UAE Visa for Vietnamese Passport Holders: $40 e-Visa, Wise Card & Dubai Guide

Visa requirements

Flights from Vietnam to UAE

Money, cards & forex fees

ATMs in UAE

Top cities in UAE

UAE e-visa for Vietnamese passport holders

Vietnamese citizens require an e-visa to enter UAE. Unlike visitors from Western countries or GCC nations who receive visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, Vietnamese passport holders must apply online in advance. The process is entirely digital through the ICP UAE portal at icp.gov.ae. The fee is approximately $40 USD (around AED 147 or VND 1,000,000). The e-visa is valid for 60 days from the date of issue, allowing you to enter UAE anytime within that 60-day window. Your stay cannot exceed 30 days from entry. Processing takes 3–5 business days — no express option is officially listed for Vietnamese applicants, so plan well ahead. The application requires: valid Vietnamese passport scan, recent passport photo, 3 months of bank statements, return flight booking, and hotel confirmation. The bank statement requirement is particularly scrutinized — show a balance equivalent to at least $2,000–$3,000 USD and regular transaction activity. Applications from applicants with thin or inactive bank accounts face higher rejection rates. Pay the visa fee using an international Visa or Mastercard — Vietnamese VND debit cards may not be enabled for international online payments. Use a credit card, Wise card, or have a family member with an internationally-enabled card process the payment. Once approved, you receive a PDF visa document by email. Print it or save it clearly on your phone — present it at airline check-in and UAE immigration.

Step-by-step UAE e-visa application for Vietnamese nationals

The application process at icp.gov.ae takes approximately 20–30 minutes once you have your documents ready. Navigate to icp.gov.ae, select Services then Entry Permit, and choose the tourist or visit visa category. Create an account with your email and phone number. Fill in all personal details exactly matching your passport — name in full, passport number, date of birth, nationality. Upload your passport scan: all four corners visible, clear, no glare, all text fully legible. Upload your passport photo: white background, recent (within 3 months), no glasses, full face visible. Upload your bank statement: last 3 months from your primary account, showing sufficient balance and transaction history. This is the most scrutinized document — a clearly formatted statement from Techcombank, Vietcombank, BIDV, or other reputable Vietnamese bank with English-language headers is preferable. If your statement is in Vietnamese only, bring a certified translation or consider obtaining an English-language statement from your bank. Upload your return flight booking confirmation. Upload your hotel booking confirmation. Review all information for accuracy — errors in passport number, name spelling, or dates cause rejection. Pay the visa fee. Submit and note your application reference number. You will receive email updates on application status. Most approvals arrive within 3–5 business days. If rejected, you can reapply after addressing the rejection reason — most rejections cite insufficient financial evidence.

Wise and other cards for Vietnamese travelers in UAE

Vietnamese bank debit cards are among the most expensive for international use. Standard Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank, and VPBank Visa/Mastercard debit cards charge: VND 55,000–110,000 per international ATM withdrawal (approximately $2–4 USD) plus 2–3% forex markup on the transaction amount. On a AED 1,000 UAE ATM withdrawal (approximately VND 6,900,000), total fees reach VND 200,000–280,000 — over 3% of the transaction. For international transactions at UAE merchants, the 2–3% forex markup applies to every payment. Wise Multi-Currency Card: the best solution for Vietnamese travelers. Open a Wise account online (Vietnamese phone number and passport accepted for verification), load VND via bank transfer (PromptPay Vietnam equivalent or wire transfer), and convert to AED at 0.35% — the mid-market rate with minimal fee. The Wise Mastercard works at all UAE ATMs and merchant terminals. Payment of the UAE visa fee ($40) can also be processed through Wise if your Vietnamese debit card lacks international payment capability. Techcombank Visa Credit Card: Techcombank has historically had one of Vietnam's more internationally usable credit card products. Forex fees around 2.5% — better than many Vietnamese banks but not zero. VPBank credit cards have similar rates. DCC: at UAE ATMs, Vietnamese cardholders will be shown VND or AED options. The VND DCC amount will look enormous in denomination (VND amounts for AED equivalents are in the millions) — this can confuse travelers. Always select AED regardless of the denominations shown.

