Vietnam Travel Visa for Romanians — Tourist & Business Options
Vietnam is one of the most rewarding destinations Romanian travelers are discovering right now — ancient towns, rice terraces, street food that costs less than a coffee back in Bucharest, and a coastline that rivals anything in the Mediterranean. Whether you’re planning a two-week holiday or a three-month business trip, getting the right visa setup from the start saves you money, time, and a lot of airport stress.
This guide covers every visa option available to Romanian passport holders in 2026: what you’re entitled to, what each option costs, and when to use which.
The Short Version: What Romanians Get by Default
Before anything else — Romania is on Vietnam’s visa-exemption list. That means:
- Up to 45 consecutive days: no visa required, no application, no fee
- Valid for both tourism and short business visits
- No minimum interval between stays (you can do a “visa run” — exit and re-enter)
- Passport must have at least 6 months validity and 2 blank pages
For the majority of Romanian tourists visiting Vietnam, this is all you need. Book your flight, pack your bag, and show up.
The visa question only becomes relevant when your trip exceeds 45 days, involves work or extended business activities, or requires documented entry permission (some employers or visa sponsors request it).
Vietnam Travel Visa for Romanians — Tourist & Business Options
Full Breakdown: All Visa Options for Romanians in 2026
Option 1 — Visa-Free Entry (0–45 Days)
Best for: Holidays, short business meetings, tourism, transit stops under 45 days
How it works: Present your Romanian passport at immigration. No sticker, no stamp-in required — the officer records your arrival electronically. You receive permission to stay up to 45 days from the date of entry.
What you need at the border:
- Romanian passport (valid 6+ months beyond your stay, 2 blank pages)
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking, Airbnb, or host contact)
- Sufficient funds — roughly $50–100/day is an informal benchmark immigration officers use
Ports of entry: All 13 major airports (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, etc.), plus land and sea borders.
The visa run option: Romania has no restriction on consecutive visa-free entries. You can stay 45 days, cross into Cambodia or Laos for a day, and re-enter Vietnam for another 45 days. This is legal and widely practiced by long-stay travelers. Budget the cost of the border crossing (typically $20–50 for a day trip to Cambodia).
Option 2 — Vietnam E-Visa (Up to 90 Days)
Best for: Extended tourism, long holidays, business visits over 45 days, travelers who want documented entry permission
Validity: Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry Government fee: $25 (single entry) / $50 (multiple entry) Processing time: 3–7 business days (standard) / 1–4 hours (express service) Application: Online at evisa.gov.vn
The e-visa is the most practical option for Romanian travelers who want more than 45 days or need a formal visa document. It replaced the old visa-on-arrival system and is significantly more convenient — you apply online, receive a PDF, and present it at the airport. No embassy visit needed.
E-visa entry ports: 83 approved points — 13 airports, 16 land borders, 13 seaports. All major tourist entry points are covered.
How to apply:
- Go to the official government portal
- Upload passport bio page scan and a portrait photo (white background, 4×6 cm)
- Enter travel dates, entry/exit ports, accommodation address
- Pay $25 or $50 by card
- Receive approval PDF by email within 3–7 business days
- Print the PDF or save it offline — present at immigration counter on arrival
Romanian name note: Your name on the application must match the MRZ (machine-readable zone) at the bottom of your passport — no diacritics (ș→s, ț→t, ă→a, î→i, â→a). Using the diacritical version from the visual zone of your passport is the most common cause of name mismatch rejections.
Option 3 — Business Visa (DN Visa)
Best for: Meetings, conferences, negotiations, signed contracts, company representatives staying long-term
Romanian business travelers visiting Vietnam for meetings, trade shows, or short-term commercial activities are covered by the visa-free 45-day allowance or the standard e-visa — both permit business activities. No separate business visa is required for these purposes.
A dedicated DN business visa becomes relevant when:
- You’re employed by a Vietnamese company and need a work permit pathway
- You’re attending investor or government-level engagements requiring formal documentation
- Your company’s Vietnamese partner specifically requests a business visa for compliance reasons
For the vast majority of Romanian business visitors — attending a conference in Ho Chi Minh City, meeting suppliers in Hanoi, or scouting locations in Da Nang — the standard e-visa or visa-free entry is sufficient.
Option 4 — Visa on Arrival (for reference)
Vietnam’s traditional Visa on Arrival (VOA) system — where you paid an agency for an approval letter, then paid a stamping fee at the airport — has been officially discontinued. It no longer exists as a standard option.
If you see agencies still advertising “Vietnam Visa on Arrival,” they are either outdated or referring to a private VIP arrival service (fast-track immigration assistance), which is a different product. The e-visa is the current standard for all travelers who need a visa.
