Vietnam Entry Procedure 2026: Step-by-Step from the Aircraft to the Arrivals Hall
Landing in Vietnam is simple once you know the order of the steps: pre-arrival declaration, visa on arrival (only if you need it, and then before the declaration), immigration, baggage claim, customs and the arrivals hall. Most delays happen because one small item is missing, such as a printed visa approval letter or the pre-arrival QR code. This guide explains the Vietnam entry procedure at international airports step by step, what to prepare before you fly, and how long each step usually takes.
We are a private visa and airport assistance service, not the Vietnam Immigration Department. Rules can change, so check official sources before you travel.
What to prepare for the Vietnam entry procedure
Before you leave home, check these items. In fact, airlines check several of them at check-in, so a missing item can stop you before you even board.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Passport valid for at least 6 months, with 2 blank pages | Airlines and immigration can refuse a passport close to expiry or damaged; enter and leave Vietnam on the same passport |
| Vietnam e-visa, visa exemption or visa on arrival approval letter | Immigration checks your visa status first; the e-visa must match your passport number exactly |
| Pre-arrival declaration QR code | Requested at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc (see below); visa on arrival travellers complete it at the airport, after the landing visa counter |
| Address of your hotel or host in Vietnam | You enter it in the declaration, and officers may ask |
| Onward or return ticket | Airlines may ask for it at check-in, especially for visa-exempt stays |
| Cash and goods within the limits | Declare foreign cash above USD 5,000 at customs; e-cigarettes are banned |
Which documents you need, by how you enter
| You enter with | What to show at immigration | Visa on arrival counter? |
|---|---|---|
| E-visa | Passport and e-visa approval (the passport number must match) | No |
| E-visa on a Chinese e-passport | Passport, e-visa approval and a completed NA1 form with a recent photo attached; officers convert the e-visa into a loose-leaf visa (a separate visa sheet), free of charge | Yes, first |
| Visa exemption (for example, 45 days for many European passports) | Passport only; airlines may check your onward ticket | No |
| Visa on arrival approval letter (15 days, single entry) | Approval letter, NA1 form with 1 photo attached, 1 spare photo and USD 25 in cash | Yes, first |
| Phu Quoc visa-free entry (up to 30 days, island only) | Passport and a direct flight to Phu Quoc from abroad | No |
If you are not sure which one applies to you, check our guide by nationality before you book.
The pre-arrival declaration in the Vietnam entry procedure
Vietnam’s Immigration Department runs a free online pre-arrival declaration for foreign travellers at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. It covers arrivals at Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) and Phu Quoc. Complete it no more than 3 days before you land, then save the confirmation QR code on your phone or print it.
Travelling on a visa on arrival? The form asks for your visa details, but an approval letter is not a visa yet. So you cannot complete the declaration before you fly. Instead, collect your visa at the visa on arrival counter first, and then fill in the declaration with the new visa details before you join the immigration queue.
Official notices describe the declaration as strongly advised, and some airports direct travellers who have not done it to fill it in on arrival, which adds time. Therefore, the simplest approach is to do it before you fly. Also, the official form is free, so ignore websites that charge a fee for it.
Health checks on arrival
No vaccination is required for visitors to Vietnam. At large airports such as Noi Bai, you walk past thermal scanners before immigration. In addition, Decree 165/2026/ND-CP, in force since 1 July 2026, allows Vietnam to require a health declaration at the border. However, the Ministry of Health activates it only for a specific disease risk, so it is not a routine step for most travellers. Check the latest news before you fly.
Step 1: Leave the aircraft and follow the “Arrivals” signs
After you leave the aircraft, follow the signs for “Arrivals” and “Immigration” (in Vietnamese, “Nhập cảnh”). At large airports, the walk can take 5 to 15 minutes. If you have a connecting domestic flight, check whether your airline transfers your bags. In most cases, you clear immigration and customs at your first airport in Vietnam. For example, if you land in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and continue on a domestic flight, you pass immigration there, even when your final stop is another Vietnamese city.
