Travel planning
Vietnam Visa Guide for Golf Travellers
Australian passport holders need a visa for Vietnam. The good news: the e-visa is entirely online, valid for up to 90 days, and straightforward if you apply on the official government portal and leave enough processing time.
Do Australians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Australia is not on Vietnam's visa-exemption list, so every Australian travelling for a golf holiday needs to arrange a visa before departure. There is no visa on arrival for tourist Australians arriving by air; the e-visa is the standard route. Vietnam's visa exemption applies to holders of passports from countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland (45 days, currently until 14 March 2028 under Resolution 44/NQ-CP), plus ASEAN neighbours. If your group mixes Australian and British or European players, they may not need a visa at all: but always check the current rules for each nationality before anyone books flights.
The e-visa in plain terms
Since August 2023, Vietnam's e-visa (under Resolution 127) allows stays of up to 90 days, as either a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. The fee is US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, paid online and non-refundable even if the application is refused. The e-visa is issued for a fixed validity window and you enter through the port of entry you nominate in the application: all major international airports, including Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, accept e-visa holders.
Processing usually takes a few working days, but allow at least one to two weeks in peak periods, and longer if anyone in your group has a complicated history.
Applying step by step
- Go to the official government e-visa portal (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn: check the current official URL before applying, as mirror and scam sites exist).
- Have ready: a clear photo or scan of the passport data page, a recent passport-style photo, a credit or debit card, and an email address you actually check.
- Enter personal details exactly as they appear in the passport. A middle name in the wrong field is one of the most common reasons for delays.
- Nominate your entry port and intended dates. If your itinerary enters via Da Nang, say so.
- Pay the fee (US$25 single / US$50 multiple) and wait for the approval letter by email.
Each traveller needs their own application, including children. For a golf group of eight or twelve, nominate one organised person to chase everyone's approval letters, and apply on the same day with the same entry details so the paperwork lines up.
What to carry on arrival
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival, with at least two blank pages.
- A printed copy of the e-visa approval, plus a digital copy on your phone.
- Proof of onward or return travel: airlines sometimes ask at check-in.
The Phu Quoc exception
Travellers flying directly to Phu Quoc island from outside Vietnam can stay visa-free for up to 30 days. This suits a Phu Quoc-only golf break, but the moment your itinerary touches the mainland, a visa is required. Groups combining Vinpearl Phu Quoc with rounds in Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City need e-visas regardless.
Changes to watch in 2026
Vietnam's entry formalities have been shifting. From April 2026, arrivals through Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport have been required to complete a digital pre-arrival declaration generating a QR code for immigration, completed within 72 hours of arrival. Health declaration requirements have also been updated under Ministry of Health guidance. These rules are time-sensitive and can change with little notice, so re-check the official immigration and health portals in the final weeks before departure: or ask us, and we will tell you what the current requirement is for your entry airport.
How we handle visas on an ASEAN LINKS trip
Your visa remains your responsibility, but we keep it simple: when you book, we send a pre-departure briefing covering the current entry rules for your exact airports and dates, the official portal link, and the documents to carry. Multiple-entry visas matter if your itinerary leaves Vietnam and returns: for example, a side trip to Angkor before more rounds in Da Nang.
Visa Decisions That Affect Golf Itineraries
Two planning choices interact with your visa. First, length of stay: most golf itineraries run seven to fourteen nights, comfortably inside a standard e-visa window, but multi-region trips: say, Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City with beach days: can stretch past two weeks, so match the visa validity to the actual itinerary rather than a guess. Second, entry point: e-visa holders must enter through a designated port, and Vietnam's international airports in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City are all on the list, so flying in for golf raises no complications: but land borders and cruise arrivals have their own rules, worth confirming if your trip combines golf with regional overland travel.
What to Carry on Arrival
Print your e-visa approval and keep it with your passport; keep a copy on your phone as backup. Have your first night's accommodation address available: the arrival card asks for it: and note that airlines may ask to see your return ticket before boarding. Immigration lines at the major airports move quickly outside peak arrival banks, and the whole entry process rarely troubles well-prepared golf travellers.