If you are heading back to the land of late night bia h?i, the best ph? and banh mi on the planet, you will know that the entry rules for Vietnam have a habit of changing faster than a scooter weaving through District 1 traffic. Whether you are heading to Vietnam on holiday, a regular visitor or someone who has called the country home for years, getting your Vietnam Visa sorted is the first big hurdle to clear before you can grab that first proper Vietnamese coffee or Stinger energy drink.
Things have moved along since the old days of paper forms and visa on arrival letters. Now there is a new digital layer that you need to be across, especially if you are landing at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Current State of the Vietnam Visa for Australians
For most of us, the 90 day e-Visa is the gold standard. It has replaced the messy old systems and is now available for both single and multiple entry. If you are planning to use Vietnam as a base to explore the rest of Southeast Asia, the multiple entry option is a no brainer.
The application process is handled through an official Vietnamese government portal. You will need a digital scan of your passport bio page and a recent passport style photo (no glasses, looking straight at the camera). Also, definitely make sure your passport has at least six months of validity remaining, or you won’t even make it past the check in desk at your Australian airport.
What I do is, and this is to make sure you have the right Vietnam Visa site so you don’t get ripped off, is head to the Aus Gov Smart Traveller website and head to the SmartTraveller/Destinations/Asia/Vietnam page. Then from there scroll down to the Travel section and the link out will be there for the Vietnam Visa page. Click on it and start the process. I should note here that the page takes a while to load, so be patient.
The New Digital Arrival Card for Ho Chi Minh City Arrivals
This is the big update from 2026 that has caught a few people out. As of April, if you are flying into Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC Tan Son Nhat International Airport), you are now required to complete a Digital Arrival Card before you land.
While your Vietnam Visa gets you into the country, this digital card is what gets you through the actual immigration hall without standing in a secondary queue for an hour.
- The Golden Window: You can only submit this declaration within a short window before you arrive. Most travellers are finding that 90 hours before departure is the sweet spot to jump on the portal and get it done.
- The QR Code: Once you fill in your flight details and where you are staying, the system spits out a QR code.
- Screen Grab It: Do not rely on the airport Wi-Fi. Take a screenshot of that QR code and save it to your phones photos. You will need to show this to the immigration officer alongside your passport.
Tips for a Smooth Landing in Saigon
Having spent a lot of time on the ground in Vietnam, I have seen the chaos that happens when a planeload of tourists arrives without their paperwork in order. If you want to be the first one at the luggage carousel and into a Grab car, follow these steps.
- Check Your Dates Twice: When applying for your Vietnam Visa, remember that the date format is often Day/Month/Year. If you mix these up, your visa could be invalid, and the airline will block you from boarding.
- Print Everything: Even though it is 2026 and everything is digital, the officials in Vietnam still love a bit of paper. Print a hard copy of your e-Visa and your QR code. It saves a lot of hassle if your phone battery dies after a long flight or you have problems for any reason.
- Use the Official Portal: There are plenty of agency sites that look official, charge triple the price and will happily take your money. Stick to the
.gov.vndomains to ensure you are paying the correct government fee. Remember, look at the Aus Gov Smart Traveller website if unsure.
Why the New System is a Win for Travellers
While an extra online form feels like a pain, the goal of the digital arrival card is to cut down the manual data entry that the airport officers used to do at the desk. In theory, this should shave about 30 seconds off every person’s processing time at least. When you have three A380s landing at the same time, those seconds add up to a much faster exit for everyone. And believe me, the lines can be very long, it’s the last thing you feel like when you’re excited to land in Vietnam and get out amongst it and you’re first hour in country is spent lining up.
Getting your Vietnam Visa and your pre-arrival QR code sorted if landing in Ho Chi Minh City early means you can focus on the important stuff, like which street food stall you are hitting first and then how you’re getting to Ben Thanh Market after that.
Are you heading back to Vietnam soon or planning your first trip there? Make sure to work through and plan your Vietnam Visa early.