Tourist vs. Business Travel: Which Visa Do You Actually Need?
| Purpose | Visa Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday ≤ 45 days | None | Visa-free for Romanians |
| Holiday 46–90 days | E-visa ($25–50) | Apply online before departure |
| Business meetings ≤ 45 days | None | Visa-free covers short business |
| Conference / trade fair | None / E-visa | Depends on stay duration |
| Long-term business (90+ days) | E-visa + extensions | Or work permit pathway |
| Cruise ship arrival | E-visa | Some ports require advance visa |
| Working for a Vietnamese company | Work permit (separate) | Not covered by tourist visa |
Entry Requirements at the Vietnam Border
Whether you’re visa-free or arriving with an e-visa, immigration officers at Vietnamese airports routinely ask for supporting documents. Having these ready avoids delays:
Return or onward ticket: The most common thing travelers forget. Immigration will ask how you plan to leave. A confirmed booking (even one you can cancel later) satisfies this requirement.
Proof of accommodation: A hotel confirmation email for at least the first few nights. If staying with friends or family, a host invitation letter works.
Funds: No official minimum, but $50–100 per day of stay is the informal standard. A bank card you can show on your phone is usually sufficient.
Travel insurance: Not legally required, but Vietnam’s private hospitals charge significantly for tourist treatment — comprehensive travel insurance with at least €30,000 medical coverage is strongly recommended. It also satisfies any concerns immigration has about financial responsibility.
Costs at a Glance (2026)
| Scenario | Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday under 45 days | $0 | Instant (at border) |
| E-visa (standard, single) | $25 | 3–7 business days |
| E-visa (standard, multiple) | $50 | 3–7 business days |
| E-visa (express, 1–4hr) | $85–130 total | 1–4 hours |
| VIP Fast Track at airport | $20–35 extra | Book in advance |
| Visa run to Cambodia | ~$30–60 | Day trip |
Choosing the Right Entry Port
Romanian travelers typically fly into Vietnam through one of three hubs:
Hanoi Nội Bài (HAN) — best gateway for northern Vietnam: Sapa, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, the Old Quarter. Most common routing from Europe via Middle Eastern hubs (Emirates, Qatar, Turkish Airlines).
Ho Chi Minh City Tân Sơn Nhất (SGN) — best gateway for southern Vietnam: Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels, day trips to Phu Quoc. Also a common entry point for those doing a north-to-south itinerary.
Da Nang (DAD) — direct gateway for central Vietnam: Hoi An (30 min by car), Hue (2 hrs), My Son Sanctuary. Some European carriers offer seasonal direct connections.
For a classic Romanian tourist itinerary — Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City — flying into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City (open-jaw ticket) covers the country top to bottom without backtracking.
How Long Can You Actually Stay in Vietnam?
| Visa Type | Max Stay | Re-entry |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free | 45 days per visit | Unlimited (no minimum gap) |
| E-visa single | 90 days | Once |
| E-visa multiple | 90 days | Multiple within validity |
| E-visa + visa run | Up to 135+ days | Exit/re-enter for new 45-day period |
For a long-stay traveler — say, a Romanian digital nomad wanting 3–4 months in Vietnam — the most practical setup is a 90-day multiple-entry e-visa, followed by a visa run to Cambodia or Laos if needed for an extension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Vietnam visa if I’m transiting through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City? If you’re transiting airside (not leaving the international terminal), no visa is needed. If you want to leave the airport during a layover, Romanian citizens can use the 45-day visa-free allowance — just bring your passport and have a return boarding pass.
Can I extend my e-visa inside Vietnam? E-visa extensions within Vietnam are possible through the immigration office but are not guaranteed and take time. It’s more reliable to apply for a new e-visa before your current one expires, or to exit and re-enter using the visa-free allowance.
Is the Vietnam e-visa accepted at all airports? Yes — all 13 international airports in Vietnam accept e-visa holders. This includes Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Can Tho, and others.
Can I work in Vietnam on a tourist visa or e-visa? No. Tourist visas and e-visas do not permit paid employment. If you’re working remotely for a non-Vietnamese company (digital nomad), this is a grey area in Vietnamese law — most travelers do it without issue, but it is not officially sanctioned. Working for or being paid by a Vietnamese company requires a work permit.
What’s the easiest way to get a Vietnam visa for a last-minute trip from Romania? Use an express e-visa agency. During Vietnamese business hours, approval takes 1–4 hours. Total cost is $85–130. See our urgent e-visa guide for the full process.
Key Takeaways
- 45 days or less: visa-free for all Romanian passport holders — no application needed
- 46–90 days: apply for an e-visa online ($25 single / $50 multiple) at evisa.gov.vn
- Business trips under 45 days: visa-free allowance covers meetings, conferences, trade fairs
- Visa on Arrival: discontinued — the e-visa is the current standard
- Airport entry: bring return ticket, hotel booking, and travel insurance
- Name on application: use MRZ format (no diacritics) to match your passport exactly
- Long stays: 90-day e-visa + visa run to neighboring country is the standard approach
Last updated: May 2026. Vietnam visa policy is subject to change — verify current requirements at vietnamembassy before travel.
