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Country guide · Vietnam

Vietnam travel apps and what you need before you go

See if your passport gets visa-free entry (UK and many European passports get 45 days) or apply for a 90-day e-visa on the official site evisa.gov.vn; your passport needs 6 months left. At the main airports, fill in the free pre-arrival form at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 3 days of landing. For apps, use Grab for rides and food with a foreign card, Xanh SM as a cash alternative, Vexere or Vietnam Railways for buses and trains, and Zalo once you have a local SIM.

Checked against official sources on 22 October 202613 apps · 6 to set up at home
Limestone islands and tour boats in Ha Long Bay, seen from Ti Top Island
Photo: Steffen Schmitz, CC BY-SA 4.0

What you need to enter Vietnam

Vietnam's entry rules depend on your nationality. Check your passport against the official e-visa portal and your nearest Vietnamese embassy before you book.

Visa exemption

Citizens of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Japan, South Korea and Russia can stay up to 45 days without a visa until 14 March 2028. A second group (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland) gets 45 days for tourism until 14 August 2028. Other countries have their own bilateral terms, and many passports, such as US, Canadian and Australian, are not on these lists and need an e-visa.

Source: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism · Embassy of Vietnam in Denmark · Tuoi Tre News, 45-day waiver for 12 more countries

E-visa

Every nationality can apply online for an e-visa valid for up to 90 days, single entry (25 USD) or multiple entry (50 USD). Apply only at evisa.gov.vn; other sites add fees. The e-visa is tied to the entry and exit points you choose, and if you apply while already in Vietnam you must leave and re-enter for it to start.

Source: U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam · Embassy of Vietnam in Singapore, e-visas for all countries · GOV.UK Vietnam entry requirements

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after arrival, have at least 2 blank pages and be undamaged; damaged passports have been refused. Enter and leave on the same passport, and check the stamped exit date before leaving the immigration desk.

Source: GOV.UK Vietnam entry requirements

Pre-arrival declaration

Foreign visitors arriving at Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) and Phu Quoc airports are asked to complete an online pre-arrival declaration no more than 3 days before arrival, to avoid longer queues. Use the official site prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. No health declaration is required at present.

Source: High Commission of Singapore in Hanoi · GOV.UK Vietnam entry requirements

Customs

Declare cash above 15 million VND or 5,000 USD (or equivalent). Carry prescription medicines in hand luggage with a copy of the prescription.

Source: GOV.UK Vietnam entry requirements

Before you fly: 7 steps

  1. Check your passport has 6 months left, 2 blank pages and no damage.
  2. Check if your nationality is visa-exempt; if not, apply for the e-visa at evisa.gov.vn at least a week ahead.
  3. Complete the free pre-arrival form at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 3 days of landing.
  4. Install Grab and add your card; add Xanh SM as a cash backup.
  5. Book long-distance trains on Vietnam Railways or buses on Vexere.
  6. Set up VNPAY with your foreign card if you want to pay QR codes.
  7. Download offline Google Maps and the Vietnamese pack in Google Translate.

The apps that matter in Vietnam

Grouped by the job they do. Set up at home means install it and sign in before you fly, while you still have your home number and Wi-Fi.

Entry and official apps

Vietnam e-visa portal

The government site for applying for and checking a Vietnamese e-visa.

Set up at home

Apply at least a week before you fly and print or save the approved e-visa. Pick entry and exit points that match your actual route.

Official siteSource: U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam

Pre-arrival declaration

The immigration department's free online form for arrivals at Vietnam's main international airports.

Set up at home

Fill it in the day before you fly, using Vietnam time, so it falls inside the 3-day window.

Official siteSource: High Commission of Singapore in Hanoi

Taxis and ride hailing

Grab

Cars, motorbike taxis, food delivery and parcels, with an English interface.

Set up at home

The easiest ride app for visitors: it works with a foreign phone number and foreign Visa or Mastercard cards, so set it up before you fly.

Official siteSource: Expat Focus, Vietnam ride-hailing guide (May 2026)

Xanh SM

Vingroup's all-electric taxi and motorbike service, now one of the biggest ride apps in Vietnam.

Limited for visitors

Foreign-issued cards are not yet accepted, so keep small dong notes to pay the driver in cash.

Official siteSource: Expat Focus, Vietnam ride-hailing guide (May 2026)

Be

A Vietnamese ride-hailing app for cars and motorbikes in many cities.

Limited for visitors

Useful as a backup when Grab is busy, but the English interface is limited.

Official siteSource: Expat Focus, Vietnam ride-hailing guide (May 2026)

Trains and long-distance travel

Vexere

Book buses, trains, flights and car or motorbike rentals in English.

Good for sleeper buses between cities, where you can compare operators and seat types in one place.

Official siteSource: Vexere

Vietnam Railways

The national railway's own ticket site for the north-south Reunification line and other routes.

Payment now goes through a VNPAY gateway that accepts foreign bank cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, so you can book from home.

Official siteSource: Tuoi Tre News, Vietnam Railways e-wallet ticketing

12Go

English booking site for Vietnamese trains, buses and transfers, such as Hanoi to Sapa.

Handy when you want train and bus options side by side for one route.

Official siteSource: 12Go

Maps

Google Maps

Directions, opening hours and reviews across Vietnam.

Set up at home

Save offline maps of each city, and save addresses so you can show them to drivers.

Official siteSource: Google Maps

Paying

VNPAY

A Vietnamese payment app that has a visitor sign-up for paying VNPAY-QR codes with a foreign card.

Set up at home

Register with your passport details, an international number and email, then link a Visa, Mastercard or JCB card and verify with your bank's OTP.

Official siteSource: Da Nang Department of Tourism, VNPAY for international visitors

Messaging and calls

Zalo

Vietnam's main messaging app, used by guesthouses, tour guides, drivers and shops.

Limited for visitors

Plan to register it with your Vietnamese SIM once you arrive; we could not confirm that sign-up with a foreign number works reliably. WhatsApp is still fine for most hotels used to foreign guests.

Official siteSource: Zalo

Food and delivery

ShopeeFood

A large Vietnamese food delivery app, often with more small local restaurants than GrabFood.

Limited for visitors

Expect to need a Vietnamese phone number and local payment; GrabFood inside Grab is simpler with a foreign card.

Official siteSource: ShopeeFood

Translation

Google Translate

Camera translation for menus and signs, and conversation mode for drivers.

Set up at home

Download the Vietnamese language pack for offline use.

Official siteSource: Google Translate

Money: Vietnamese dong (VND)

Cash is still king at street stalls, markets and metered taxis, so carry small dong notes. Hotels, malls and chain restaurants take cards, and locals pay almost everything by QR code. Visitors can now scan Vietnamese QR codes with a growing list of home apps (Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, several Singapore, Thai, Korean, Lao and Cambodian apps) and Mastercard's Pay Local, or link a foreign card in the VNPAY app. Tipping is not expected but is welcome for guides and drivers.

Practical things to know

Plugs
Mostly Types A and C; 220 V. Bring a universal adapter.
Emergency numbers
Police 113, fire 114, ambulance 115.
Mobile data
Buy a SIM from an official carrier store with your passport, or set up a travel eSIM before you fly if your phone accepts other carriers' SIMs. A local number makes Zalo and Vietnamese apps much easier.
Tipping
Not expected. Rounding up for drivers and a tip for tour guides is appreciated.
Cash at customs
Declare more than 15 million VND or 5,000 USD in cash when you arrive.

Questions travelers ask

Do I need a visa for Vietnam?

It depends on your passport. UK and many European passports get 45 days visa-free; others, including US, Canadian and Australian passports, apply online for a 90-day e-visa at evisa.gov.vn.

How much is the Vietnam e-visa?

25 USD for single entry and 50 USD for multiple entry, valid for up to 90 days, on the official portal.

Does Gojek still work in Vietnam?

No. Gojek left Vietnam in September 2024. Use Grab, Xanh SM or Be instead.

Can tourists use MoMo in Vietnam?

We could not confirm that MoMo accepts foreign cards for visitors. The VNPAY app has a visitor sign-up for linking a foreign Visa, Mastercard or JCB card.

Do I need the pre-arrival form for Vietnam?

If you fly into Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang or Phu Quoc, complete it online within 3 days before arrival to avoid longer queues. It is free.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with the official links before you travel.

Found a mistake? Report a correction and we’ll check it against the source.

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