Quỳnh Nguyễn · 更新于
Short answer: China's 240-hour visa-free transit lets nationals of 57 countries, Vietnam included since 20 August 2026, stay up to 10 days without a visa when travelling on to a third country or region, so Vietnam - China - Vietnam does not qualify. You can enter in one city and leave from another through the 65 designated ports, with a confirmed onward ticket, inside the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions.
⚠️ Verify before you go: the National Immigration Administration (NIA) changes this policy often; checked on 1 October 2026. The airline and border police make the final call.
240-hour transit at a glance
| Item | Rule (as of 5 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Eligible countries | 57, incl. US, UK, Canada, Australia, most of Europe and Vietnam (Announcement No. 4 of 2026) |
| Maximum stay | 240 hours, counted from 0:00 the day after entry |
| Entry points | 65 ports in 24 provinces and municipalities |
| Passport | Ordinary, valid at least 3 months |
| Ticket | Confirmed seat and date to a third country or region |
| Allowed | Tourism, business, visits, family visits |
| Not allowed | Work, study, journalism |
| Extra for Vietnamese | 30-day visa-free entry limited to Hainan |
Can I enter China in one city and leave from another?
Yes. Enter through one of the 65 designated ports, travel between provinces by high-speed train or domestic flight, and leave through another eligible port: landing in Shanghai and flying out of Beijing works. Every stop must sit inside the permitted areas, and Guangdong lets you exit through any of its open ports. For the train legs, see how to book China high-speed trains.
What counts as a "third country"?
The pattern is A → mainland China → C, where A and C differ. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as separate regions. For a traveller starting in Vietnam, C must be somewhere other than Vietnam: Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and so on.
You must also meet the entry requirements of your next destination: Vietnamese passports need visas for Japan and Korea. The announcement mentions "interline" tickets, while the NIA policy page says "onward tickets with confirmed seats and departure dates". Separately booked but confirmed tickets are usually accepted, but confirm with your airline.
Is a train ticket to Hong Kong accepted as onward proof?
A confirmed train ticket fits the rule as written: the onward ticket needs a confirmed seat and departure date to a third country or region, Hong Kong counts as a separate region, and the 65 ports include rail and sea ports, so the onward leg does not have to be a flight. Cross-border high-speed trains from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to Hong Kong go on sale 15 days ahead on 12306, so you can buy yours before you fly. Print it: the airline checks your onward proof at check-in and can refuse boarding if unsure. Vietnamese passports must also meet Hong Kong's entry conditions.
Other passports: French ordinary passports get 30 days visa-free until 31 December 2026 per France Diplomatie, no onward ticket needed. Check whether your nationality has a similar exemption.
Does my itinerary qualify for China's 240-hour visa-free transit?
It qualifies when four conditions hold:
- You hold an ordinary passport from one of the 57 eligible countries, valid at least 3 months.
- You enter through one of the 65 ports.
- You hold a confirmed ticket to a third country or region, different from where you came from, leaving within 240 hours.
- Every stop is inside the permitted areas.
Examples with a Vietnamese passport:
| Itinerary | Result | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi → Shanghai Pudong → Tokyo | Valid | Third country, eligible port (Japanese visa needed) |
| Hanoi → Beijing → Hanoi | Not valid | Returns to the origin country |
| Ho Chi Minh City → Shanghai, train to Beijing → Seoul | Valid | Cross-province travel inside permitted areas |
| Da Nang → Guangzhou → Hong Kong → Da Nang | Valid if you can enter Hong Kong | Exit to a third region; Guangdong allows exit at all its open ports |
| Hanoi → Chengdu, side trip to Jiuzhaigou → Bangkok | Not valid | Jiuzhaigou is outside Sichuan's 11 permitted cities |
| Lao Cai → Hekou → Kunming → Bangkok | Not valid | Hekou is not a 240-hour port |
| Hanoi → Haikou → Hanoi, two weeks | Valid (Hainan 30-day rule) | Not transit; you must stay in Hainan |
When do the 240 hours start?
According to the NIA notice, the stay is calculated from 0:00 on the day after entry. Land in Shanghai at 3 pm on 1 November, the clock starts at 0:00 on 2 November, and you must be out of China before 0:00 on 12 November. I always leave half a day of buffer: a cancelled flight is not an excuse border police accept.
