Vietnam offers many Vietnam visa options for foreign tourists who want to visit the country’s beautiful scenery, culture and other attractions. The following article provides complete information about these visas so you can choose the right one for your upcoming trip. Let’s find out together now.
See now: Vietnamese visa: Types, Requirements, Fees & How to get it? [2023]
1. Vietnam visa types: Purpose of the visit
In July 2020, new immigration regulations took effect (Law No. 51/2019/QH14) and divided Vietnam visa options into about 21 types by purpose of visit, including diplomatic and official (DL), diplomatic-technical (DN1), official (DN2), nonimmigrant (NG), tourist (DT1, DT2 or DT3), business (DT4 or LS), student (DH, LV or LD1), journalist (HN), permanent residence permit holder (PV1 or TT) and temporary resident permit holder (SQ). According to the criteria for the validity of a Vietnamese visa, there are six common Vietnam visa types:
- Tourist visa (DL)
- Business visa (DN1, DN2)
- Student/internship visa (DH)
- Investor Visa including DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4
- Working visa (LD1 – LD2)
- Diplomatic visa (NG)

There are many types of Vietnam visa
In addition, there are other types of Vietnamese visas, as described in the table below:
Vietnam Visa Types | Description | Validity |
LV1-LV2 |
Working with Vietnam authorities/parties | Maximum of 12 months |
LS | Lawyer visa | Maximum of 5 years |
NN1 | Granted for members of delegations invited by the Secretary-General of Vietnam’s Communist Party, the President of Vietnam, the President of the National Assembly, and the Prime Minister. | Maximum of 12 months |
NN2 | Delegations invited by standing members of Representatives of the Secretariat of the Vietnam Communist Party, Deputy President of Vietnam, Deputy President of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister, President of Vietnamese Fatherland Front; Ministers and Secretary Generals of Provincial Communist Authorities; Presidents of People’s Councils and Presidents of People’s Committees. | Maximum of 12 months |
NN3 | granted for members of Diplomats, consular officers, representatives of international organizations affiliated with the UN and their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and housemaids employed by these diplomats while they are in this country are exempt from obtaining entry visas. | Maximum of 12 months |
NN4 | Those coming to work with diplomatic missions, consular offices, and representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the UN, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their accompanying spouse/children under 18 years old, visitors of members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the UN, and representative offices of intergovernmental organizations. | Maximum of 12 months |
HN | Meetings/Conferences | Maximum of 3 months |
DH | Student/Internship | Maximum of 12 months |
PV1 – PV2 | Journalists with short-term residence in Vietnam | Maximum of 12 months |
TT | Dependents of foreign nationals who hold a Vietnam visa: LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1 or LD1-LD2 visas or foreigners that are parents, spouses, children of Vietnamese citizens. | Maximum of 12 months |
VR | Family visits, other purposes | Maximum of 6 months |
SQ | In the cases listed in Clause 3, Article 17 of Law No. 47/2014/QH13 | Maximum of 6 months |
EV | Electronic visa |
Maximum 30 days |
1.1 Tourist visa
A Vietnam tourist visa is one of the Vietnam visa options issued to foreign nationals travelling to Vietnam for tourism purposes only and not engaging in any business activities there. Depending on the number of entries and validity period, a tourist visa can be divided into:
- 1-month single entry visa;
- 1-month multiple entry visa;
- 3-month single entry visa;
- 3-month multiple entry visa.
However, new regulations in July 2020 only offer a 30-day temporary residence stamp on arrival to holders of tourist visas valid for more than 30 days. They can apply for a Vietnam visa extension to remain in Vietnam. Moreover, US travellers are granted one more option: Vietnam 1 year multiple entry visa.
There are three ways to obtain a tourist visa to Vietnam:
- Getting a Vietnam visa on arrival is highly recommended for those travelling to Vietnam by air. There are five undeniable advantages to this type of visa.
- Obtaining an embassy visa for Vietnam
- Getting a Vietnam e-visa (available for a 1-month single entry and nationals of 80 countries only).

The Vietnam tourist visa is a standard visa for foreigners
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1.2 Business visa
The second most popular type of Vietnam visa is a Vietnam business visa which is now categorized into:
- DN1 visa – to be granted to foreigners who work with other businesses and organizations with legal status following the laws of Vietnam.
- DN2 visa – Foreigners who come to Vietnam to offer services, establish a commercial presence or perform other activities under international treaties to which Vietnam is a member granted business visas.
Like a tourist visa for Vietnam, a business visa for Vietnam can be divided into:
- 1-month single entry visa;
- 1-month multiple entry visa;
- 3-month single entry visa;
- 3-month multiple entry visa.
Currently, there are two ways to get a business visa to Vietnam:
- Getting a Vietnam visa on arrival (VOA – highly recommended as no sponsor letter from a Vietnam company is not required to application).
- Getting a Vietnam embassy visa.

