Vietnam 45-Day Visa Exemption for Indian and Bangladeshi Citizens: 2026 Rules, Costs and Border Tips

Decision No. 234/QD-TTg, issued by the Vietnamese government on January 15, 2026, removes the e-visa requirement for Indian and Bangladeshi tourists from March 1 through December 31, 2026, with a possible extension if results justify it. Eligible travelers with an ordinary passport valid at least six months, a return ticket, and proof of accommodation can now enter Vietnam for tourism and stay up to 45 days without paying the previous $25–$50 e-visa fee.

Before March 1, an Indian or Bangladeshi passport holder had to apply online for an e-visa, pay $25–$50, and wait several processing days. That step now disappears for tourism trips of 45 days or less. The exemption is strictly for tourism: business visitors, workers, and anyone planning a stay longer than 45 days still need a sponsor or a separate visa. Tourism stays beyond 45 days require the standard 90-day, multiple-entry e-visa, which costs $50 and should be arranged at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn before departure.

This pilot program has a fixed end date of December 31, 2026, and the government has said the exemption may be rescinded if tourism targets are not met. Anyone booking travel for late 2026 or early 2027 should check the official immigration portal or a licensed agent before purchasing flights.

From March 1, 2026, Indian and Bangladeshi citizens can enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days under Decision No. 234/QD-TTg, but the exemption applies only to ordinary passports with at least six months of validity from the date you arrive. Diplomatic and official passport holders should check separately, as the policy text does not clearly include them. The 45-day stay is for tourism only; business or work visits still require a sponsor or a visa.

Border officers at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Moc Bai, Lao Bao and other qualified checkpoints can ask for three things: a confirmed return airplane ticket, proof of accommodation, and roughly $500 equivalent per traveler in cash, a card statement, or funds you can access from your phone. Print your return ticket and hotel booking before departure. Digital copies stored on a phone are usually fine at major airports, but land gates in the first months of the rollout may not accept them, and you could be asked to pay for a visa on arrival if the exemption is not yet processed there.

Overstaying risks a fine of about 500,000 VND per day plus possible deportation. If you plan to stay longer than 45 days, apply for the 90-day e-visa (multiple entry, $50) at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn before leaving home.

Decision No. 234/QD-TTg lists all international checkpoints for the 45-day visa exemption, but from March 1, 2026, air arrivals are the surest way to use it without friction. Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh, and Phu Quoc airports have trained staff and updated systems from day one; bring a passport with six months' validity, a return ticket, and a hotel booking, and the exemption is processed on arrival.

Moc Bai and Lao Bao land border gates, plus major seaports, are technically included, but early months may bring confusion. Some land ports lack updated software or officer briefings, and Indian or Bangladeshi travelers have been asked to pay a $25–$50 visa-on-arrival when the exemption isn't recognized locally. If you must enter by road, contact the specific border gate through its provincial immigration department website before traveling and ask whether the exemption is being processed. For any stay under 45 days through at least June 2026, fly into one of the five airports. Overstaying costs 500,000 VND per day, so plan your exit within the 45-day window.

Travelers who already know their Vietnam stay will exceed 45 days should not rely on the visa-free entry. Apply instead for a 90-day, multiple-entry e-visa at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn before departure; the fee is $50. This e-visa is a separate process from the exemption and must be obtained in advance. It covers tourism and short visits, but it cannot be converted later from the 45-day exemption inside Vietnam.

Once you enter under the visa-free policy, the rules for extending are unclear. One source suggests a one-time 30-day extension may be possible at the Immigration Department, but another states you must exit and re-enter to reset the 45 days. As of 2026, no official regulation defines an in-country extension for the exemption. Do not assume you can extend after arriving; check the official immigration portal or a licensed agent before travel, and have a clear plan for your length of stay.

The 45-day visa-free entry is for tourism only. It cannot be converted to a work or business visa inside Vietnam. If your trip involves business meetings, employment, or a longer stay than 45 days, apply for the appropriate visa before you fly.

Overstaying the 45-day visa exemption for Indian and Bangladeshi citizens costs 500,000 VND per day — about $20 at 2026 exchange rates — and can trigger deportation if you're caught at the airport or a random document check. The fine applies from day 46 onward with no grace period; immigration officers record your exit date against the entry stamp.

The exemption is a pilot that ends on December 31, 2026. Extension beyond that date depends on tourism results: if visitor numbers from India and Bangladesh fall short of the government's targets, the policy may not be renewed. There is no guarantee of a same-day extension inside Vietnam; the Immigration Department sometimes approves a one-time 30-day extension for a fee, but other travelers report being told to leave and re-enter.

Diplomatic and official passport holders are not explicitly named in Decision No. 234/QD-TTg, so verify with the Vietnamese embassy before booking if you hold one. Rules can change quickly — check the official immigration portal at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn or speak to a licensed visa agent within 72 hours of departure, because land border gates may be slower to implement the exemption.

From March 1, 2026, Indian and Bangladeshi citizens with ordinary passports qualify for Vietnam's 45-day visa exemption, but the policy only works if your paperwork is in order. First, check that your passport is valid for at least six months from the date you enter Vietnam—not from your departure date. Then book a return flight and a hotel, and print both confirmations. Immigration officers at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, or Da Nang may ask to see a paper copy even if you show a phone screenshot.

Prepare at least $500 equivalent in cash or accessible funds, but split the cash among your wallet, luggage, and a money belt. Don't carry all of it in one place. If you plan to cross by land, email or call the specific border gate before you travel—Moc Bai and Lao Bao process the exemption, but smaller land ports may not have updated systems in the first months. Ask for written confirmation if possible.

Save the official e-visa portal page https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn on your phone. If an officer questions your 45-day stay or you want an extension, this shows you understand the longer-stay option: a 90-day, multiple-entry e-visa costs $50. Overstaying the exemption risks a fine of about 500,000 VND per day.