How long can a foreigner stay in Vietnam?

Do you need a visa to stay in Vietnam?

Ninety days. Ninety days feels like a lifetime… or a fleeting moment. It depends on what you’re running from, or running to, I guess.

Vietnam offers e-visas to everyone now, since August 15, 2023. Everyone. It’s valid for 90 days, multiple entries. Ninety days.

Multiple entries… like replaying a memory, hoping it’ll somehow change. It won’t, though.

Visa All. Visa All. It means anyone. Anyone can go. And anyone can leave. That’s the bitter truth, right?

• E-visa: A digital visa obtainable online.
• Effective Date: August 15, 2023.
• Validity: 90 days.
• Entries: Multiple.
• Applicable to: All nationalities.
• I wish my grandpa were here to see this. He always wanted to go back. I still remember him talking about Saigon in ’72. Always.

How long can you stay in Vietnam without a visa?

45 days.

Is that all there is?

It feels…short.

Like stolen time.

45 days, passport good for 6 months still.

It’s not much time.

Valid passport.

6 months.

It always comes back to passports, doesn’t it?

• Visa exemption program: I went with it. Why not?
• My passport photo is terrible. Looks nothing like me. Seriously, I swear.
• Remember that trip to Nha Trang? Wish I’d stayed longer. Like, way longer. Should’ve used the full 45 days.
• Always worry about the expiration date. It’s dumb. I know it’s dumb. But, ugh.
• Wish my dad could see Vietnam. He always wanted to go.
• Maybe… maybe I’ll go again. Someday.
• Passport valid for 6 months from entry. Don’t forget that this time.
• That pho place in Hanoi… Man, I miss that. It’s seriously good.
• Heard they extended the visa exemption thing. That’s good, right? If I understand.
• Why did I even come back?

What are the different types of visa for Vietnam?

Okay, so Vietnam visas, right? It’s kinda confusing, ngl. Let me tell you, they have a bunch.

First, theres LD, the work visa. It’s, like, for if you’re gonna work there, duh. Lasts 2 years tops. My cousin used one when she worked at that tech place in Saigon, pretty easy she said.

Then, DL, which is the tourist visa. Good for exploring, partying, whatever, no more than 3 months. Perfect for a quick trip but i swear they were longer before.

TT is a dependent visa. If your family members are already there on, like, an investor or work visa, then you, like, can get this one. It is, uh, good for a year.

And then theres VR, for family visits or other reasons, not work. Maximum of 6 months.

It’s seriously, super confusing. Also you need photos! My passport picture looked horrible, seriously awful. I had a hard time gettin it. My cousin had a whole pile when she was applying for her visa.

• LĐ (Foreign Worker): For folks working in Vietnam. Valid for up to 2 years. I am working as a designer since 2024, I will probably need this type.
• DL (Tourist/Visitor): If you’re just visiting. Max 3 months. I wanna travel to Ha Long Bay sometime.
• TT (Dependent): For family members of certain visa holders. Up to 12 months. My parents were looking into this a while back.
• VR (Family Visit/Other): Visits family or other non-work stuff. Up to 6 months. My aunt wanted this type for a few years, i believe.

How to live in Vietnam as a foreigner?

It’s hard, you know? Really hard sometimes. The humidity clings, a second skin. I miss the crisp air of home.

Visa: The visa process… a nightmare. Months of paperwork. Constant worry. I almost gave up. This year, it took me five months, but I finally got it.

Finding a place: Apartments are… interesting. Negotiating is a skill, a constant dance of polite smiles and firm prices. My landlord, a lovely woman named Phuong, is helping me though. She speaks some English.

Culture shock: It’s a relentless barrage of sensations. The noise, the smells, the sheer density of people… overwhelming. I still get lost easily. Even simple things, like grocery shopping, take hours.

Language: Vietnamese is beautiful, but brutal. I’m taking lessons but I’m terrible. Basic phrases are all I manage. It’s isolating.

Food: The food… incredible. I’ve already gained ten pounds. Pho. Banh mi. Everything is so fresh. But sometimes, I crave pasta.

