Vietnam 
97 percent of all applicants for Vietnam’s e-visa receive a decision without additional questions, but those who encounter issues often make the same mistake: they apply for the wrong type for their trip.
Vietnam Expands E-Visa and It Shows Immediately in the Queue
Vietnam has quickly made the e-visa more useful for more types of travel, routes, and arrangements. For you with a Swedish passport, this means that you can more often complete your entry digitally instead of chasing paperwork through an agent or explaining upon arrival.
What I noticed most recently in Ho Chi Minh City was that many in the arrival hall already had their e-visa ready on their phones, and the flow was faster. Those who encountered problems were almost always the ones with a plan that did not match their application, such as the wrong entry point or the wrong number of entries.
Which Swedish Travelers Are Now Included
The expanded e-visa is most relevant for three groups. First, those who want to enter through more airports and border crossings than before, as the list of approved entry points has been broadened.
Second, those who want flexibility in their travel. The e-visa has become a more realistic option for those who want to make a detour, for example, a few days in Cambodia, and then return to Vietnam again, provided you choose the right variant.
The third group is business travelers who do not want to wait for a traditional process. The e-visa often works well even for short business trips such as meetings, trade fairs, and site visits, as long as you are not planning to work as an employee in Vietnam.
If your travel plan includes an exit and a new entry, choose multiple entries right away. Trying to resolve it on-site often results in a new application.
Specific Situations Where the E-Visa Makes a Difference
If you are only staying 48 hours in Hanoi on your way elsewhere, the e-visa is often the smoothest route, but only if you are truly passing through immigration and entering Vietnam. If you have a pure transit where you do not leave the transit area, the requirements may look different depending on your ticket and the airport’s setup.
If you are traveling with family, the big advantage is that everyone can have their decisions ready before departure. This reduces stress, especially with children, but expect that each person will need their own application and payment.
If you are planning a round trip that starts in Da Nang and ends in Ho Chi Minh City, it matters less. However, if you intend to cross a land border, for example from Laos, you need to check that your specific border crossing is included among the approved ones for the e-visa.
What Has Changed in Practice
The expansion mainly concerns reach and flexibility. More entry points mean you can book better flights and avoid unnecessary detours, and more people who previously chose visa on arrival can now plan from home.
What has not changed is that the information must be correct. Vietnam’s system is quite literal, and a misspelling in a name or a passport number that does not match can mean you have to turn back even before boarding.
Use the same spelling as in the machine-readable line of your passport and double-check the numbers before submitting.
Quick Table for Choosing the Right Setup for Vietnam
| Travel Situation in Vietnam | Recommended Choice | Comment for Swedish Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Simple vacation trip with fixed route | E-visa, single entry | Good when you fly in and out once |
| Vietnam, Cambodia, back to Vietnam | E-visa, multiple entries | Choose multiple entries right from the start |
| Entry via smaller border crossing | E-visa if the gate is approved | Otherwise, an alternative solution is needed |
| Short business trip, meetings | E-visa | Ensure the purpose matches your documentation |
How to Avoid Common Mistakes in Vietnam
The most common mistake I heard from other Swedes on-site was that they applied with the wrong entry point. They rebooked their flight to save a few hundred kronor but kept old information in the application.
The second most common was choosing a single entry despite planning a quick trip across the border and back. In that case, it does not help that you have hotel bookings in Vietnam; the system looks at what you actually applied for.
- Ensure that your entry point in the application matches your ticket
- Choose the correct number of entries if you plan to leave and return
- Have a clear address in Vietnam for the first night
- Pay with a card that can handle foreign purchases in VND online
- Save as PDF when the decision comes and also have a screenshot
What to Do Now If You Are Traveling Soon
Start by locking in your route, at least the first entry. Once you have the ticket, apply and expect processing times to vary, so do not submit at the last minute.
If you are unsure which visa type suits you, VIZA.se has a good overview. It is particularly helpful if you are combining several countries in the region and want to avoid reapplying.
When the e-visa is ready, match the information against your passport and booking. This small check often makes the difference between a smooth arrival in Vietnam and an unnecessarily expensive rebooking.
