Documents to prepare before your trip
- A valid passport.
- An e-Visa if your trip length or entry pattern requires one.
- A ticket out of Vietnam or proof of onward travel, especially useful when entering visa-free.
- The address of your first hotel, apartment, or home in Vietnam.
- Travel insurance. It does not replace immigration requirements, but it is sensible to arrange separately.
Passport validity
For citizens using Vietnam's unilateral visa-exemption scheme, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists a passport validity requirement of at least six months from the date of entry. If your passport is close to expiry, do not plan the trip around the minimum remaining validity; renew the document first.
Checks can happen before you reach the border
The first document check often happens at the airline desk rather than in Vietnam. The carrier must confirm that a passenger appears eligible to enter the destination. Keep your e-Visa, onward ticket, and evidence of the visa-free rules available offline instead of searching through messages at the gate.
If you enter visa-free
Russian citizens can use visa-free entry for stays of up to 45 days in 2026, subject to the current conditions. This is convenient for a normal holiday, but it is not a universal substitute for a visa. For longer stays, multiple entries, or a non-standard purpose of stay, confirm the correct immigration basis before travelling.
If you enter with an e-Visa
Check the validity period, passport number, name, and whether the visa is single- or multiple-entry. Do not assume an error can be fixed at passport control. You must also enter through a checkpoint that accepts e-Visa travellers under the current official list.
Final checklist before leaving home
- Your passport has sufficient remaining validity.
- The passenger name on the ticket matches the passport.
- Your entry basis is clear and covers the full trip.
- The e-Visa is saved offline and printed if applicable.
- You have your first accommodation address.
- You have proof of onward or return travel.
- You checked recent changes on official immigration or foreign-affairs resources.
Questions and answers
Do I need an onward ticket to enter Vietnam?
It may be requested as evidence that you plan to leave, especially by the airline before boarding. Carrying an onward or return itinerary is the safer option.
How much passport validity do I need?
For Russian citizens entering under the visa-free scheme, the official Vietnamese MFA list states at least six months from the date of entry.
Do I need a printed e-Visa?
The electronic file is the key document, but a paper copy is a useful backup and can simplify checks.
Where should I check for changes?
Use Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs resources and the official immigration/e-Visa portal.