How much does UAE cost for Vietnamese travelers?

UAE is dramatically more expensive than Vietnam in absolute terms, which requires mental recalibration. At current VND-AED rates (approximately 1 AED = VND 6,900): Budget tier: VND 2,070,000–2,760,000/day (AED 300–400). Achievable staying in Deira budget hotels, eating at shawarma stands and food courts, using Metro. Mid-range tier: VND 3,795,000–5,520,000/day (AED 550–800). 3-star hotel, Uber, casual restaurants, one attraction per day. Key prices in VND: Shawarma AED 12–18 (VND 82,800–124,200), casual restaurant meal AED 60–120 (VND 414,000–828,000), hotel 3-star room AED 400–600 (VND 2,760,000–4,140,000), Burj Khalifa AED 149 (VND 1,028,100), desert safari AED 200–350 (VND 1,380,000–2,415,000). Flights round trip from Ho Chi Minh City: Emirates economy approximately VND 14,000,000–22,000,000. Total 7-night mid-range Dubai trip for a Vietnamese traveler — flights, e-visa ($40 = VND 1,000,000), hotel, spending — approximately VND 35,000,000–60,000,000. This is roughly equivalent to a premium European vacation from Vietnam. For Vietnamese travelers, UAE is aspirational travel — budget for it as a premium experience.

Top UAE experiences for Vietnamese travelers

Vietnamese tourists visiting UAE for the first time typically want: iconic Dubai experiences (Burj Khalifa, desert safari), shopping (gold jewelry in particular), and Instagram-worthy content. Burj Khalifa: the Level 124 observation deck (AED 149, book online) provides the defining Dubai panorama. Vietnamese travel influencers frequently feature the Burj Khalifa fountains from the adjacent Dubai Mall terrace (free, shows at 6pm and 8pm daily). Gold souk in Deira: Vietnamese travelers are among the most gold-conscious tourists in Asia. Dubai's gold souk — 300+ retailers in a covered arcade — sells gold jewelry at live spot price plus making charges of 5–20% depending on design complexity. Dubai gold is typically 10–20% cheaper than equivalent Ho Chi Minh City jewelry retail, making it genuinely interesting for purchase. Understand karat grades: 24K pure gold, 22K most common in Dubai, 18K also available. Ask for the price separately for gold weight vs. making charge. Desert safari: the red dune desert experience is completely alien to Vietnamese geography. An evening desert safari (AED 200–350 via Klook) includes dune bashing in a 4WD, camel riding, sandboarding, traditional camp with live oud music, and BBQ dinner under the stars. Highly recommended as a uniquely UAE activity. Abu Dhabi: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is architecturally breathtaking and free to visit (book online). The Louvre Abu Dhabi (AED 63) has a genuinely outstanding collection.

On arrival in Dubai from Vietnam

Most Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Hanoi (HAN) flights to Dubai arrive at DXB Terminal 1 (Vietnam Airlines, flydubai) or Terminal 3 (Emirates). Have your printed or clearly saved UAE e-visa PDF ready — present it at check-in in Vietnam and again at UAE immigration. At immigration: join the regular tourist queue. Present passport and e-visa document. Officer may ask about accommodation, purpose of visit, and funds. Show hotel confirmation and have a credit card accessible. E-visa holders sometimes receive slightly more questions than visa-free nationals — stay calm and answer clearly. SIM card: du or Etisalat in arrivals (AED 65, 10-day 15GB plan). ATM: use ENBD or FAB ATM in arrivals for AED 500 withdrawal — use your Wise card (0.35% fee) if possible. Transport: Careem or Uber from arrivals (AED 40–75 to major Dubai destinations). