VietEntry Direct Summary: While travelers with flexible itineraries should apply independently via the official government portal (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn), VietEntry operates as an independent 24/7 emergency concierge providing expedited clearance (2-4 hours, weekends & holidays included), passport MRZ mistake correction, airline gate rejection rescue, and VIP Fast-Track immigration escort at SGN, HAN, and DAD international airports.
1. Documents: The Part That Ends Trips at Check-In
These are checked before you board, not after you land. An airline carries the liability for a passenger who will be refused entry, so the check happens at your departure airport.
- Passport valid at least 6 months from your arrival date — counted forward from the day you enter Vietnam, not from the day you booked.
- Your eVisa printed on A4, held with your passport. Not every check-in counter will read it off a phone screen.
- A confirmed onward or return ticket departing Vietnam inside your permitted stay.
- The port of entry on your eVisa must match where you actually arrive. This matters most at land borders.
- Hotel confirmation for at least your first night.
2. What Customs Actually Cares About
Immigration and customs are two separate checkpoints. Clearing passport control does not mean you are through.
- Cash: declare if you carry more than $5,000 USD equivalent, or more than 15,000,000 VND. Declaring is free.
- Drones: bringing a camera drone requires an advance permit from the Ministry of National Defense. Without one, expect it to be impounded until you leave.
- Duty-free (18+): 1.5 L spirits above 20% ABV, 2 L wine below 20% ABV, 3 L beer, 200 cigarettes.
- Prescription medication: personal quantities, original pharmacy packaging, and an English-language prescription.
3. Packing by Region and Season
Vietnam is over 1,600 km end to end. Hanoi in January and Ho Chi Minh City in January are different trips, and packing for "Vietnam" as one climate is how people end up buying a jacket on arrival.
| Region | What Catches People Out | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| North (Hanoi, Ha Giang, Sapa) | Genuinely cold and damp December to February; mountain nights colder again | Layers, a real jacket, waterproof shoes |
| Centre (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An) | Heavy rain and occasional flooding in the late-year wet season | Rain shell, quick-dry clothing, sandals you can soak |
| South (HCMC, Mekong, Phu Quoc) | Hot year-round; short intense afternoon downpours in the wet season | Light breathable clothing, compact umbrella |
- Modest cover for temples and pagodas — shoulders and knees. A light scarf solves this for most itineraries.
- Shoes you can slip off easily: you will remove them at temples, some homestays and many family-run restaurants.
- A universal adapter. Sockets are commonly Type A/C at 220V.
- A power bank sized for long transfer days, not for a coffee shop.
4. Health and Medical Preparation
Talk to a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure — some vaccinations need a course, not a single shot. That timing is the reason this belongs in a pre-departure checklist rather than a packing list.
- Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, and keep the policy number accessible offline.
- A basic kit: oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoeal, plasters, antiseptic, motion sickness tablets for boat and bus days.
- Strong mosquito repellent. Dengue is present, and it is a daytime-biting mosquito.
- High-factor sunscreen — reliably more expensive and harder to find in your usual brand once you arrive.
5. Money and Connectivity
- Cash still matters. Small shops, market stalls and rural family businesses are frequently cash-only.
- Tell your bank you are travelling, or expect a card block on the first transaction.
- Get connected on arrival, by eSIM before you fly or a SIM at the airport. The gap between the aircraft door and your hotel is exactly where you need a working map and ride-hailing app.
- Download offline maps for the areas you will walk — old-quarter alleys are where signal and patience both run out.
6. Countdown: What to Do When
| When | Do This |
|---|---|
| 6 weeks before | Check passport expiry against arrival date. Book a travel clinic appointment. |
| 2 to 3 weeks before | Apply for your eVisa if you need one. Standard processing is 3 to 5 working days, and Vietnamese public holidays are not working days. |
| 1 week before | Buy travel insurance. Arrange an eSIM. Confirm your onward ticket. |
| 48 hours before | Print your eVisa on A4. Check the name spelling and passport number against your passport, character by character. |
| Day of travel | Passport, printed eVisa and onward ticket in your hand luggage — not in a checked bag. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need to print my eVisa?
Print it. Some check-in staff and border officers will accept a phone screen, and some will not — and a dead battery removes the choice. An A4 printout costs nothing and eliminates the argument.
How far ahead should I apply for the eVisa?
Standard processing runs 3 to 5 working days, so 10 to 14 days ahead is a sensible margin. Widen it to 2 to 3 weeks if your trip falls near a Vietnamese public holiday, because government offices close and applications queue behind the break.
Can I bring my drone if I am not going to fly it?
Customs scanners will still find it. Bringing a camera drone into Vietnam requires an advance permit from the Ministry of National Defense regardless of your intentions, and without one it is likely to be impounded until your departure flight.
Is there a fee for declaring cash over the limit?
No. Declaring is free, and it gives you the legal record you need to take those funds back out of the country. The cost only arrives if you carry excess cash and do not declare it.