The Vietnam Guides

Vietnam Now Requires Digital Arrival Card at Major Airports

· 2 min read Travel News
Ho Chi Minh City skyline at dusk with the Bitexco Financial Tower

Contents

  1. How to complete it
  2. Visa situation as of May 2026
  3. Getting around once you arrive
  4. Tourism is strong

Vietnam introduced a mandatory digital arrival card for all foreign nationals landing at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City on April 15, 2026. The form replaces the paper arrival card previously handed out on the aircraft and must be completed before reaching the immigration desk. Skipping it can mean longer queues and potential delays at the border.

How to complete it

Visit prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival. You will need:

  • Your passport details
  • Your flight number
  • The address of your first night’s accommodation in Vietnam
  • Your purpose of visit

The form generates a QR code that you show to immigration officers on arrival. The process takes around five minutes. There is no fee. Within the first two weeks of the pilot, the system processed more than 161,000 submissions — a strong proof of concept for a national rollout.

The digital arrival card is a registration step only. It does not replace your visa or visa-free exemption. Vietnamese citizens travelling on Vietnamese passports and transit passengers who do not clear immigration are exempt.

Currently the digital card is a pilot programme enforced at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), but the system is designed to cover land, sea, and air entry points. Travellers arriving at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport or Da Nang International should expect an equivalent requirement to follow.

Visa situation as of May 2026

Vietnam’s e-visa is available to nationals of every country, with stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and several other European countries remain exempt from needing a visa at all for stays up to 45 days. Our Vietnam visa guide lists exemptions by nationality and explains the e-visa application process.

41 new border crossing points now accept e-visa holders, including a newly designated airport, reflecting ongoing expansion of Vietnam’s entry infrastructure.

Getting around once you arrive

Vietnam’s domestic transport network is well developed. Trains, buses, and internal flights connect the main cities. Our getting around Vietnam guide covers trains, sleeper buses, ride-hailing apps, and local transport options.

Tourism is strong

Vietnam welcomed 8.8 million international visitors in the first four months of 2026, up 14.6% year-on-year. May is typically a quieter period, with lower hotel and flight prices and reduced crowds at popular sites. It is a good month for central Vietnam destinations such as Hoi An and Hue, and for northern highland areas including Sapa and Ha Giang, where the weather is mild before the summer rains arrive.