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๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Vietnam

Vietnam is no. 21 in our list of the 50 most visited destinations, with 17.5 million international arrivals in 2024. Below: visa rules for every passport, cash limits at customs and the tourist traps official travel advice warns about.

Rank 21 of 50 by international arrivals (17.5 million, 2024) ยท Source: UN Tourism

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Visa rules for your passport โ†“

Explore Vietnam: things to do, shopping, food and getting around

From Vietnam's official tourism website, vietnam.travel.

Things to do

Places to visit

Shopping

Cheap ways to get around

Nightlife

Food

General tips

Summarised in our own words from the linked pages, official tourism boards and transport authorities first; items marked "Not official" come from other guides. Prices and opening times change, so check the source before you go. Last checked 24 Oct 2026.

Common tourist traps and how to avoid them

Scams and risky spots named in official travel advice for Vietnam, plus a few reported in public visitor reviews (labelled), in our own words.

  1. Motorbike bag-snatching

    How it works: Thieves on motorbikes snatch bags and phones, more so at Christmas and Tแบฟt.

    How to avoid it: Hold bags in front or away from traffic and let go rather than struggle.

  2. Passport as a rental deposit

    How it works: Bike-rental shops or landlords keep your passport against claimed damage.

    How to avoid it: Never hand over your passport as a guarantee.

  3. Theft on overnight trains and buses

    How it works: Bags are rifled while passengers sleep.

    How to avoid it: Keep valuables on you.

  4. Methanol in drinks

    How it works: Methanol-laced alcohol has killed people, even in licensed bars, shops and hotels.

    How to avoid it: Drink sealed branded drinks; avoid liquor and cigarettes from street vendors.

  5. Job scams

    How it works: People are lured with high-paid jobs and trafficked to neighbouring countries for scam work.

    How to avoid it: Check job offers, visas and permits independently; never give your passport to an employer.

  6. Unofficial money changers

    How it works: Changing money outside licensed counters is illegal and you can lose your money.

    How to avoid it: Use official exchange counters with clear signs.

  7. Taxi impostors

    How it works: Unmetered or fake taxis overcharge.

    How to avoid it: Use big metered firms or Grab and check driver and vehicle match the booking.

  8. Shoe-shine 'repairs' around Hoan Kiem Lake (visitor reports)

    How it works: Shoe-shiners point at a tourist's footwear, then pull it off, polish it or glue on a sole without asking, and demand VND400,000โ€“800,000, against a normal VND20,000 for a polish. Visitors also describe fruit sellers who hand you a shoulder-pole basket for a photo, or snack sellers who offer a 'free' donut, then demand money.

    How to avoid it: Don't let anyone touch your shoes, say no firmly and keep walking. Don't pick up a vendor's basket or accept 'free' samples unless you're happy to pay.

    From visitor reviews, not official Hoan Kiem Lake and Old Quarter, Hanoi. Sources: reddit.com ยท reddit.com ยท e.vnexpress.net. Researched 23 Oct 2026; there is no official page to re-check, so this date is not updated automatically.

Areas flagged in official advice

  • Border villages and communes (permit may be needed)
  • Near military bases (no photography)

Official advice: FCDO: no areas advised against.

Emergency numbers in Vietnam

Other traps paraphrased from official travel advice: FCDO travel advice โ€“ Safety and security ยท FCDO travel advice โ€“ Warnings and insurance ยท FCDO travel advice โ€“ Getting help (emergency numbers) ยท FCDO page updated 21 Sept 2026 ยท Last checked 2 Nov 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Cash you can bring in and take out

Customs rules for banknotes and other cash when you enter or leave Vietnam.

State Bank of Vietnam Circular 15/2011/TT-NHNN

Bringing cash in
Declare to border customs if carrying more than USD 5,000 (or equivalent) in foreign cash, or more than VND 15,000,000.
Taking cash out
On exit, amounts above the threshold need your customs-certified entry declaration (if not more than you brought in) or a bank confirmation / State Bank approval.
Local currency (VND) in
Declare above VND 15,000,000.
Local currency (VND) out
Declare above VND 15,000,000.
Foreign currency
Declare above USD 5,000 equivalent.

Official source: vietnamtradeportal.gov.vn ยท gov.uk ยท Last checked 4 Oct 2026

Vietnam visa rules by passport

The general rule for each passport, from official sources. Open a passport to see conditions and options that depend on where you live.

Visa-free39 passports
eVisa159 passports

Verified rules for Vietnam: 198 of 198 passports; awaiting verification: 0; not yet covered: 0. A rule that is awaiting verification or not yet covered is not a negative visa decision: it only means we haven't confirmed it on an official source yet.

Nearby destinations

Official travel advice

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Plan your trip to Vietnam

Verify with the embassy before you book. Visa rules change without notice. We link every rule to its official source and last checked it on 2 Nov 2026, but the embassy, official e-visa portal and your airline have the final say. MyVisaPort is not a visa agent and is not affiliated with any government.