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IN BRIEF
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Good news for French-speaking travelers in Europe: Belgians, Luxembourgish, and Swiss citizens can now discover Vietnam without a visa. They enjoy a free stay of up to 45 days — and for the more curious, an e-Visa allows stays of up to 90 days with multiple entries, a measure extended at least until summer 2028. Ready to sip an iced coffee in Hanoi without paperwork?
Good news for travelers in Europe: Belgian, Luxembourgish, and Swiss citizens can now visit Vietnam without a visa for stays of up to 45 days. Those who want to take their time can opt for an e-Visa allowing a stay of 90 days with multiple entries. This policy, extended at least until summer 2028, is part of a broader opening that now includes 24 exempted nationalities. Here’s what it concretely changes for your next trip to the land of lanterns and phở.
Say goodbye to paperwork and queues: holders of Belgian, Luxembourgish, and Swiss passports benefit from a visa exemption to enter Vietnam and stay for up to 45 days. Whether you’re coming for tourism, business, a family trip, or a little culinary adventure with bánh mì and cà phê sữa đá, you’re covered.
The cherry on the conical hat: the measure, initially launched as a test, has been extended under the same conditions at least until summer 2028. The result: more spontaneity, flexibility, and a great excuse to finally check Ha Long Bay or the Mekong Delta off your dream map.
How long and for what type of stay?
The exemption allows you 45 days on site, starting from arrival, with no prior formalities. Want to go further? The e-Visa (to be requested on the official website of the Vietnamese authorities) grants up to 90 days with multiple entries. Perfect for alternating between the rice fields of Sapa and the beaches of Phú Quốc, with a detour to Cambodia between two phos.
And what if you want to stay longer?
Plan early. The 90-day e-Visa is tailored for long-term travelers, digital nomads, and food lovers who need to “review” Hanoi’s café map several times. Be sure to check the passport validity (often at least six months beyond the entry date) and keep a printed copy of your e-Visa and your exit evidence if the airline requests it.
What changes for your itinerary in Vietnam
With 45 days without a visa, you go from “extended weekend” to “true odyssey.” You can connect Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City at leisure: Ha Long Bay or Ninh Bình, the ancient town of Hội An, the highlands of Đà Lạt, the dunes of Mũi Né… The pace adapts to your desires and your appetite for noodles.
With a 90-day e-Visa and multiple entries, your map becomes a treasure hunt: northern loop (Sapa, Hà Giang), beach break in the center, a cross-border escape, then a festive return to Saigon. All this, without juggling Kafkaesque procedures.
Examples of atmospheres and durations
In 45 days: the classic “North–Center–South,” punctuated by night trains, floating markets, and coffee with condensed milk. In 90 days: dive deeper into each region, spend more time with locals, learn to say “thank you” in three dialects, and become an expert on the difference between bún bò Huế and phở bò.
Who else is affected by the visa exemption?
Vietnam rolls out the silk carpet to a total of 24 nationalities, including: Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, South Korea, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland. A club that is expanding, showing that this openness bears fruit and makes you want to return for a second (or third) round of bánh xèo.
Why now?
Because simplifying formalities is often the best way to boost arrivals and bring back travelers. The measure, tested and then extended until summer 2028, illustrates a clear strategy: to make access to the country smoother, especially for European and Asian markets.
Practical formalities and tips
Before you embark, check the validity of your passport, your tickets (one-way or exit flight), and consider a travel insurance. Keep your hotel reservations on you, and if you opt for the 90-day e-Visa, keep the official confirmation handy. Upon arrival, a smile and a stamp: you’re ready to negotiate your first coconut.
On the budget and comparisons, if you’re juggling destinations, note that the cost of a US visa is nothing like the Vietnamese simplicity: check a clear guide on US visa pricing to anticipate your expenses. To follow the evolution of entry policies in the region and beyond, take a look at the latest visa news (US, Vietnam, Japan). And if America is also on the menu, know that your social media may be taken into account: here’s what to know about US visa requests and social media.
Furthermore, traveling is also about staying informed about conditions on the ground. Have a getaway to Mexico in mind? Take the time to read these safety and risk tips. Or let yourself be inspired by more off-the-beaten-path destinations, like this island-sanctuary 18 km offshore that makes you want to book a ticket as soon as tomorrow.
