Good news first: holders of a Thai passport may stay in Vietnam visa-free for 30 days. For a short golf getaway, you do not need to apply for anything in advance.
Thai passport = 30 days visa-free
Thailand and Vietnam maintain a bilateral visa-exemption agreement (both ASEAN members), so a Thai passport holder travelling for tourism, family visits or short business may stay up to 30 days from the date of arrival without a visa. It applies at every international air, land and sea border gate.
As of 2026 the cooling-off period between visa-free entries has been abolished, so you may re-enter immediately after a 30-day exemption ends.
| Visa type | Visa exemption (Thai passport) |
|---|---|
| Allowed stay | Up to 30 days from arrival |
| Passport validity | At least 6 months beyond arrival |
| Blank visa pages | At least 2 blank pages |
| Digital Arrival Card | Required at HCMC (SGN), expanding nationwide — incl. visa-free |
| Fee | Free |
The most common reason for being denied boarding is an insufficient passport validity. If less than 6 months remain on the date of arrival, the airline may refuse you at check-in. Two weeks before departure, open your passport and check the expiry date and blank pages (2 or more) yourself.
Staying beyond 30 days — the e-visa
If you stay for a whole golf season or your itinerary exceeds 30 days, apply for an online e-visa. It is issued directly by Vietnam Immigration and permits stays of up to 90 days.
- Single entry: about USD 25
- Multiple entry: about USD 50 — enter and exit several times within 90 days
- Processing: about 5–7 working days (apply at least 5–7 days before departure)
- Entirely online, no paper submission. Prepare a scan of your passport photo page and a portrait photo file.
Digital Arrival Card (new in 2026)
Since April 2026, Vietnam requires an online Digital Arrival Card filled in advance. It applies to visa-free entrants too, so Thai golfers are included. It is currently mandatory at Ho Chi Minh's Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN) and is being rolled out in phases to other airports such as Da Nang (DAD) and Nha Trang/Cam Ranh (CXR). It is free; complete it within 72 hours before arrival at the official portal prearrival.immigration.gov.vn and a QR code arrives by email within minutes. Whichever airport you use, it's safest to fill it once before departure and save the QR.
- Check the passport
Confirm 6+ months validity and 2+ blank pages. Renew before departure if either is short.
- Count your days
If arrival-to-departure is within 30 days, the exemption is enough. If it exceeds, apply for an e-visa in advance.
- Fill the Digital Arrival Card
Within 72 hours of arrival, fill it at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn and save the QR code on your phone. Mandatory for HCMC (SGN) and expanding to other airports.
- Have your onward/return ticket
Save your onward/return ticket (e-ticket PDF) on your phone. The airline or immigration may ask to see it.
- Note your accommodation
Save your hotel/resort confirmation and address so you can answer where you'll stay at immigration.
30-day visa-free
Perfect for a 3–7 day golf trip. No application, no fee. Just need a passport with 6+ months, 2 blank pages and the Digital Arrival Card (where required). Most golfers fall here.
90-day e-visa
For stays over 30 days. Apply online; USD 25 single / USD 50 multiple; 5–7 working days. Do it in advance at evisa.gov.vn.
Exceeding your allowed days, even by one, can mean a fine and delays at departure. Photograph the expiry on your entry stamp and check your last-day flight doesn't slip past midnight. If your schedule is tight, an e-visa for breathing room is safer than the exemption.
Put your return ticket, hotel booking, travel insurance and passport photo page in one phone album — it speeds up immigration and check-in. Save screenshots so they open offline.
Visa rules change from time to time. Re-check evisa.gov.vn or the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand right before you leave. This guidance is current as of June 2026.