Japan for Vietnamese passport holders: visa-free 45 days, direct flights, VND tips
Vietnamese passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 45 days. Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and VietJet all fly direct from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in just 5 hours. Japan is one of Vietnam's top outbound travel destinations. Wise or Revolut provide the best VND-to-JPY rate.
Visa requirements
Vietnamese passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 45 days under the bilateral agreement. Japan is one of the most popular destinations for Vietnamese travellers. For stays over 45 days, apply for a tourist visa at the Japanese Consulate in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Documents required
- ✓Valid Vietnamese passport (6+ months validity)
- ✓Return or onward ticket
- ✓Proof of funds — approximately VND 5,000,000 per person
Flights from Vietnam to Japan
Money, cards & forex fees
Best VND→JPY rate for Vietnamese travellers
Zero forex weekday VND→JPY
Vietnamese bank card for Japan
ATMs in Japan
Best ATMs: 7-Eleven Bank ATMs (セブン銀行) — available 24/7 at every 7-Eleven convenience store nationwide, accept all major foreign cards. Japan Post Bank ATMs — at all post offices, accept foreign cards during post office hours. Avoid local bank ATMs (MUFG, Mizuho, Sumitomo) as most do not accept foreign cards.
Typical surcharge: ¥110–220 per withdrawal at 7-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs for foreign cards; many domestic ATMs do not accept foreign cards at all
Withdrawal tip: Japan is heavily cash-based. Withdraw ¥50,000–¥100,000 at a time from 7-Eleven ATMs. Many restaurants, smaller temples, traditional ryokan, and rural establishments are cash-only. ALWAYS carry cash in Japan.
Top cities in Japan
Tokyo
Japan's hypermodern capital — a city that somehow combines cutting-edge technology with ancient shrine culture. Shibuya Crossing, Senso-ji temple in Asakusa, teamLab digital art installations, Tsukiji Outer Market, and the world's densest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants all coexist here. Tokyo is the entry point for most international visitors and warrants at least 4–5 nights.
Kyoto
Japan's ancient imperial capital and cultural soul. Kyoto has over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. Fushimi Inari's thousands of vermilion torii gates, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), and the Gion district's preserved machiya townhouses make it the most photographed city in Japan. Go in cherry blossom season (late March–early April) or autumn foliage (November).
Osaka
Japan's kitchen and comedy capital. Osaka's Dotonbori neon district, takoyaki and okonomiyaki street food culture, Osaka Castle, and nearby Nara's free-roaming deer make it an essential counterpart to Kyoto. Osaka residents are famously friendly and direct by Japanese standards. Universal Studios Japan is a major draw for families.
Hiroshima & Miyajima
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is one of the world's most moving historical experiences — a profound and essential visit. The rebuilt city around it is modern, vibrant, and focused on its peace mission. Miyajima Island (30 minutes by ferry) has the famous 'floating' torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, one of Japan's Three Views. The Shinkansen from Osaka makes Hiroshima an easy day trip or overnight.
Hokkaido
Japan's northernmost main island offers a completely different experience. In winter (December–March), Niseko is one of Asia's best ski resorts and receives the world's finest powder snow. In summer, Hokkaido's lavender fields around Furano are extraordinary. Sapporo (Hokkaido's capital) hosts a famous snow festival in February and is famous for ramen and fresh seafood. Less crowded than Honshu's main tourist circuit.
Vietnam to Japan: 5-hour direct flights and budget options
Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and VietJet all operate direct services from Hanoi (HAN) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai — approximately 5 hours. VietJet budget fares from VND 3,000,000–5,000,000 return ($120–200 USD) on sale make Japan remarkably accessible. ANA also flies direct on both routes. Economy return on Vietnam Airlines averages VND 8,000,000–12,000,000 ($320–480 USD). At current VND/JPY rates, Japan is a moderately priced destination — roughly VND 1,500,000–2,000,000 per day for food, accommodation, and activities in Tokyo.
On-arrival tips
- 1Vietnam to Japan is only 5 hours — a very short trip by international standards
- 2VietJet makes Japan budget-accessible from Vietnam — check seasonal sales
- 3Japanese and Vietnamese food cultures share some overlap — but ramen, sushi, and yakitori will be new experiences worth exploring
- 4Carry cash — Japan's card acceptance in rural areas and small restaurants is limited
Key takeaways
- ✓Vietnamese passport holders enter Japan visa-free for 45 days
- ✓Vietnam to Japan is 5 hours — VietJet and Bamboo Airways offer budget direct flights
- ✓Use Wise for VND→JPY — standard Vietnamese bank cards charge 3%
- ✓7-Eleven ATMs nationwide for cash withdrawals
- ✓Never tip in Japan
Related visa guides
Visa information is based on publicly available government sources and official embassy data. Entry requirements, fees, and procedures change frequently — always verify with the official embassy or consulate of Japan before travelling. ForexFee is not a legal adviser.