Quỳnh Nguyễn · reviewed on
Short answer: yes, if you hold an ordinary Vietnamese passport and travel Vietnam - China - Vietnam. You need a tourist L visa: 45 USD plus a 725,000 VND service fee for a single entry, about 4 working days in Hanoi. Since 20 August 2026, visa-free entry only covers 240-hour transit to a third country or a stay limited to Hainan.
⚠️ Verify before you apply: fees, documents and processing times can change; checked on the official pages on 1 October 2026.
China visa for Vietnamese at a glance
| Question | Answer (as of 5 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Round trip Vietnam - China? | Tourist L visa required |
| Where to apply | Visa centres in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Processing in Hanoi | ~4 regular, ~3 express, ~2 urgent working days |
| Single-entry visa fee | 45 / 70 / 82 USD |
| Centre service fee | 725,000 / 1,100,000 / 1,450,000 VND |
| Visa-free options | 240h transit to a third country; 30 days in Hainan only |
| When to apply | About 1 month before, not more than 3 months before |
Do I need a visa to visit China in 2026?
With an ordinary Vietnamese passport, yes, unless your trip fits one of the two exceptions China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) opened to Vietnam on 20 August 2026 (Announcement No. 4 of 2026):
- 240-hour visa-free transit, only when continuing to a third country or region (Hanoi → Shanghai → Tokyo works; Hanoi → Beijing → Hanoi does not).
- 30-day visa-free entry to Hainan, entering through Hainan's own ports and staying in the province.
A Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai loop ending back in Vietnam needs an L visa. Overland via Lao Cai - Hekou? Hekou is not one of the 65 transit ports, and neither are Youyiguan or Dongxing, so you need a visa or the appropriate border document.
Other passports: US, UK and Canada are transit-eligible; French passports get 30 days visa-free until 31 December 2026 per France Diplomatie. Travelling in 2027? Check that page again, since 31 December 2026 is the end date it gives.
What documents do I need for a Chinese tourist visa in Vietnam?
A passport valid for 6 months, the signed online form, a 48 x 33 mm photo and return flights with hotel bookings (or an invitation) cover most files. The full Hanoi centre L visa checklist (updated 24 August 2026):
- Passport valid at least 6 months from submission, with 2 blank visa pages.
- Application form completed online (Chinese or English), printed and signed by hand.
- Photo: recent, colour, front-facing, white background, no hat, 48 x 33 mm.
- First trip abroad: copy of the household register (hộ khẩu) or CT07 residence certificate.
- Itinerary proof: return flights and hotel bookings, or an invitation letter with a copy of the inviter's ID.
- Previous Chinese visas: copies, if any. Minors need a parent's signature and, if a parent stays home, an authorisation.
Bank statements are not mandatory, but officers can ask for more "when necessary"; I bring a few months of statements just in case.
How do I apply for a China visa in Vietnam?
You apply online at visaforchina.cn first, mandatory for every applicant since 30 June 2025, then submit your passport at the visa centre in Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City:
- Fill in the online form and upload documents; wait for "online review completed" and a confirmation email.
- Print the attachment and bring your passport and documents to the centre (in Hanoi, no appointment needed).
- Pay the service fee in VND on submission and the visa fee in USD on collection.
The Hanoi centre accepts files Monday to Friday, 9:00 - 15:00; urgent applications only until 11:30.
How long does a China visa take in Hanoi?
About 4 working days for regular service, 3 for express and 2 for urgent, for a complete file, according to the Hanoi centre FAQ (24 August 2026):
| Service | Estimated time (Hanoi) |
|---|---|
| Regular | 4 working days |
| Express | 3 working days |
| Urgent | 2 working days |
Express and urgent need consular approval. Da Nang states about 7 working days; I could not verify Ho Chi Minh City's figure.
How much does a Chinese visa cost for Vietnamese citizens?
A regular single-entry visa costs 45 USD plus a 725,000 VND service fee. Total = visa fee (USD, collected for the embassy) + service fee (VND, VAT included); fees for Vietnamese citizens from the Da Nang centre schedule:
| Visa type | Regular | Express | Urgent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single entry | 45 USD | 70 USD | 82 USD |
| Double entry | 68 USD | 93 USD | 105 USD |
| Multiple, 6 months | 90 USD | 115 USD | 127 USD |
| Multiple, 12 months | 135 USD | 160 USD | 172 USD |
| Service fee | 725,000 VND | 1,100,000 VND | 1,450,000 VND |
The service fee is non-refundable. Hanoi recalculated its service fee from 1 September 2026, so its VND amount may differ slightly.
Should I use a visa agency?
Only for unusual files: an agency does not improve approval odds, because the consulate decides. Avoid "guaranteed visa" promises. On collection, check the "Duration of each stay" and "Enter before" fields.
Next, plan your China travel budget (1 CNY ≈ 3,930 VND on 1 October 2026) and our 10-day itinerary. Guide services are quoted per trip through the quote form.
Sources
- National Immigration Administration, Announcement No. 4 of 2026, 20 Aug 2026
- National Immigration Administration, Visa-Free Transit Policies: list of 65 ports
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center Hanoi, L visa documents and processing time, 24 Aug 2026
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center Hanoi, Service fee exchange-rate notice, 29 Aug 2026
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center Da Nang, Schedule of fees
- France Diplomatie, Chine : entrée et séjour
- Embassy of China in Vietnam
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit China in 2026?
It depends on your passport. Vietnamese ordinary passports need a tourist L visa for a round trip; since 20 August 2026 they can skip it only for 240-hour transit to a third country or region, or for 30 days limited to Hainan. The US, UK and Canada are among the 57 countries eligible for 240-hour transit, and French ordinary passports get 30 days visa-free until 31 December 2026, according to France Diplomatie.
What documents do I need for a Chinese tourist visa in Vietnam?
The Hanoi visa centre lists a passport valid for 6 months with 2 blank pages, the online application form printed and signed by hand, a 48 x 33 mm photo on white background, return flights and hotel bookings or an invitation letter, and copies of previous Chinese visas. First-time travellers abroad add a copy of the household register or a CT07 residence certificate.
How long does a China visa take in Hanoi?
With a complete file, the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Hanoi states about 4 working days for regular service, 3 for express and 2 for urgent. Express and urgent service require approval from the consular officer. Da Nang states about 7 working days for regular processing. Apply roughly one month before departure.
How much does a Chinese visa cost for Vietnamese citizens in 2026?
According to the Da Nang visa centre fee schedule, a single-entry visa costs 45, 70 or 82 USD (regular, express, urgent), plus a centre service fee of 725,000, 1,100,000 or 1,450,000 VND. The service fee is paid in VND on submission and is non-refundable; the visa fee is paid in USD on collection. Hanoi recalculated its service fee on 1 September 2026.
Can Vietnamese travel overland to China via Lao Cai - Hekou without a visa?
No. Hekou, opposite Lao Cai, is not among the 65 ports listed by China's National Immigration Administration for 240-hour visa-free transit, and neither are Youyiguan or Dongxing on the Vietnamese border. Travelling overland from Vietnam therefore requires a visa or the appropriate border document.
