A clear guide to the Vietnam visa for French citizens: who needs one, documents, fees, processing time, and how to apply online.
France and Vietnam share deep historical ties, and Vietnam remains a beloved destination for French travellers — happily, the entry rules are simple: for short trips you may not need a visa at all, and when you do, the Vietnam visa for French citizens is a quick online application from home in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, or anywhere else.
At MyVietVisa we help many French tourists and French-Vietnamese families returning to see relatives, so we know the questions that come up. This guide explains who needs a visa, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to apply online.
Do French citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Often, no — for short stays. Vietnam has offered a visa exemption for French passport holders for trips up to a set number of days, which makes a couple of weeks exploring Hanoi, Hoi An, and the Mekong Delta easy. But that exemption has a day limit and conditions that can change, so confirm the current rules before you book. For longer journeys, you'll need an e-visa or a visa arranged in advance.
If you're of Vietnamese heritage, you may qualify for a multi-year visa exemption certificate instead. Our Viet Kieu exemption guide explains who's eligible and how to apply.
Your Vietnam visa options
When you do need a visa, the Vietnam visa for French citizens generally comes down to three routes:
- E-visa (most common for longer stays): 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 France, such as the Embassy in Paris. Best for longer stays, work, or special categories.
Not sure whether your trip needs one? Our visa checker tells you in about a minute.
Requirements and documents
If you're applying for a visa, the list is short. You'll typically need:
- A French 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 or Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City.
- A Vietnam address — a hotel booking or a relative's home is fine.
Accents and compound names
If your name carries accents (é, è, ç) or includes hyphenated or compound given names, enter it exactly as transliterated in your passport's machine-readable zone. Matching the passport precisely keeps your application moving. We hand-check this on every file.
Cost and processing time
If you apply for an e-visa, the total is the government fee — which depends on single or multiple entry — plus any service fee if you use an agent. Government fees change from time to time, so treat any figure online as an estimate and confirm the current rate before paying. Our clear pricing shows what we charge to handle everything for you.
A standard e-visa usually processes in a few business days, but these are estimates, not guarantees. Flying soon? An expedited Vietnamese visa can shorten the wait considerably.
How to apply online, step by step
- Confirm whether your trip fits the exemption window or needs a visa.
- If you need one, choose your visa type and entry option.
- Enter your details exactly as printed on your passport.
- Upload your bio-page scan and photo.
- Add your arrival date and port of entry, then 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. For the finer points, our FAQ answers what French travellers ask most.
A few tips for French travellers heading to Vietnam
There are direct flights from Paris to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but many travellers connect through a Gulf or Asian hub — either way, you enter Vietnam on the same visa once you land. If you carry an e-visa, print it before you fly and make sure its port of entry matches your arrival city. And remember everyone needs their own visa or exemption, children and infants included.
Ready to sort your Vietnam visa the easy way? Start your application and we'll take it from here, or book a free consultation if you'd like to check your options first.
📌Start here: The complete Vietnam e-visa guideFrequently asked questions
Do French citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Often, no — for short stays. Vietnam has offered a visa exemption for French passport holders for trips up to a set number of days, which makes a couple of weeks exploring Hanoi, Hoi An, and the Mekong Delta easy. But that exemption has a day limit and conditions that can change, so confirm the current rules before...
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.