Vietnam passport → South Korea

Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa for South Korea?

Visa required in advance

Vietnamese passport holders need a visa for South Korea, arranged before you travel. Depending on the country, that means an online application, a sponsor or agent, or an appointment at a visa centre. If you hold a US visa, Canada, Australia or similar, it can be easier: see below.

Apply on the official site: visa.go.kr

Heads-up: some sources list this route as eVisa.

What this means for your trip

Start early. Some countries take the whole application online; others need a visa-centre appointment for fingerprints, and waits can be long in peak season.
Typical documents: application form, photos, bank statements, tax returns, an employment letter, bookings and travel insurance.
If you already hold certain other visas, a simpler route may apply. Check the section below.

Easier if you already hold another visa

Vietnamese passport holders who hold one of these documents can get Visa-free30 days instead:

US visa
Canada visa or PR
Australia visa or PR
New Zealand visa or PR

Only when travelling to or from the country that issued your visa. Tourism or transit.

Get trip-ready for South Korea

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South Korea at a glance

Capital: Seoul
Currency: South Korean won (KRW)
Languages: Korean
Calling code: +82
Region: Eastern Asia

Read the South Korea travel guide →

KR37.0°N · 127.5°EPhoto: 우승민 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Palaces, K-culture and late-night street foodGyeongbokgung Palace · Bukchon Hanok Village · Jeju Island

South Korea for other passports

VietnamVisa required
IndiaVisa required
United StatesVisa-free90 days
United KingdomVisa-free90 days
United Arab EmiratesVisa-free90 days
ChinaeVisa
SingaporeVisa-free90 days
PakistanVisa required
BangladeshVisa required
Sri LankaVisa required
NepalVisa required
NigeriaVisa required
PhilippinesVisa required

Nearby in Eastern Asia for Vietnamese passport holders

MongoliaVisa-free30 days
TaiwaneTA30 days
Hong KongeVisa
ChinaVisa required
JapanVisa required
MacaoVisa required
North KoreaVisa required

Common questions

Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa for South Korea?

How long can Vietnamese citizens stay in South Korea?

The allowed stay depends on the visa you are granted. Check the decision letter or entry stamp.

Can Vietnamese citizens get a visa on arrival in South Korea?

Not under the standard rules.

Is South Korea easier for Vietnamese citizens with a US, UK or Schengen visa?

Yes. With a qualifying US visa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnamese citizens get visa free for up to 30 days. Only when travelling to or from the country that issued your visa. Tourism or transit.

How many countries can Vietnamese citizens visit without a visa?

53 destinations allow entry without a visa arranged in advance (visa-free, visa on arrival or eTA). The Vietnam passport ranks #74 of 94 (passports with equal scores share a rank).

Source: Wikipedia contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0). Updated weekly. Rules can change, so give the official site a quick look before you fly.