Vietnam warns e-visa applicants to use only official .gov.vn portals
Vietnamese authorities are urging travelers to apply for e-visas only through official government websites, warning that a growing number of convincing copycat sites can steal personal and payment data or leave applicants without valid entry authorization.
According to Vietnam's Immigration Department, only two portals can issue e-visas: evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn. Both have operated under the Ministry of Public Security since November 11, 2024. Any address ending in .com, .net, .org or anything other than .gov.vn is not an official government channel and cannot issue a Vietnamese visa.
What changed
The department says fraudulent websites frequently copy government branding and can appear high in search results or paid ads. Recent travel-security reports describe increasingly polished fakes built with AI-generated text, translated content and cloned page layouts, though official notices refer more broadly to fake and illegal sites.
The practical danger is real: a private operator has no authority to issue a visa, so a traveler who pays through a copycat site may arrive at airline check-in or immigration with no valid entry authorization at all.
How to apply safely
The department advises typing one of the two official addresses directly into your browser rather than clicking a search advertisement or social media link. That single habit sharply reduces the risk of paying fake fees or handing your passport details to an unauthorized operator.
The official application requires:
- Passport details, proposed travel dates and entry point
- A scan of your passport photo page
- An ID-style photograph
After submitting, you receive a dossier code and pay through the portal's electronic payment gateway.
Official government fees are $25 for a single-entry e-visa and $50 for a multiple-entry e-visa, both allowing stays of up to 90 days. Standard processing usually takes three to five working days.
The department also stresses that it does not sell guaranteed approval, paid priority handling, or official one- or two-day express processing. Sites advertising those services are private operators or possible scams, not government channels.
What it means for nomads
Vietnam remains a popular base for remote workers thanks to low costs and established coworking scenes, and its e-visa is a common entry route. The warning applies to tourists, expats and digital nomads worldwide.
The takeaway is simple but worth repeating: bookmark the two official .gov.vn addresses, ignore ads promising faster approval, and treat any request for extra express fees as a red flag. Verifying the domain before entering passport or card details is the easiest way to protect both your money and your trip.
Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.