Over the last several years, more Chinese than ever have been traveling to Vietnam, and the majority of tourists who visit the country are from China. That’s because Vietnam has a lot to offer its neighbor up north.
If you take a trip just across the border to the northern part of Vietnam, you can experience Halong Bay, one of the most scenic attractions in the country. Chinese travelers can find comforts of home throughout Vietnam in the various Buddhist pagodas, or enjoy new experiences in the fantastic culture and traditional local cuisine. No matter what you are visiting for, as a Chinese citizen, you are required to get a visa before entering Vietnam.
How to Get a Vietnam Visa
There are two ways Chinese citizens can get a visa. In both cases, your passport must be valid for at least six months after your arrival date in Vietnam. The first is to apply for one through a Vietnam Embassy in China. You will need to take your passport, two additional passport photos of yourself, and the stamping fee to the closest consulate. Most people receive their visa within five to seven business days.
If you choose to go through the Vietnam embassy, but need your visa sooner, you can use the Vietnam Visa Code Service, which has been created to provide Chinese travelers a faster and less expensive way to get their approval to visit. To obtain your visa through this method, you must apply online through a travel agent. The Vietnam Immigration Department will then issue you an approval letter via email, which you will have to print and take to the embassy with your passport to get your visa stamped before leaving for your trip.
The second option for requesting a Vietnam visa is Visa On Arrival. This method is the easiest and quickest way to get your visa, but you may only do so if traveling through one of the three international airports in Vietnam:
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City
- Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi
- Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang
When getting your visa through Visa On Arrival, you simply fill out the online application to get an approval letter in your email in as little as one hour, up to two business days. Then, all you have to do is show your passport and the approval letter to immigrations officers when you land in Vietnam and they will give you a stamp and travel visa.
How to Get from China to Vietnam
Understanding what is required to legally visit Vietnam is an important first step when planning your travels from China. Make sure you have everything you will need to get approved for a visa before making plans so you don’t face any hassles on your trip. When it’s time to start booking flights, you have several airline options to choose from if departing out of one of China’s international airports. These include AirAsia, Air China, Cathay Pacific, Asiana Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, China Southern, China Eastern, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
Flights from China to Vietnam are generally cheaper than from other Asian countries, and often go into Da Nang airport, which is centrally located in the country. Travelers with visas directly from the Vietnam Embassy can also travel to the country via train through Nanning.
For other questions about obtaining a Vietnam visa or the online application, please email us at support@vietnamvisa.govt.vn or call us at +84 12 32 320 320.