Step 2: Visa on arrival counter (only if you need it)
A visa on arrival is a 15-day, single-entry visa. If you travel with a visa on arrival approval letter, go first to the “Landing visa” counter before the immigration queue. There you:
- Show your passport, your approval letter and the completed entry and exit form NA1 (download the NA1 form).
- Then hand in the NA1 form with 1 recent passport photo (white or blue background) attached. Also carry 1 spare photo in case the officer needs it.
- Then pay the stamping fee of USD 25 in cash.
- Finally, once the visa is in your passport, complete the pre-arrival declaration on your phone (free airport Wi-Fi is available) with the new visa details, and then go to immigration.
Chinese e-passport holders with an e-visa also go to this counter first. There, officers convert the e-visa into a loose-leaf visa, a separate visa sheet, so the passport itself is not stamped. The conversion is free, but you need:
- A completed NA1 form. You can download the NA1 form (PDF) and fill it in before you fly.
- A recent passport photo, attached to the form.
Then you continue to immigration with the passport and the loose-leaf visa.
Other travellers with an e-visa or a visa exemption skip this step and go straight to immigration.
Step 3: Immigration, the main step of the Vietnam entry procedure
At passport control, join the queue for foreign passports. When it is your turn:
- Hand over your passport, and show your e-visa (printed or on your phone) and the pre-arrival QR code if asked.
- Look at the camera, and answer simple questions, such as where you will stay.
- Check the entry stamp before you leave the counter: the date and the permitted stay should match your visa.
Automated gates. Vietnam’s major airports have automated immigration gates. However, as of late 2026 they serve Vietnamese citizens and, on departure, some foreign residents, not foreign tourists. So, as a visitor, expect a staffed counter.
Waiting times. Immigration usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, but at peak times it can take an hour or more at Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai. For example, late-evening arrivals of several long-haul flights often create long queues.
Step 4: Baggage claim
After immigration, check the screens for your flight’s carousel. If a bag is missing or damaged, report it at your airline’s baggage service desk in the hall before you pass customs, because you cannot come back in later.
Step 5: Customs, green lane or red lane
Customs is the last check in the Vietnam entry procedure. Next, your bags usually go through an X-ray scanner, and then you choose a lane:
- Green lane: nothing to declare.
- Red lane: goods above the duty-free allowance, foreign cash above USD 5,000, dong above VND 15 million, gold of 300 g or more, or restricted items.
For the full limits and banned items, read our Vietnam customs rules guide.
Step 6: The arrivals hall, the end of the Vietnam entry procedure
Once you pass customs, you are in the public arrivals hall. Here you find:
- SIM cards and eSIMs. Mobile network counters sell tourist SIMs; you need your passport.
- Money. ATMs and exchange counters are available, although airport rates are often weaker than in the city.
- Transport. Use the official taxi rank, app-based rides such as Grab, or airport buses. Also, avoid drivers who approach you inside the terminal.
- Your pickup. Hotel drivers and tour guides usually wait at the exit with a name sign.
How long does the Vietnam entry procedure take?
| Step | Typical time | At peak times |
|---|---|---|
| Walk to immigration | 5 to 15 minutes | Same |
| Visa on arrival counter (if needed) | 15 to 30 minutes | 1 hour or more |
| Immigration | 15 to 30 minutes | 1 hour or more |
| Baggage claim | 10 to 30 minutes | 40 minutes |
| Customs | 1 to 5 minutes | 10 minutes |
As a result, most travellers are in the arrivals hall 45 to 90 minutes after landing. However, on a busy evening at Tan Son Nhat or Noi Bai, it can take 2 hours.
The Vietnam entry procedure at each main airport
| Airport | International arrivals | Pre-arrival declaration | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Ho Chi Minh City | Terminal 2 | Yes | Long queues late in the evening and early morning; long-haul flights move to Long Thanh from 28 March 2027 |
| Long Thanh (LTH), Dong Nai | New terminal | Check before you fly | Commercial flights start on 1 December 2026; about 40 km from District 1 |
| Noi Bai (HAN), Hanoi | Terminal 2 | Yes | Thermal scanners before immigration; about 30 km from the Old Quarter |
| Da Nang (DAD) | Terminal 2 | Yes | Evening waves of flights from Korea and China |
| Cam Ranh (CXR), Nha Trang | Terminal 2 | Yes | Charter flights often land together; about 35 km from Nha Trang |
| Phu Quoc (PQC) | One terminal | Yes | 30-day visa-free entry for the island only |
For queue times and tips at each airport, see our Fast Track guides for Tan Son Nhat, Long Thanh, Noi Bai, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc.
