Vietnam

Travel to Vietnam

Singaporeans who wish to enter Vietnam should refer to the website of the Vietnam Embassy in Singapore for information on entry requirements. Generally, Singapore Passport Holders do not require a visa to enter Vietnam and can remain up to 30 days per entry. Please note that the approval for entry into Vietnam, is ultimately at the assessment and discretion of the Vietnam Immigration authorities.

In case of emergencies, Singaporeans are strongly encouraged to eRegister with MFA at https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg and, depending on your needs, consider purchasing comprehensive travel insurance beyond the Vietnamese government's requirements to deal with contingencies and avoid having to pay hefty medical expenses and related costs.

Useful Resources

For the latest information on Vietnam’s travel policies and medical-related advisories, please visit these websites:

Vietnam Embassy in Singapore (https://vnembassy-singapore.mofa.gov.vn)

Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mofa.gov.vn)

Singaporeans in Vietnam are strongly advised to follow local developments closely. Singaporeans are encouraged to eRegister with MFA at https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg, and follow the Singapore Embassy in Hanoi and Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh’s Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/SingaporeEmbassyHanoi) to receive the latest consular‑related news and updates.

For urgent consular assistance, please contact the following:

Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Vietnam

Address: No. 41 & 43, Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tel: +84-24-3848-9168, 3848-9170

Emergency Tel (after hours): +84-904-696-589

Email: singemb_han@mfa.sg

URL: https://hanoi.mfa.gov.sg

Singapore Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City

Address: The Saigon Centre Tower 2, #11-05, 67 Le Loi Boulevard, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tel: +84-28-3822-5174

Emergency Tel: +84-903-113-500

Email: singcg_hcm@mfa.sg

URL: https://hochiminhcity.mfa.gov.sg

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24-hour)

Tanglin, Singapore 248163

Tel: +65 6379 8800; +65 6379 8855

Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg

Embassy of Vietnam in Singapore

Address: 10 Leedon Park

Singapore 267887

Tel: +65 6467 2207

Email: vnemb.sg@mofa.gov.vn

Immigration & Stay Periods: When you enter or depart the country, always check before leaving the Immigration Checkpoint to ensure that your passport is stamped with the correct dates. Please do not pass immigration booths that are unattended. Take note of your valid stay period in Vietnam. Your valid stay period will be written on your passport by the Immigration Officer when you enter Vietnam. Do note that if you have applied for a separate Vietnam visa and entered Vietnam on the 30-day visa-free entry for Singaporeans before the visa was approved, your approved stay period will not be automatically extended. According to Vietnamese regulations, travellers who applied for a separate Vietnam visa and entered Vietnam using that visa will have an approved stay period valid until the last day of that visa, which may be shorter than 30 days. This is regardless of the fact that Singaporeans are generally permitted to remain in Vietnam for up to 30 days per entry. Vietnam authorities have increased their fines for foreigners who overstayed their period of residence and have urged foreign residents to monitor the validity of their residence documents closely.

If entering Vietnam via Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, you may wish to note that according to a notice published on the Facebook page of the HCMC Immigration Office, citing dispatch No. 1474/CACK TSN, foreign nationals entering Vietnam via Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City must submit personal information before arrival. (Transit passengers are exempt.)

Passengers must complete the declaration online here or via the official QR code system, and will receive a confirmation QR code to present to immigration officers at the airport. Travelers are required to ensure the accuracy and completeness of submitted information. Failure to complete the declaration in advance may result in longer processing times at immigration checkpoints. It is hence recommended that passengers complete the process before departure to reduce congestion and speed up entry procedures. This system is expected to be deployed nationwide in the future but is currently only effective for Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Sanitation and Hygiene: Tap water is not safe for drinking. Avoid drinking un-boiled water and taking ice from unknown sources. Always use purified or mineral water for drinking. It is recommended that travellers have medications such as charcoal and diarrhoea pills on stand-by. When unsure, stick to fully cooked food items. It is highly recommended that the necessary vaccinations are taken prior to coming to Vietnam. It is advisable to immunise against cholera, hepatitis (both A & B), typhoid, tetanus, polio, encephalitis and rabies.

Safety: There have been reported incidences of snatch-thefts and pickpockets in Vietnam, especially in crowded areas, supermarkets and on public buses. Take necessary precautions such as to avoid carrying too much cash, and using your hand phone while walking or travelling on public transport such as motorcycle taxis. If you are a victim of a crime and not injured, do try to remember the area where the crime took place and request for assistance from a native speaker (e.g., hotel staff or friend) to accompany you to the police station in charge of the incident area to make a police report within 24 hours. If you lose your passport as a result, a police report has to be made at the nearest police station to where the loss happened or is suspected to have happened before we can issue you with a temporary Document of Identity for travel back to Singapore.

Typhoon: Due to its location in the tropics, Vietnam faces impacts from both typhoons in the Northern Pacific and severe tropical cyclones in the Southern Pacific Ocean. The typhoon season in Vietnam runs from approximately June through the end of November, with the most active period occurring between July and October. The tropical cyclone season runs from November to April of the following year. During these periods, some areas of Vietnam could be affected by landslides and flooding, and flights could be affected. During the approach of a typhoon, you should monitor the local advisories from the Vietnam National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting prior to and during the trip to take the necessary precautions.