Which ports and areas are covered?
The NIA table fully covers Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shaanxi (Xi'an), Chongqing and Hunan (Zhangjiajie). Partial coverage:
- Sichuan: 11 cities including Chengdu, Leshan and Ya'an; Jiuzhaigou is out.
- Yunnan: Kunming, Lijiang and Mohan ports; 9 prefectures, Shangri-La is out.
- Guangxi: Nanning, Guilin and Beihai; 12 cities.
For Vietnamese travellers the key point is that no land crossing with Vietnam is on the list: not Hekou (Lao Cai), Youyiguan (Lang Son) or Dongxing (Mong Cai). In practice you fly in.
What is the Hainan 30-day visa-free option?
The same 20 August 2026 announcement lets Vietnamese ordinary passport holders enter Hainan through its open ports and stay up to 30 days within the province, with no third-country ticket. Hanoi - Sanya - Hanoi works; flying on to Beijing under this rule does not.
What happens at the airport?
- Check-in: say you are using the "240-hour visa-free transit" and show your onward ticket. Airlines can refuse boarding if unsure.
- Arrival: present your passport, the arrival card (online since 20 November 2025) and onward ticket; officers grant temporary entry. Then stay inside the permitted areas.
Should I use the transit or get a tourist visa?
If your trip already combines China with Japan, Korea or Hong Kong, transit saves the visa fee (45 USD plus 725,000 VND, single entry). For a round trip, see our China visa guide 2026. I check every stop against the permitted areas; our 10-day itinerary fits, with or without a Vietnamese-speaking guide, quoted per trip through the quote form.
Sources
- National Immigration Administration, Announcement No. 4 of 2026, 20 Aug 2026
- NIA, Visa-Free Transit Policies: 57 countries, 65 ports, 20 Aug 2026
- NIA, Notice on conditions and 240-hour calculation
- Shanghai Government, 240-hour visa-free transit policy
- 12306, notice on the cross-border train sale window
- France Diplomatie, Chine : entrée et séjour
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center Da Nang, Schedule of fees
常见问题
How does the 240 hour visa free transit in China work?
Nationals of 57 countries, including Vietnam since 20 August 2026, can enter mainland China without a visa through one of 65 designated ports and stay up to 240 hours (10 days), provided they hold an ordinary passport and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. They must stay within the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions.
Can I enter China in one city and leave from another on the 240-hour visa-free transit?
Yes. You can enter through one of the 65 designated ports, travel across provinces by train or domestic flight, and leave from another eligible port, for example landing in Shanghai and flying out of Beijing. Every place you visit must be inside the permitted areas: Sichuan only allows 11 cities, Yunnan 9 prefectures and Guangxi 12 cities.
Does my itinerary qualify for China 240-hour visa-free transit?
It qualifies if four things are true: you hold an ordinary passport from one of the 57 eligible countries, valid for at least 3 months; you enter through one of the 65 ports; you hold a confirmed ticket to a third country or region, different from where you came from, leaving within 240 hours; and every stop is inside the permitted areas. Hanoi - Shanghai - Tokyo qualifies; Hanoi - Beijing - Hanoi does not.
Is a train ticket to Hong Kong accepted as onward proof for China 240-hour transit?
A confirmed train ticket to Hong Kong fits the rule as written: the onward ticket needs a confirmed seat and departure date to a third country or region, and Hong Kong counts as a separate region. Cross-border trains from Guangzhou and Shenzhen go on sale 15 days ahead on 12306, so you can buy it before you fly. The airline checks onward proof at check-in, so carry a printout and confirm with your airline.
When do the 240 hours start counting?
The clock starts at 0:00 on the day after you enter China, not when you land. If you arrive in Shanghai at 3 pm on 1 November, the 240 hours run from 0:00 on 2 November, so you must leave China before midnight at the end of 11 November.
Can Vietnamese citizens use the 240-hour transit for a Hanoi - China - Hanoi trip?
No. The policy requires onward travel to a third country or region, so returning to Vietnam does not count as transit. A simple round trip from Vietnam needs a tourist L visa, which costs 45 USD for a single entry plus a visa centre service fee of 725,000 VND at the standard rate. Hanoi - Shanghai - Tokyo would qualify.
