Is the paper arrival card still required?
For most travelers, no. Vietnam phased out the mandatory arrival/departure card years ago for visitors holding visas or visa exemptions - immigration records your entry electronically. Some airlines still distribute the old form onboard out of habit; fill it if handed one, but it is rarely collected and missing it is not a problem.
Is there an online arrival form?
No mandatory one. For e-visa travelers the online application IS the advance paperwork - once issued, nothing further needs to be submitted online. The Covid-era health-declaration requirement ended in 2022; any guide still telling you to fill a health form is outdated.
What each traveler type actually needs
| Entry type | What you show at the desk |
|---|---|
| E-visa holder | Passport + printed e-visa |
| Visa-exempt national | Passport only (check your country's exempt days) |
| Visa-on-arrival letter | Passport + approval letter + NA1 form (filled at the Landing Visa desk) |
Only VoA travelers fill a real form on arrival - the NA1 application handed out at the Landing Visa counter. Your agent or the fast track desk can pre-fill it.
Side paperwork that still exists
- Customs declaration - needed only if you carry over US$5,000 cash equivalent, more than 350 cigarettes, over 1.5L of spirits, or dutiable goods. A red-channel form, not for everyone.
- Hotel address - not a form, but officers occasionally ask where you stay first. Have the name ready on your phone.
- Onward ticket - airlines sometimes check at departure more than immigration does on arrival; a return or onward booking is good practice.
The paperwork order of operations
- Weeks before: apply for the e-visa (or buy a VoA approval letter if you must use VoA).
- On the plane: fill whatever form the crew hands you - usually nothing, occasionally the legacy card or a customs slip.
- At the desk: passport + printed e-visa (or approval letter, at the Landing Visa counter first).
- After immigration: baggage claim, then the green customs channel unless you have declarable goods.
Paperwork done, the only remaining variable is the queue itself - see how long immigration takes at your arrival airport, and the meet and greet service if you want an agent handling the whole desk sequence.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an arrival card for Vietnam?
Most travelers no - the mandatory paper card was phased out. Fill whatever the cabin crew hands you, but it is rarely collected.
What form do I fill on the plane?
Usually nothing, or the legacy arrival/departure card or a customs declaration if the crew distributes one.
Is there an online arrival form before flying?
No mandatory one. The e-visa application is the advance paperwork; the health declaration ended in 2022.
What do I show at immigration?
Passport (6+ months), printed e-visa or VoA approval letter, sometimes your first hotel address. Cash declarations apply above US$5,000.
Flying into a specific airport? Pick your guide: Noi Bai (Hanoi) · Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) · Da Nang.