Skip the queue with airport Fast Track
If you travel with children, have a tight connection or simply want a calm arrival, our airport Fast Track service helps you through the longest steps of the Vietnam entry procedure:
- First, our staff meet you with a name board as you enter the arrivals area, before immigration.
- Then they take you through the fast-track lane at passport control, and help at the visa on arrival counter if you need it.
- Finally, they stay with you until baggage claim.
Fast Track starts from USD 45 per person and is available at the main international airports, including the new Long Thanh airport. See our Vietnam airport fast track service for airports and booking.
Arriving by land or sea
At land borders and cruise ports, the Vietnam entry procedure is similar: immigration first, then customs. However, e-visa holders must enter through the border gate listed in their e-visa. Visa on arrival travellers first collect their visa at the visa counter of the border gate, with the approval letter, NA1 form, photos and USD 25 in cash.
After the airport: registration and your permitted stay
The Vietnam entry procedure does not end at the airport exit. Two rules apply during your stay:
- Temporary residence registration. In general, hotels and guesthouses register foreign guests with the local police, which is why they ask for your passport at check-in. If you stay with friends or in a private home, your host must make this declaration for you.
- Your permitted stay. The last day you can stay is the one on your entry stamp or e-visa. Therefore, overstaying can mean a fine at departure, and in serious cases, deportation and a ban on future visits.
Common problems in the Vietnam entry procedure, and how to avoid them
- E-visa details do not match the passport. One wrong letter or digit can mean refused boarding. So check your approval as soon as you receive it.
- Wrong entry point. Your e-visa lists an entry airport, seaport or land border; use that one.
- Passport too close to expiry or damaged. Renew it if less than 6 months remain, or if pages are torn or water-damaged.
- Two passports. In addition, dual nationals should enter and leave Vietnam on the same passport, the one that matches the visa or exemption.
- No pre-arrival QR code. Complete the declaration before you fly to avoid filling it in at the airport. Visa on arrival travellers are the exception: they complete it right after the landing visa counter.
- Banned items in your bag. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco are banned, and customs may confiscate them.
FAQ about the Vietnam entry procedure
Is the pre-arrival declaration part of the Vietnam entry procedure?
Officials strongly advise it at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc, and some airports ask travellers to complete it on arrival. Since it is free and quick, do it within 3 days before landing. However, if you travel on a visa on arrival, you complete it at the airport after you receive your visa at the landing visa counter, because the form asks for visa details.
Do I need to print my Vietnam e-visa?
It is not required in every case, but many travellers carry a printed copy. Also, keep a copy on your phone in case the airline or the officer asks.
Do I need a return ticket for the Vietnam entry procedure?
Immigration mainly checks your visa. However, airlines may ask for an onward ticket at check-in, especially for visa-exempt stays.
Do I need a vaccination or health declaration to enter Vietnam?
No, no vaccination is required. Also, a health declaration is only needed if the Ministry of Health activates it for a specific disease risk.
Can foreign tourists use the automated gates?
Not at the moment. In late 2026 the gates serve Vietnamese citizens and, on departure, some foreign residents, so tourists use the staffed counters.
How long does it take to get through a Vietnamese airport?
Usually 45 to 90 minutes from landing to the arrivals hall, and up to 2 hours at peak times. With Fast Track, the immigration step is much shorter.
Facts checked on 8 November 2026 against the Singapore Embassy in Hanoi’s notice on the pre-arrival declaration, the official pre-arrival portal, Noi Bai Airport’s arrival guide, UK travel advice for Vietnam, Nhân Dân on automated gates at Noi Bai and our own airport operations.
Share this article: