How to get a visa for Vietnam in America?

All US citizens that intend to visit Vietnam for a leisure or business trip are required to organise a Vietnam visa before arriving in the country.

Which type of Vietnam Visa?
There are several options to apply for a valid Vietnam visa for the US travellers, including:

Visa on arrival
One of the most popular visas for US travellers is the visa on arrival. This type of visa is appreciated for its simplicity, fast processing, low-cost, and all-round convenience. It is a viable visa option for the US travellers that intend to arrive in the country via one of the major international airports such as Nha Trang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang.

The process to apply for the visa on arrival is quick and efficient. Simply get in touch with a third-party tour operator or travel agent based in Vietnam who is authorised to issue this document. Once the short application form is completed and the relevant fee is paid, an official visa approval letter is issued. This document is sent by email and must be printed out and taken on the trip to Vietnam. It is an accepted document to board the flight to Vietnam and on arrival in the country; it is used to get the proper visa stamp in the passport.

Vietnamese Embassy
The next legitimate option to apply for the Vietnam visa is to get it via a Vietnamese Embassy in the US or in another country if already travelling.

If planning to organise the Vietnam visa using the embassy or consulate option, there are several to visit, including the Vietnam Embassy in Washington (1233, 20th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington DC, 20036), the Vietnam General Consulate in San Francisco (1700 California St, Suite 430 San Francisco, CA 94109) or Vietnam Consulate in Houston Texas (5251 Westheimer Road, Suite 1100, Houston, Texas 77056).

In order to understand the visa application procedure, required documents and fees relevant, it is practical to contact the preferred Vietnamese embassy or consulate.

E-visa
The final option to apply for the visa to Vietnam is the e-visa which was introduced by the government in February 2017. This is a practical option for US travellers planning to visit Vietnam for tourist purposes for a period of up to 30 days and with one single entry. 

To apply for the e-visa, the US citizens must visit the official website (https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt) and fill out the application form and submit the required documentation. Plus, the relevant fee must also be paid at this time. Provided the application form is accepted, the e-visa is issued by email which is printed and taken on the trip to Vietnam.

Any US travellers holding the Vietnam e-visa can enter the country via one of seven sea ports, one of 13 international border gates, or one of eight international airports, including Hanoi in the north, Da Nang in the central regions, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

Read our: Vietnam visa guide for US passport holders