How to Apply for a Vietnam Tourist Visa from Australia – My Experience

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last year

Hey everyone,

I recently went through the process of applying for a Vietnam tourist visa from Australia, and I thought I’d share my experience here since I noticed a lot of confusion online. Hopefully, this saves someone the stress I went through!

🇻🇳 Types of visas available for Australians

Vietnam eVisa (30 days, single entry) – The most common option, costs around 25 USD if you apply directly at evisa.gov.vn

Processing time: officially 3 working days, but delays happen (especially during peak travel season).

Limitation: single entry only. If you plan to leave and re-enter Vietnam, you’ll need a new visa.

Visa on Arrival (VOA) – Only valid if you fly into Vietnam and use an agency. You get an approval letter by email, then stamp at the airport.

Not as popular now since eVisa is more convenient.

Urgent Visa Services – If your trip is last-minute, there are agencies that can arrange approval in a few hours. This isn’t available directly through the government site.

⚠️ Things to watch out for

The official eVisa website looks quite outdated, and sometimes payment errors occur.

If you make a mistake (wrong passport number, dates, or upload the wrong photo), your visa can be rejected without refund.

Many travelers wait until the last minute and panic when their visa isn’t approved in time.

✅ My recommendation

If you have plenty of time before your trip, you can apply directly on the government site. But if you’re in a hurry or don’t want to risk errors, I’d suggest using a trusted service. I personally used VietnamVisaEasy

, and they handled everything smoothly. They even offer urgent processing (within hours) which is a lifesaver for last-minute travelers.

📌 Final tips for Australians:

Apply at least 2 weeks before departure to avoid stress.

Double-check your passport number and entry port.

If you’re traveling around Southeast Asia and plan to re-enter Vietnam, make sure you understand the single entry limitation of the eVisa.

Hope this helps anyone planning their Vietnam trip! Feel free to ask if you have questions—I know the process can be confusing at first.

Cheers 🍻

—Aussie Traveler