Vietnam Visa for Indian Passport Holders in Dubai — Complete Guide 2026

Yes. Indian passport holders have been eligible for the Vietnam e-visa since August 2023, when Vietnam expanded the e-visa programme to cover citizens of all countries. Prior to this expansion, Indian nationals had more limited options. The e-visa is now the recommended route for most Indian travellers from Dubai — it is the fastest, cheapest, and simplest way to obtain a Vietnam visa.

Indian nationals are not eligible for visa-free entry to Vietnam. A visa must be obtained before travel, regardless of your UAE residence status. Your UAE residence visa does not exempt you from the Vietnam visa requirement — Vietnam visa policy is based entirely on your passport nationality.

The Vietnam e-visa requires minimal documentation compared to Schengen or UK visa applications. All documents are uploaded digitally during the online application. Indian passport holders do not need any additional documents beyond the standard requirements that apply to all nationalities.

The Vietnam e-visa is one of the fastest visa processes available to Indian passport holders. Standard processing takes approximately 3 working days from the date of submission. OraVisa has not observed any nationality-based delays for Indian applicants — the processing time is consistent regardless of passport nationality.

Based on OraVisa’s experience processing hundreds of Vietnam e-visa applications for Indian clients in Dubai, certain errors recur frequently. These are all easily avoidable with proper preparation.

The Vietnam e-visa application is straightforward and takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Here is the step-by-step process for Indian passport holders in Dubai.

1. 1Visit the official Vietnam e-visa portal at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. This is the only official government website — avoid third-party sites that charge inflated fees.
2. 2Click "E-visa Issuance" then "Outside Vietnam foreigners" then "Apply new" to start a fresh application.
3. 3Upload your passport-style photo: JPEG format, white background, face covering 70 to 80 percent of the frame, no glasses. Remember that Indian passport photos with blue backgrounds will be rejected.
4. 4Upload a clear scan of your Indian passport biographical data page. Ensure the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) at the bottom is fully visible without any obstruction.
5. 5Enter your full name exactly as it appears in your Indian passport. Place your surname in the "Surname" field and given name(s) in the "Given name" field.
6. 6Select "India" as your nationality, enter your passport number, and confirm the expiry date.
7. 7Choose your intended entry and exit points in Vietnam. Most Dubai residents enter at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) or Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi).
8. 8Pay USD 25 (single entry) or USD 50 (multiple entry) by credit or debit card.
9. 9Save your registration code — this is your reference number for tracking the application.
10. 10Check back on the portal in 3 working days to download your approved e-visa as a PDF. Print it on A4 paper and carry it with your passport.

The Vietnam visa is very affordable for Indian passport holders. The e-visa fee is standardised across all nationalities and is significantly lower than most other destination visas. Below is a complete breakdown of costs.

Beyond the visa process, Indian travellers from Dubai should know several practical details about visiting Vietnam. These tips are based on feedback from OraVisa’s Indian clients who have travelled to Vietnam.

• Direct flights from Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City are available on Emirates (approximately 6 hours). Connecting flights via Bangkok or Singapore add 2 to 4 hours but may be cheaper.
• Vietnam has a growing halal food scene in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Apps such as Halal Trip and Zabihah can help locate halal restaurants. Vegetarian options are widely available due to Buddhist influence.
• The Vietnamese dong (VND) is the local currency. Exchange rates are better in Vietnam than in Dubai — bring USD cash and exchange on arrival for the best rates.
• Vietnamese SIM cards are inexpensive (approximately AED 10 to 15 for 30 days with data) and available at the airport on arrival.
• Travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended — healthcare in Vietnam can be expensive for foreigners without insurance.
• The time difference between Dubai and Vietnam is 3 hours (Vietnam is UTC+7, Dubai is UTC+4).
• Carry printed copies of your e-visa, passport, and UAE residence visa at all times while in Vietnam.
• Vietnam is extremely affordable for Dubai residents — daily budgets of AED 150 to 300 cover mid-range travel including meals, transport, and accommodation.

OraVisa specialises in helping Indian passport holders in Dubai obtain their Vietnam visas quickly and without complications. While the e-visa process is straightforward, our document review service catches common errors before they cause rejections — saving you time and the cost of reapplication.

• E-visa application review — we check your photo, passport scan, and personal details against your passport before submission
• Visa on arrival arrangement — for last-minute travel, we handle the pre-approval letter through authorised agencies
• Multi-country itinerary support — combining Vietnam with Thailand, Cambodia, or Malaysia? We process all visas as a single package
• Photo compliance check — we verify your digital photo meets Vietnamese government requirements (white background, correct dimensions)
• Post-approval guidance — pre-departure checklist covering documents to carry, currency exchange tips, and airport procedures