Vietnam is straightforward to enter for French travellers, who get 45 days visa-free, and requires an e-visa for Moroccan passport holders. Since April 2026, an online arrival declaration has also been rolling out at Vietnamese airports.
Before you go
🛂 Visa
French passport: no visa for up to 45 days, under an exemption valid from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028 (the dates the Vietnamese government has set so far, with a possible extension). Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of entry and have two blank pages. To return to Vietnam without a visa, you must wait 30 days after your last exit.
Moroccan passport: a visa is required before departure. Morocco is not on the visa-exempt list, but the e-visa is open to all nationalities.
E-visa (for stays beyond 45 days, or for a Moroccan passport): valid up to 90 days, USD 25 for a single entry or USD 50 for multiple entries, issued in about three working days. Apply only on the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, and apply one to two weeks before departure.
📱 Online arrival declaration
Foreign visitors, with or without a visa, are asked to complete a free online declaration before arrival and show the QR code to immigration. It became mandatory at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport on 15 April 2026, and at Phu Quoc on 1 June 2026, and it is being extended to other airports. Complete it on the official portal, prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, up to three days before your flight, and save the QR code on your phone. Check the requirement for your arrival airport before you fly.
🕐 Flight and time difference
Vietnam is on UTC+7 all year, with no daylight saving. That is +6 hours from France in winter and +5 in summer, and +6 hours from Morocco most of the year (+7 during Ramadan, when Morocco moves back to GMT). Air France and Vietnam Airlines fly direct from Paris: about 11h20 to Hanoi and about 12h25 to Ho Chi Minh City.
🔌 Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz. Type A (two flat pins) and type C (two round pins) are the most common, and many sockets accept both. Most European chargers fit directly; a universal adapter is a safe backup for older sockets.
🚭 Vaping and heated tobacco
E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are banned nationwide, for foreigners too. Using them can mean a fine of 3 to 5 million dong and on-the-spot confiscation of the device. Leave them at home.
🌦️ When to go
Vietnam has three climates. The North is best from October to April, the Centre from February to August, and the South from November to April. For a single trip across the whole country, February to April works best. Avoid Tết, the Lunar New Year, which falls on 6 February 2027: many sites close and transport is packed. Exact closure dates are not yet confirmed.
Once you are there
💵 Cash or card
The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). Street food, markets, small shops and local transport are mostly cash. Hotels and better restaurants accept cards. Foreign cards at ATMs usually pay a fee of 20,000 to 55,000 VND per withdrawal, and many local banks cap each withdrawal at 2 to 3 million VND, so withdraw larger amounts when the machine allows it.
🚕 Getting around
Grab, the local ride-hailing app, covers cars and motorbike taxis in cities and from airports, and shows the fare before you book. For excursions, ask for the door-to-door time, not the road time. Hanoi to Ha Long takes 2h30 to 3h30 by road depending on traffic.
📶 Connectivity
An eSIM is the simplest way to have data on arrival, with no counter to find at the airport.
🛕 Pagodas and temples
Cover shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off where asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly in and out of Vietnam repeatedly, for example on a side trip to Thailand or Cambodia?
Under the 45-day exemption, you must wait 30 days between the end of one visa-free stay and the start of the next. If your plan involves coming back sooner, get an e-visa.
Does the e-visa work at every airport and border crossing?
No. E-visa holders can enter only through designated airports and border gates. Check the list on the official portal before choosing your arrival airport.
Should I print my e-visa?
Yes. Official guidance asks you to print the approved e-visa and present it at the border, so carry a paper copy as well as the PDF.
Is there a visa-free option for Phu Quoc?
Yes: all nationalities can stay on Phu Quoc Island for 30 days without a visa, but only if they arrive on a direct international flight to Phu Quoc and stay on the island. You cannot continue to mainland Vietnam without a valid visa or exemption.
Does Tết affect visa processing?
Visa processing can slow down or pause during Vietnamese public holidays, including Tết. If you travel around 6 February 2027, apply well in advance.
Most of it is paperwork you do once, and it makes the difference between landing smoothly and queuing at a counter.
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Séquence — Travel Design House
Member of the Collectif My Way · Licensed travel operator (Atout France)
