Do Vietnamese Citizens Need a Visa for China?
As of June 19, 2026: Vietnamese citizens need to arrange a Chinese visa (typically a tourist L visa) before the trip.
Visa required · Apply before travel
Vietnam
No — a visa is required before travel
Vietnamese citizens need to arrange a Chinese visa (typically a tourist L visa) before the trip.
Compiled from official sources by Henry · independent · based in China
Entry options for Vietnamese citizens
Option 01
Tourist visa: requirements & how to apply
- Apply for a tourist (L) visa before travel at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center or embassy/consulate
- Typical requirements: passport valid 6+ months, completed application, photo, itinerary and accommodation proof
How Vietnamese citizens apply for a China tourist (L) visa
A plain-English walkthrough of the standard tourist-visa process. There are two stages: first you fill in the application online on the official China Online Visa Application (COVA) portal, then you submit it in person at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) — or directly at the embassy or consulate where there is no CVASC. We don't apply for you, take your documents, or book anything.
What you'll need
- Passport valid for at least 6 more months with two or more blank visa pages, plus a photocopy of the photo page
- The visa application form, completed online through the official China Online Visa Application (COVA) system, then printed and signed
- One recent colour passport photo that meets the Chinese visa photo specification
- Proof of a round-trip flight booking covering your entry and exit
- Proof of accommodation for your whole stay (hotel bookings), or an invitation letter from a host in China
- A day-by-day travel itinerary
The application, step by step
Fill in the COVA form online
Complete the China Online Visa Application (COVA) form on the official platform (consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA), upload your documents, and submit it for pre-review.
Get your pre-review approval
Once the form is pre-approved, print and sign it, then book your appointment — at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) that covers your country, or directly at the Chinese embassy or consulate where there is no CVASC (US applicants, for example, apply through the consulate).
Submit in person
Submit your printed, signed form and documents in person or through an authorised agent, and give fingerprints if your nationality and age require them.
Pay the fees
Pay the visa fee — plus a separate service fee if a CVASC is handling your application — and keep your pickup slip.
Collect your passport
Collect your passport with the visa inside, or have it couriered back to you.
Processing time
Regular processing usually takes about 4 working days at many centers, though some run longer — India's center, for example, expects collection on the 6th working day. Express service (often the 4th working day, or same-day at some missions) costs extra. Times vary by center and rise in peak season, so check the schedule for the center handling your application.
Fees
Tourist visa fees are set per nationality on a reciprocal basis, with single-, double- and multiple-entry tiers. You pay the visa fee, plus a separate service fee where a CVASC handles your application (embassies and consulates that take applications directly don't add one). US passport holders pay a higher reciprocal fee. Check the official fee schedule for your nationality before you apply — we don't quote a single price because it genuinely differs by passport.
Before you fly
Start your tourist (L) visa application above — then line up the rest of the runway so it's ready by the time the visa's in your passport:
Next step
Plan your China route
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Pick a China eSIM that works the moment you land — price, data and hotspot compared in 30 seconds.
Compare eSIMs →- Fill in China's digital arrival card online before landing — check if you need it.
- Get an eSIM that works in China before departure — pick one in 30 seconds.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay — most places don't take foreign cards directly. Get them working before you land.
- Plan how you'll get between cities — China runs on high-speed rail. Compare train routes like Xi'an–Hangzhou and Guilin–Shanghai, or build a day-by-day itinerary matched to your time in China.
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Frequently asked questions
Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa to visit China?
Yes. Vietnamese citizens need a Chinese tourist visa (L visa), arranged at a Chinese embassy, consulate or visa application service center (CVASC) before travelling.
Is China visa-free for Vietnamese citizens?
No — a visa is required before travel. Vietnamese citizens need to arrange a Chinese visa (typically a tourist L visa) before the trip.
How do Vietnamese citizens get a Chinese tourist visa?
Apply at the nearest Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) or Chinese embassy/consulate before travelling. You'll typically need a passport valid for 6+ months, an application form, a photo, and your itinerary and accommodation details.
Can Vietnamese citizens take children to China, and does each child need their own visa?
China issues no family visa — every traveller is assessed individually and each child, including infants, needs their own passport. Visa-free and 240-hour transit eligibility is judged per passport, so a child qualifies on their own nationality the same way an adult does. If a visa is required, a child's tourist (L) visa needs the same basic documents as an adult — a passport, the online application form completed for each applicant, and a photo. Some visa centres ask for extra documents for minors, such as a birth certificate showing the parent-child relationship, copies of both parents' passports, and a consent letter when a child travels with one parent or alone — confirm the exact list with the CVASC or Chinese embassy/consulate handling your application (some countries, including the US, apply directly at the embassy or consulate rather than through a CVASC).
Where is this information from?
All policies on this page were verified on June 19, 2026 against official Chinese government sources (National Immigration Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and official announcements). Links are listed in the sources section.
Related reading
Check another nationality
Official sources
Every policy on this page was checked against these official pages. Always confirm with the source before booking.
Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice, and may contain errors or be out of date — policies change without notice. Always confirm your eligibility, stay length and entry conditions with the official sources above or your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before you book travel or rely on this page. Ready Set China is an independent information site — not a travel agency, booking agent, or government body — and is not responsible for decisions made on the basis of this information.