Transport: Typically, foreign travellers use taxis. For taxis, the more reputable companies are Xanh SM, ABC, Be, Mai Linh and CP in Hanoi, as well as Vinasun and Mai Linh in HCMC. If possible, you may wish to seek your hotel’s assistance to flag a taxi from a reputable company on your behalf. Do remember the four-digit alphanumeric number which is displayed on a disc at the front and rear of the taxis (not the number plates) so that you may follow-up with the taxi companies, if there is a need to do so. You should avoid going with anyone who approaches you asking if you need a ride when you are out. Travellers arriving at the airports should proceed to the taxi queue directly to take a taxi, and insist that the driver switch on the meter before moving off. Avoid going along with “taxi agents” standing outside the arrival halls who will approach unsuspecting tourists to bring them to illegal or fake taxis waiting at the carparks or outside of the taxi stand. Grab is also popular in Vietnam. However, when calling a Grab ride from the airport, be sure to verify the vehicle number against that indicated on the app and avoid going with anyone who approaches you claiming to be your driver.

Most foreign travellers avoid using the local buses due to the language barrier. Another common mode of transport in Vietnam are the motorcycle taxis (xe-om/Grab bike), but the riders are usually less proficient in English. Always wear a helmet when riding on such motorcycle taxis as it is illegal to ride pillion without a helmet in Vietnam. Also avoid wearing dangling jewellery and keep your bags close to you. Take care of your belongings when travelling on public transport.

The traffic situation in Vietnam can be a little daunting to foreign travellers as there are many motorcycles and cars weaving through the roads. Do exercise care when crossing the roads and take precaution against unexpected traffic (sometimes from the wrong direction). Always signal your intention to cross the road early and avoid making sudden, unexpected movements so that oncoming motorists are not caught off-guard.

Hanoi-Specific Advice: The level of pollution in Hanoi can be high. The dust index (PM10) in Hanoi can reach 4 times higher than the internationally recommended levels. This may result in breathing difficulties especially during the hotter summer months when temperatures can reach 48°C.

Customs regulations and currency control: Be familiar with the local customs regulations. There are stringent requirements on the entry of food and agricultural products. Travellers are required to declare items which come under the agricultural quarantine restrictions as stated on the customs forms at the point of entry. Failure to do so could result in the imposition of severe fines. Travellers who import/export currencies exceeding US$5,000/- or equivalent are required to declare on arrival and departure. Travellers importing or exporting currencies worth more than US$5,000 would need to carry the relevant permits or supporting documentation to prove the legitimacy of the currencies. Failure to provide satisfactory evidence may result in delays, additional inspections, or restrictions on entry into or departure from Vietnam, in accordance with applicable regulations. Travellers entering Vietnam should also note the duty-free allowances applicable to inbound baggage. Duty-free concessions are available for specified quantities of alcohol and tobacco productions, as well as other goods with a total value not exceeding VND10,000,000/-, subject to prevailing customs regulations.

Illegal drugs and narcotics: Penalties for possession, distribution or manufacture of drugs can be severe. Possession of even a small amount of drugs can attract a lengthy prison sentence or even the death sentence. Do not convey or transport any parcel, especially across a border, when asked by a stranger. Should such parcels contain illegal drugs, you risk being found guilty of possession, smuggling or trafficking in drugs. You should also never leave your belongings unattended or under the “care” of any stranger.

Other prohibited items: Firearms and explosive materials, pornographic materials (books, video tapes, DVDs etc), drugs, firecrackers, are prohibited from being brought into Vietnam. It is also against the law to export antiques out of Vietnam without the relevant permit/approval from the Ministry of Culture.

Registration of residence: It is mandatory for all foreigners to register their stay with the local police in Vietnam. If you are staying in a hotel, your hotel would usually assist with the registration. To facilitate registration, you might wish to provide your hotel with a scanned copy of your passport and confirm with them if they had registered your stay with the local police. If you are planning to stay with your relatives, friends or at a rented apartment (e.g., Airbnb), you are also required to register your stay with the local police nearest to the residence’s area, either through your relatives/friends or the landlord. There are no local rules which require the lodging establishments (guest house or hotels) to hold on to your passports during your stay with them. The responsibility of registering your residence lies with the accommodation provider. Hence, any penalties for non-compliance should be borne by them. However, if you are not registered, you may be questioned by the local police and may face issues when trying to file a police report (e.g. when losing your passport). There has been increasing number of reports in Ho Chi Minh City where the local police have been conducting spot checks at rented apartments.

Driving Licence: While the ASEAN agreement exists and Vietnam is party to the 1968 convention, Vietnam does not recognise licenses issued under the 1949 convention, which forms the basis of Singapore's International Driving Permit (IDP). As such, Vietnam will not legally recognise the Singapore IDP. Hence, you may face difficulties if stopped by traffic police or encounter complications when making insurance claims related to driving incidents. If you are staying in Vietnam long-term and would like to drive in Vietnam, you will need to convert your Singapore and/or International driving licences to a Vietnamese one for use in Vietnam. You may visit the website of Department for Roads of Vietnam at Cổng thông tin điện tử Cục đường bộ Việt Nam for more information about the conversion of driving license.

Photo-taking: Do not take photographs of military installations without prior approval from the relevant authorities.

Singaporeans travelling to or living in Vietnam may also wish to follow the Singapore Embassy in Hanoi and Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City’s Facebook page for timely travel alerts and updates.

Please refer to MFA’s general travel advice for Singaporeans before you travel overseas.