Vietnam for Russian travellers is visa-free in 2026 as long as your trip is 45 days or shorter — the visa exemption runs under Resolution 44/NQ-CP from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028. A pre-arrival declaration is recommended (though not formally required), flights from Russia almost always involve a connection, and the currency is the dong: Russian-issued Visa and Mastercard cards don't work in Vietnam. Below we cover visas and entry, the pre-arrival card, getting there, the season, money, where to stay, and staying connected. For the bigger picture, see our Vietnam overview.
Visas and entry: what to know in 2026
The 45-day visa exemption
Russian citizens can stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days without a visa — the rule was introduced under Resolution 44/NQ-CP and runs from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028, according to the official tourism portal vietnamtourism.com. The count resets with every new entry: leaving and re-entering to extend your stay is technically possible, though very frequent border crossings can draw extra attention from immigration officers.
The e-visa, if you need to stay longer
If your trip runs longer than 45 days, you'll need an e-visa: a single-entry visa costs $25, a multiple-entry one $50, applied for through the official portal evisa.gov.vn. You can't pay with a Russian-issued Visa or Mastercard on the portal — you'll need a foreign-bank card or an intermediary service. For a step-by-step walkthrough and the mistakes that get applications rejected, see our Vietnam e-visa guide.
Passport validity
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your entry date and have at least one blank page for a stamp. That's the general rule, but check the embassy's current requirements before you travel — the exact conditions are updated from time to time.
The pre-arrival card: recommended, not yet mandatory
Vietnam has launched a pre-arrival information (PAI) declaration system — it's filled in on the official portal prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, no earlier than 3 days before your flight. Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, in an official notice on bocongan.gov.vn, describes filing the declaration as a recommended step that speeds up border processing, not a strict requirement. An independent source confirms the same: the Singapore Embassy in Hanoi, in its traveller notice at hanoi.mfa.gov.sg, also frames it as a strong recommendation rather than a mandatory entry condition, and lists the airports where the system is already live: Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh. As of publication, the PAI is a way to clear the border faster — not an equivalent of Thailand's TDAC, which is mandatory for every entrant.
Getting there from Russia
There are no scheduled direct flights between Russia and Vietnam — you'll fly via a connection, usually through the UAE, China, Kazakhstan, or another transit hub. Flight frequency is growing, though: see our news on Russia and Vietnam raising flights to 105 a week. For an honest way to calculate real travel time rather than just flight duration, see our guide to direct and connecting flights to Asia, and for what to do once you land, read our airport transfer guide.
When to go: season and climate
Vietnam stretches almost 1,650 km from north to south, so there's no single "season" for the whole country. In the south (Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc), the dry season runs roughly from November to April; the north (Hanoi) has a cooler, drier winter; and the centre follows its own monsoon cycle with rain shifted to different months. For a fuller breakdown of the climate zones, see Vietnam: north and south, different climates, and for the wider pattern across the region, see our guide to Asia's monsoons.
When to go, by region
| Region | Dry season | Rainy season |
|---|---|---|
| South (Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc) | November–April | May–October |
| Centre (Da Nang, Hoi An) | February–August | September–January, peaking Oct–Nov |
| North (Hanoi, Ha Long) | October–April, cool | May–September |
Money: dong, cards, cash
Vietnam's currency is the dong (VND). Russian-issued Visa and Mastercard cards don't work in Vietnam, and UnionPay and Mir cards are accepted only in limited places — don't rely on them as your main payment method. You'll need cash for almost everything: markets, street food, private drivers, and taxis without an app. For the broader approach to cashless limits across the region, see our guide to money in Asia, and for a rough sense of daily spending, see how much a winter in Asia costs.
Where to stay: south, centre, north
Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc cover the beach-focused south: Ho Chi Minh City is a busy business hub, while Phu Quoc is an island with resort infrastructure and direct sea access. Hoi An and Da Nang sit in the centre, combining old-town architecture with long sandy beaches. Hanoi, the northern capital, suits travellers who want a city, history, and cooler weather rather than just a beach. For specific options by date, see our hotel listings and the full destination catalogue; to narrow things down fast by season and budget, try our destination match tool.
Staying connected
The simplest option is to set up an eSIM before you fly, so you don't need to hunt for a phone shop at the airport after a long flight. For what to choose for Vietnam and nearby destinations, see our eSIM guide for Asia.
Frequently asked questions
Do Russian citizens need a visa for Vietnam in 2026?
No, as long as the trip is 45 days or shorter — the visa exemption runs under Resolution 44/NQ-CP from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028. Longer stays require an e-visa.
What is the pre-arrival card (PAI), and is it mandatory?
The PAI is a pre-arrival declaration that's recommended (though not yet strictly required) via the official portal prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, filed no earlier than 3 days before your flight, to clear the border faster.
Do Russian cards work in Vietnam?
Russian-issued Visa and Mastercard cards don't work; UnionPay and Mir cards are accepted only in limited places. You'll need cash dong for most everyday spending.
What's the best season to visit Vietnam?
It depends on the region: the south has a dry season from November to April, while the centre and north run on different windows. See our guide to Vietnam's north-south climate split for details.
How long is the flight from Russia?
There are no scheduled direct flights — you'll fly via a connection through the UAE, China, Kazakhstan, or another transit hub.
Entry rules and visa conditions change — before you travel, check the current requirements on the official e-Visa portal (evisa.gov.vn) and the website of the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia.