The business visa type in Vietnam
1.3 Investor visa
Vietnam visa types include Investor Visas, granted to foreign investors in Vietnam. They are categorized as follows:
- DT1 – Vietnam visa options are offered to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution of at least US$100 million or investing in the business fields and areas of investment incentives decided by the Vietnam Government. The visa is valid for up to five years.
- DT2 – Types of visa Vietnam be granted foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations with capital contributions of under VND 100 billion, or investing in the fields of investment encouragement decided by the Vietnam Government, may be granted visas valid for up to 5 years.
- DT3 – Vietnam visa options are offered to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution of no more than VND 50 billion may apply for a business visa valid for up to 3 years.
- DT4 – Types of Vietnamese visas granted foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution of less than VND3 billion may be granted single-entry visas valid for up to 12 months.

The investor visa for Vietnam is granted to foreign investors
Learn more: Vietnam investor visa | Definition, Types and How to apply for it
1.4 Student visa
Vietnam student visa is granted to those attending a university course in Vietnam. A student must enter Vietnam with a tourist visa and then apply for a change in visa status at the Immigration Office after enrolling in the course. The easiest way to get Vietnam visa options for students is through an agency.

A Vietnam student visa is required for international students
1.5 Working visa
A Vietnam work visa is one of the Vietnam visa options issued to foreigners working in Vietnam. It is categorized into:
- LD1 – Vietnam visa types to be granted to foreigners who come to work in Vietnam with an exemption from working-visa rules unless otherwise provided for in international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.
- LD2 – Vietnam visa types to be granted to foreigners with a work permit in Vietnam to work.
This type of visa is valid for two years at the most. To stay in Vietnam longer, you must apply for an LD temporary residence card valid for up to 2 years.
How do I get a visa to work in Vietnam?
- Please ask the company in Vietnam for which you will work to apply for an LD visa approval letter from the Vietnam Immigration Department.
- You will then get a visa stamp at Vietnam’s mission in foreign countries, or at your port of entry, depending on the visa approval letter you are issued.
Note:
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1.6 Diplomatic visa
One of the visa options is Vietnam Diplomatic. This visa is granted to members of a delegation visiting Vietnam at the invitation of ministries or high-ranking government officials, consulate personnel in Vietnam, and those who work with consulate members or visit them for a short period.
There is no fee for a diplomatic visa to Vietnam unless the embassy and the applicant’s home country decide otherwise. A diplomatic visa to Vietnam is valid for up to twelve months. To apply for the Vietnam diplomatic visa, the applicant must submit an official letter from the local government agency, consulates or foreign embassies in his/her home country.

The diplomatic visa is a special one for certain foreign individuals
Read more:
- How to get a Vietnam visa: 3 options & Steps to apply
- Visa for Vietnam cost | How much is a visa to Vietnam?
2. Vietnam visa options: Length of stay and Validity
Depending on the length of stay, it is divided into four categories: one month, three months, six months, and twelve months. These are single or multiple entries.
The main difference between different types of visa Vietnam (a single entry visa and a multiple entry visa) is the number of times you can enter the country. A single-entry visa is valid for one stay in Vietnam during its validity period, but a multiple-entry visa allows several visits during its validity.
- NG1 – NG4: No longer than 12 months
- LV1 – LV2: No longer than 12 months
- DT: No longer than 5 years
- DN: No longer than 12 months
- NN1 – NN2: No longer than 12 months
- NN3: No longer than 12 months
- DH: No longer than 12 months
- HN: No longer than 03 months
- PV1: No longer than 12 months
- PV2: No longer than 12 months
- LĐ: No longer than 2 years
- DL: No longer than 03 months
- TT: No longer than 12 months
- VR: No longer than 06 months
Discover now: Vietnam Visa Exemption and Requirements – A Complete Guide 2023
3. Frequently Asked Questions: Types of Vietnam visa
3.1 What kind of visa to Vietnam for business and conference purposes?
When you visit Vietnam for a business conference, you can apply for either a Working with Vietnamese enterprises (DN) visa or a Meetings/Conferences (HN) visa to work for your purpose of visit.
3.2 I am going to start a new business in Vietnam. What kind of visa do I need?
If you plan to do business and invest in Vietnam, you must apply for a 5-year Investor visa (DT).
Foreigners have many Vietnam visa options when they intend to enter Vietnam. Depending on the purpose of your trip and the length of your stay, you will find different types of visas that suit you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.
Contact information:
Wolo International Travel Service and Commercial Investment Joint Stock Company:
- Headquarter: 2nd floor – No 02, Alley 232, Yen Hoa street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Website: https://vietnamvisatourist.com
- Hotline: (+84) 918 21 2468
- Email: support@vietnamvisatourist.com
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