Indians need a visa, and the eVisa is the way
Indian passport holders need a visa to enter Vietnam, including travellers flying from Kerala. The good news is that Vietnam runs an official eVisa system that covers tourism, and most applications are straightforward when the details match the passport exactly. Start from our visa services if you want the filing handled, or follow this guide to do it yourself.
eVisa types and official fees
| eVisa type | Validity | Official fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry, 90 days | One entry within 90 days | USD 25 |
| Multiple entry, 90 days | Multiple entries within 90 days | USD 50 |
Pay only on the official immigration portal. Third-party sites charge service fees on top and add nothing to the approval itself. If an agent files for you, you are paying for their time and error-checking, which is fair as long as it is stated.
Documents you need
A passport valid at least six months beyond your entry date with blank pages. A recent passport-size photograph on a plain background. Confirmed travel dates and your first stay address in Vietnam, since the form asks for it. A payment card for the fee. That is the full list for most tourist cases. Entry and exit points can be specified on the form, so know whether you fly into Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City before applying.
Processing time and when to apply
Standard processing runs 3 to 5 working days, excluding Vietnamese public holidays. In practice most eVisas land in that window, but rejections and corrections restart the clock. Apply at least two weeks before the flight and a month ahead in December to January peak season. Do not book non-refundable domestic flights inside Vietnam until the eVisa letter is in hand.
Mistakes that delay approval
Name order mismatches between the form and the passport are the top cause of trouble, especially with initials and expanded names common in Kerala. Photographs that do not meet the specification come next. Wrong entry date or entry point selections cause issues at immigration even when the visa is approved, so recheck those two fields before paying. And never travel on an approval meant for someone else, airlines catch it at check-in and the trip ends there.
eVisa vs visa on arrival
Vietnam's old visa-on-arrival letter system for air arrivals has largely given way to the eVisa, which works at airports, land borders and seaports. Unless you have a specific reason to use an arrival letter, the eVisa is simpler, cheaper and accepted more widely. Treat any blog still pushing arrival letters as the default with suspicion and check the date it was written.
Frequently asked questions
USD 25 for a single-entry 90-day eVisa and USD 50 for multiple entry, paid on the official portal. Agent service charges, if you use one, sit on top.
Three to five working days normally. Apply two weeks before travel, earlier in peak season, and keep an eye on Vietnamese holidays that pause processing.
The eVisa is the recommended route and works at all major airports including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Get it approved before flying rather than counting on arrival formalities.
Ninety days from the granted entry date, single or multiple entry as applied for. The stay cannot exceed the approved duration, and overstays draw fines.
The form asks for your first accommodation address, so have at least the first stay fixed. Full-trip bookings are not required for approval but help the rest of the planning.