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Vietnam Visa for Laotian Citizens

Contents

    As of 2026: Laotian passport holders can visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 30 days. For a longer stay, an e-visa arranged before travel allows up to 90 days - A$99 (about US$69) with MyVietnamVisa, government fee included.

    • Passport valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive
    • A clear photo or scan of your passport's photo page
    • A recent passport-style photo: white background, no glasses
    Type of visaRequirementMaximum stay
    Visit without a visaVisa-free30 days
    E-visaEligible90 days
    Visa on arrivalApproval letter neededSet by the letter

    Highlights

    • Laotian citizens can enter Vietnam without a visa for up to 30 days.
    • Laotian passport holders can apply for the e-visa online: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
    • Standard processing is within 8 business days; the price starts from A$99 (about US$69), government fee included, with faster options available.
    • The e-visa is accepted at 83 international airports, land borders and seaports.

    Do Laotian passport holders need a visa for Vietnam?

    Not for stays of up to 30 days.

    Laotian passport holders can enter Vietnam without a visa and stay for up to 30 days, counting the day of arrival. For anything longer - up to 90 days - an e-visa has to be arranged before travel.

    Can Laotian citizens get an e-visa?

    Yes.

    It is the most convenient way for Laotian travellers to get a visa for Vietnam. The whole application is online and the visa arrives by email.

    Validity
    Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.

    Government fee
    US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, set by the Vietnam Immigration Department.

    How to apply
    Apply on the official government portal, evisa.gov.vn, or through a visa agency. If you apply with us, the processing times and fees are as follows:

    Type of visaProcessing timeFee*
    E-Visa - Single Entry (90 days)Standard - within 8 business daysA$99
    Express - 3 business daysA$165
    Urgent - 1 business dayA$245
    Business E-Visa - Single Entry (90 days)Standard - within 8 business daysA$99
    Express - 3 business daysA$165
    Urgent - 1 business dayA$245
    E-Visa - Multiple Entry (90 days)Standard - within 8 business daysA$139
    Express - 3 business daysA$205
    Urgent - 1 business dayA$285
    Business E-Visa - Multiple Entry (90 days)Standard - within 8 business daysA$139
    Express - 3 business daysA$205
    Urgent - 1 business dayA$285

    * Per applicant, in Australian dollars. The fee already includes the government e-visa fee. A$99 is about US$69 at today's rate.

    Apply for e-visa online

    How to apply from Laos

    1. Apply online in minutes. Upload your passport photo page and a portrait photo, then pay by card.
    2. We check your file. If the photo or scan won't pass, we message you on WhatsApp before anything goes to immigration.
    3. Your e-visa arrives by email. Print it and show it at check-in and at passport control in Vietnam.

    Visa-free or e-visa - which do Laotian travellers need?

    Laotian citizens can enter Vietnam without a visa and stay for up to 30 days, counting the day of arrival as day one. You need a passport valid for at least six months, and the airline may ask to see a ticket out of Vietnam within that time.

    An e-visa is the better choice when the trip is longer than 30 days: it allows up to 90 days and costs A$99, about US$69. It has to be arranged before you travel. Vietnam only accepts e-visa applications from people who are outside the country, so visa-free entry can't be converted into a longer stay after you land.

    Do you need to go to the Vietnamese embassy in Vientiane?

    No. Vietnam has an embassy in Vientiane and consulates in Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Pakse, but the e-visa is issued electronically. There is no appointment and you don't hand over your passport: you apply online and the visa arrives by email as a PDF.

    Flying to Vietnam from Laos

    There are direct flights to Vietnam from Vientiane and Luang Prabang, mostly to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Hanoi (HAN).

    Airline staff check your visa before the first flight, so keep the PDF on your phone and carry a printed copy. Schedules change - check current flights before you book.

    Paying from Laos

    Prices are set in Australian dollars: A$99 is about US$69 at today's rate. You pay by debit or credit card. Most major currencies are offered at checkout, and where yours isn't the charge is made in US dollars.

    When to apply

    Standard processing takes up to 8 business days, or 3 business days with express processing for an extra A$66. Urgent processing (1 business day, A$146 extra) covers last-minute trips.

    Vietnam's immigration offices don't work weekends or public holidays, and the Tet holiday in late January or February stops processing for about a week. An e-visa's start and end dates are fixed when it is issued, so apply once your flights are booked - two to three weeks ahead is comfortable.

    Summary

    • Laotian visitors need a valid passport, and a visa only for stays longer than 30 days.
    • The e-visa is available to Laotian passport holders for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
    • Apply two to three weeks before your trip; faster processing is available if you are late.
    • Vietnamese public holidays, especially Tet, slow processing down.
    • The name, date of birth and passport number on the visa must match the passport exactly.

    See also

    Questions and answers

    Frequently asked questions

    1. Do Laotian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
    Laotian passport holders can visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 30 days. For a longer stay, an e-visa arranged before travel allows up to 90 days - A$99 (about US$69) with MyVietnamVisa, government fee included.
    2. How much is a Vietnam visa for Laotian citizens?
    The Vietnam E-Visa - Single Entry (90 days) costs A$99 (about US$69 at today's rate) through MyVietnamVisa. That includes the Vietnamese government's e-visa fee and our team checking your photo and passport scan before the application is lodged. The multiple-entry version is A$139. Express processing is available for an extra A$66. You can pay by card in most major currencies.
    3. How long can Laotian citizens stay in Vietnam?
    Up to 30 days without a visa, or up to 90 days on an e-visa. The e-visa's start and end dates are fixed when it is issued, and it can't be extended from inside Vietnam - for more time you leave and apply for a new one.
    4. How long does the e-visa take to process?
    Standard processing is within 8 business days. If you fly sooner, choose Express or Urgent processing when you apply. Vietnam's immigration offices are closed at weekends and on public holidays, so leave a margin before departure.
    5. How long can Laotian citizens stay in Vietnam without a visa?
    Up to 30 days per visit, including the day of arrival. There is no minimum gap between visits, so you can leave and enter visa-free again, but each stay is capped at 30 days.
    6. Can I stay in Vietnam longer than 30 days?
    Yes, with an e-visa arranged before you travel: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. Without one you must leave by day 30.
    7. Do I have to visit the Vietnamese embassy in Vientiane?
    No. Vietnam has an embassy in Vientiane and consulates in Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Pakse, but the e-visa is issued electronically. There is no appointment and you don't hand over your passport: you apply online and the visa arrives by email as a PDF.
    8. Are there direct flights from Laos to Vietnam?
    There are direct flights to Vietnam from Vientiane and Luang Prabang, mostly to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Hanoi (HAN).
    9. Do I need to fill in a form before arriving in Vietnam?
    Vietnam has introduced an online pre-arrival form. It became compulsory for foreign passengers landing at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport on 15 April 2026 and is being extended to other airports. It is free, is completed on the immigration department's website within three days of arrival, and gives you a QR code to show at passport control. It is separate from your visa.