Chinese passport and Vietnam eVisa: do you need a paper visa at the airport?
Expect to. Travelers on mainland Chinese passports report, from 2024 to 2026, going to a visa window before immigration, handing over the passport, printed eVisa and a photo, and receiving a separate paper visa at no charge. Vietnamese officials told the press in 2012 and 2016 that Chinese e-passports get a loose sheet in place of a stamp, because of the map printed inside. We found no government notice saying this about eVisas, and one agent says no swap happens, so carry the printout and two photos and be ready either way.
What we found, by date
Xiaohongshu dates are worked out from the note ID, and we saw those notes only as search excerpts. Treat this as a pattern across reports and not as a rule.
| Date and source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Nov 2012, VOV (article); ABC News (article) | Border staff at Mong Cai, Noi Bai and in Lang Son give loose visas so the passport is not stamped |
| Jul 2016, Tuoi Tre (article); Thanh Nien (article) | The practice dates from 2012 and stamps go on the sheet. Reported at Mong Cai, Noi Bai, Lao Cai, Lang Son, Phu Quoc and Moc Bai |
| Mar 2024, Traveler on QQ News (post) | Entered through Huu Nghi. First entry on an eVisa needs a photo for the swap, at a paper-visa office just inside the gate |
| About Dec 2025, Xiaohongshu note | Print the eVisa, go to the visa application window, bring 2 photos, free |
| About Feb 2026, Xiaohongshu note | Hanoi. Showed the printout and form at the landing visa counter, and no dollars were needed for that step |
| About May 2026, Xiaohongshu note | Ho Chi Minh City. Visa Application window, passport, printout and photo, free |
| Sep 2026, Da Nang Visa Run, an agent (page) | Says there is no separate paper visa. This contradicts everything above |
What to bring and what to do
Bring a printout of the eVisa and at least two 2-inch photos on a white background. Reports mention 1, 2 or 4 photos, with two the most common, and no official number exists. One agent reports a charge of US$5 to 10 for photos taken on site. Print before you leave home, because a relayed story mentions US$5 for printing in Ho Chi Minh City.
When you land, look for the visa counter before the immigration lines. Recent reports call it Visa Application. Older pages call it Landing Visa, and the same counter also serves visa-on-arrival letters, which is where the confusion starts. The US$25 stamping fee belongs to visa-on-arrival letters. Reports of the eVisa swap say it is free. One traveler at Noi Bai put the swap at about 10 minutes, with a similar queue afterwards.
Keep the paper visa in your passport and show it when you leave. Some pages say officers keep the eVisa printout at the swap. We could not confirm whether the sheet is taken at exit. Do not lose it, and keep a photo of it.
Multiple entry and land gates
One agent says a multiple-entry eVisa already swapped needs no new swap on the second entry. (125visa, an agent) We could not confirm that anywhere official. Land gates rest on a single 2024 account plus agent pages. That account mentions stories of pressure for tips at Huu Nghi and in Ho Chi Minh City, which it relays from others. Pay fees only against a printed notice or a receipt.
The gate names on the form are in Vietnamese. Dongxing is opposite Mong Cai, Youyiguan is opposite Huu Nghi, and Hekou is opposite Lao Cai. All three are eVisa gates. Check the current list on the portal before you travel: Vietnam eVisa ports of entry.
Tour groups to Nha Trang may not need a visa at all
Since 12 October 2026, mainland Chinese tour groups flying direct to Cam Ranh are exempt under a pilot. Independent travelers are not covered: Visa exemption for Chinese tour groups to Khanh Hoa.
If you need an eVisa, Vietnam eVisa for Chinese Citizens covers the application. Mainland customers can ask for a fixed quote on WeChat, since we do not take Alipay or WeChat Pay. InTimeVisa is an independent private agent, not the Vietnamese government, and we cannot speak for border officers.
Frequently asked questions
Do Chinese passport holders have to swap an eVisa for a paper visa in Vietnam?
Travelers report it from 2024 to 2026, and officials described the loose-sheet practice in 2012 and 2016. We found no government notice about eVisas, and one agent denies it. Be ready with a printout and two photos.
Does the paper visa cost money?
Reports of the eVisa swap say it is free. The US$25 stamping fee belongs to visa-on-arrival letters. We found no official statement either way.
How many photos do I need?
Reports say 1, 2 or 4, with two the most common. Bring at least two 2-inch photos on a white background. No official number exists.
Does this apply to Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan passports?
The officials quoted spoke about Chinese e-passports, and the reports we found come from mainland travelers. We have no reports of Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan passport holders doing this swap.
Need an eVisa on a Chinese passport?
InTimeVisa is an independent private agent. Border officers decide how you enter.