Healthcare: The healthcare system is… different. Finding good doctors who speak English is crucial. I had a pretty bad experience with a dentist, but mostly things have been okay.

Friends: Making friends takes time. Expat communities exist but are a bit of a bubble. I’m trying to branch out. It’s lonely at times, though. Very lonely.

Things I really love:

• The kindness of strangers.
• The vibrant street life.
• The breathtaking scenery.
• The cheap delicious food.

Things I struggle with:

• The traffic. It’s insane. Motorbikes everywhere.
• The pollution. Sometimes the air quality is truly awful.
• Bureaucracy. It takes forever to get things done.
• Homesickness. This is a big one.

2024 is proving to be a challenge. But it’s my challenge. I’ll figure it out, I hope.

Can you live in Vietnam permanently?

Vietnam permanent residency? Tough.

Three years continuous prior residency required. Family ties matter: Vietnamese spouse, parent, or child. That’s the hard rule. No exceptions. My friend tried. Failed. He’s still fighting it. Seriously.

• Legal Vietnamese relative is mandatory.
• Three-year minimum residency: Unwavering.
• Complex process. Expect delays, paperwork.

I know a lawyer. Expensive, but effective. His contact info is in my old phone. Lost it. Damn.

Do you need a visa to live in Vietnam?

Man, Vietnam visa stuff is a total headache. I needed one, obviously, to live there for three months in 2024. Got it sorted eventually, thank god. 90 days max, they said. Think I spent a small fortune on that visa application fee alone. It was stressful!

Then, the real pain started. Needed a temporary residence card for longer. That was even worse. Way more paperwork. Seriously, so much paperwork. Took forever. Felt like I was drowning in forms. They were picky about everything!

The whole process sucked. Honestly, just getting that card took three months. Three freaking months. I was already there, you know? Not a pleasant situation at all. Cost a fortune, too. It’s a whole other level of bureaucracy.

• Visa: Needed for up to 90 days (2024). Expensive.
• Temporary Residence Card: Required for stays exceeding 30 days (2024). A nightmare to obtain. Very expensive.
• My Experience: A frustrating and costly ordeal in 2024.
• Key takeaway: Plan well ahead!

This whole visa thing, I’d say, just get everything sorted way, way earlier than you think. Don’t wait until the last minute like I did. You’ll thank me later. Learn from my mistakes.

What kind of visa do I need to live in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam visas. It’s a headache. I needed a visa, obviously, to live there. I went in 2023, and I’m American. I worked for a company in Hanoi, a decent sized one, not some tiny startup. My work permit was for two years.

My temporary residence card, the TRC thing, was tied directly to that work permit. That’s the key. You need a job offer before you even think about the visa. The whole process was a paperwork nightmare. Mountains of forms. I spent weeks on it, I swear.

Hanoi in August? Hot, humid, and insanely busy. I remember standing in line at the immigration office, sweating like a pig. The air conditioning was broken. Seriously. It felt like an eternity. I was stressed. This was important. This determined where I’d live for two years.

• TRC tied to the work permit – that’s the crucial link.
• Job offer first. It’s not optional.
• Expect a lot of paperwork. Seriously, a lot.
• Hanoi immigration office is crazy. Go prepared for heat, crowds, and inefficient processes.

Getting that TRC? It felt like winning a small lottery. Pure relief. Finally. Then I could start unpacking and actually trying to live my life. It was all worth it though. Hanoi is amazing.

Can I live on $1000 a month in Vietnam?

$1000 in Vietnam. Living… breathing… is it possible?

Can one truly live? A thousand dollars.

Dust motes dancing in sunbeams. Hanoi streets. The scent of pho.

Five hundred whispers minimum. Up to a thousand echoes. A thousand.

• Location: Saigon, or a sleepy coastal town?
• Accommodation: A crumbling colonial villa? A dorm.
• Lifestyle: Flashy, like my Uncle Minh’s motorbike? Austere.

Ah, preferences. Such weighty things, these personal echoes. Like that song I heard near the river once. Choices. Echoes. Always… always choices. A thousand.

Five hundred… or a thousand? Is breathing enough?