency Vietnam visa during Tet holiday
Prepare essential documents
Emergency visa processing during the Tet holiday requires only a minimal set of documents, making it much faster and more convenient than standard visa procedures. To ensure your application can be approved as quickly as possible, please prepare the following documents:
- Copy of passport bio page
- A passport-sized photo (a selfie photo taken at present)
- Your flight to Vietnam information (flight number, departure time and arrival time)
- Your contact details: the permanent address, the temporary address in Vietnam and phone number
Apply for an emergency e-visa
When government offices close, you please submit your request through a licensed emergency service. Please visit our visa application form and select the overtime service option.
Pay the e-visa fee
You can pay the e-visa fee using your credit card, Wise or PayPal. It is the total money you will pay for the visa service and you don’t have to pay any extra fee at the arrival airport.
Receive your e-visa
Once approved, the official e-visa will be sent directly to your email or WhatsApp. You can also access in the official government visa website to download it by entering the visa application number and email address. You then print a copy of e-visa or ensure you have a high-quality digital version ready for airline check-in.
