Do I need a Vietnam visa with an HKSAR or BN(O) passport?#
The starting point is the passport you intend to carry. A Hong Kong address, a familiar airline route or advice given to a friend with a different passport does not establish your own visa position. HKSAR passport holders need a visa for tourism and that BN(O) passport holders are not covered by the exemption for British citizens.
Read the passport description carefully when looking at official guidance. If you have more than one travel document, decide which one the application and trip will use before entering details. Keep the application tied to that document throughout your preparation. Ask a focused question if the available guidance does not clearly describe your passport; do not choose a category simply because it looks close to your nationality or place of residence.
Choose an e-visa around the whole itinerary#
Vietnam offers e-visas of up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry. Think about the complete journey rather than only the first flight. Write down when you intend to enter and leave Vietnam and whether the trip involves leaving the country and returning. This makes the entry-type choice easier to review and helps you spot a mismatch before submitting anything.
The site lists 30-day and 90-day service products, but a product name is not itself an immigration approval. Check the proposed service against the dates and entry type you actually need. When the approval arrives, compare the PDF with the passport and itinerary again. Do not assume that selecting the longest available option means the final document automatically covers every change you might later make. If your plans are unsettled, clarify them before relying on an application prepared for different dates.
Check Phu Quoc separately from mainland travel#
Phu Quoc is an important exception to examine carefully. Phu Quoc allows visa-free stays of up to 30 days for foreigners arriving directly at its international airport or seaport and remaining on the island. Travel to the Vietnamese mainland requires a visa. Plan each stop carefully: the island exemption applies to a stay on Phu Quoc.
Write out the actual sequence of stops, including any mainland visit, before asking whether the exception fits. Do not use the destination shown on a holiday advertisement as a substitute for reviewing your journey. Check the current official conditions and seek clarification if any part of the route is unclear. For an itinerary involving mainland Vietnam, review the normal e-visa requirements rather than assuming the island exception also covers the rest of the trip.
Prepare documents and leave time for review#
Gather a passport bio-page scan, recent portrait, intended entry and exit dates, entry port, Vietnam address and email address. You need a passport valid for at least six months from intended entry, with blank pages. Compare the passport number and spelling against the original document, not a previous booking or a copied message. Review the portrait against the requirements before sending it.
The official processing time is about three working days after a complete application, with longer waits possible during busy periods and holidays. Read our document checklist and application steps before proceeding, and consult the official portal for current instructions. Vietnam Visa HK is a private assistance brand, not a government department.
Make your enquiry easy to answer#
Bring the passport category and full route together when you Chat to apply. For a family or group, keep each traveller’s passport details separate and check that everyone’s dates agree. This avoids copying one person’s document category into another person’s application. Tell us whether the trip is entirely on Phu Quoc or includes mainland Vietnam, and whether you plan to leave the country and return. These are useful details to settle before comparing visa options. Our team can help you organise the information in Cantonese, English or Mandarin, so you can move from a general question to a clear next step.
Your questions, answered
01Do HKSAR passport holders need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Hong Kong SAR passport holders need a visa for tourism in Vietnam. You can apply for an e-visa for up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry.
02Does the British citizen exemption cover BN(O) passports?
No. The British citizen exemption does not cover BN(O) passports. Apply using your BN(O) passport details and keep the same document for the journey.
03Does living in Hong Kong determine my visa category?
Visa requirements follow the passport you will use, rather than your Hong Kong address alone. Tell us the travel-document category when asking for help.
