If you need to stay in Vietnam for more than 24 hours during your layover in the country, then you will have to apply for a transit visa. What’s good about getting a visa is that you are free to get out of the country to explore. You will not be stuck at the airport while waiting for your next flight.
Having a Vietnam transit visa is also necessary if you need to travel within the country from your point of arrival going to another place in the country for your departure. For instance, you are arriving at Hanoi airport but you need to get out of the country from the seaport of Hai Phong. In this case, you need to be able to present a visa at the Vietnam Immigration in Hanoi for you to be allowed to enter the country and travel to the seaport of Hai Phong where you will be taking a boat to exit the country.
So once you have the e-Visa, you can go ahead and take your flight to Vietnam. Upon arriving at Vietnam, simply go to the passport control so the immigration can stamp your passport and let you enter the country.
So if you will be transiting in Vietnam for more than 24 hours, then you should apply for a Vietnam transit visa ahead of your trip. Thankfully, it’s now possible to apply for the visa online.
Most of the time, travelers passing through Vietnam for a layover will only need to stay in the country for less than 24 hours. If you’re one of them, then a transit visa is no longer required.
The travelers who are transiting through Vietnam to the next destination need to apply for an E-visa. If you the traveler, then you can apply for E-visa online before your departure.
You may wonder whether you need a Vietnam transit visa to enter the country, if you are arriving Vietnam for a short time between flights to another city or country. It depends on the situation and the hours you spend in Vietnam.