A clear guide to the Vietnam visa for Chinese citizens: who needs one, documents, fees, processing time, and how to apply online.
With short flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and the southern provinces, Vietnam is an easy and rewarding trip for Chinese travellers — and the Vietnam visa for Chinese citizens is usually a manageable online process once you know which route fits your journey.
At MyVietVisa we help many travellers from mainland China, from families and tour groups to business visitors, so we know where the questions arise. This guide explains who needs a visa, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to apply online.
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Travelling on a passport from mainland China, you'll need a visa arranged before you go for nearly every trip — the e-visa is the most common route for independent travellers. Group tours sometimes use special arrangements through licensed operators, but individual visitors should plan on a proper visa. Vietnam updates its rules from time to time, so confirm the current requirements before you book.
If your family has Vietnamese heritage, a multi-year visa exemption certificate may be possible instead of a standard visa. Our Viet Kieu exemption guide explains who's eligible.
Your Vietnam visa options
The Vietnam visa for Chinese citizens generally comes down to three routes:
- E-visa (most common for independent travel): Applied for entirely online and emailed as a PDF. Accepted at major airports and many land and sea borders.
- Visa on arrival (VOA): Requires a pre-arranged approval letter, then you collect the visa at a Vietnamese airport. Air arrivals only.
- Embassy/consulate visa: Arranged through a Vietnamese mission in China, such as the Embassy in Beijing or the Consulate-General in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Kunming, or Nanning. Best for longer stays, work, or special categories.
Not sure which fits your trip? Our visa checker sorts it out in about a minute.
Requirements and documents
The list is short. For a standard application you'll typically need:
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with a couple of blank pages.
- A clear colour scan of your passport bio page — flat, no glare, all corners visible.
- A recent passport-style photo on a plain background (no glasses, no hats).
- Your travel dates and intended port of entry, such as Noi Bai in Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, or one of the northern land borders.
- A Vietnam address — a hotel booking or a relative's home is fine.
Match your passport exactly
Enter your name in the Latin alphabet exactly as it appears in your passport's machine-readable zone, and double-check your passport number. A single mismatched character is the most common reason applications get held up. We hand-check this on every file.
Cost and processing time
Your total is the government fee — which depends on single or multiple entry — plus any service fee if you use an agent. Government fees are revised periodically, so treat any figure online as an estimate and confirm the current rate before paying. Our transparent pricing shows what we charge to manage everything for you.
A standard e-visa usually takes a few business days, but these are estimates, not guarantees — peak seasons and document queries can add time. Flying soon? An expedited Vietnamese visa can shorten the wait considerably.
How to apply online, step by step
- Choose your visa type and entry option (single vs. multiple entry).
- Enter your details exactly as printed on your passport.
- Upload your bio-page scan and photo.
- Add your arrival date and port of entry.
- Pay and submit.
- Receive your approval, print a copy, and carry it with you.
Apply through us and a real person reviews every field before submission, so a typo won't put your trip at risk. For the finer points, our FAQ answers what Chinese travellers ask most.
A few tips for Chinese travellers heading to Vietnam
If you're crossing at a land border such as Mong Cai or Lao Cai, confirm in advance that your e-visa lists that specific checkpoint, since e-visas are tied to a named port of entry. Print your e-visa before you travel. And remember everyone needs their own visa, children and infants included.
Ready to get your Vietnam visa sorted without the guesswork? Start your application and we'll handle the rest, or book a free consultation if you'd like to talk it through first.
📌Start here: The complete Vietnam e-visa guideFrequently asked questions
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Travelling on a passport from mainland China, you'll need a visa arranged before you go for nearly every trip — the e-visa is the most common route for independent travellers. Group tours sometimes use special arrangements through licensed operators, but individual visitors should plan on a proper visa....
Planning a trip home to Vietnam?
We make the visa the easy part, hand-checked, all-inclusive pricing, real human help.
General information to help you plan, not legal advice; visa and travel rules change. Contact us for your specific situation.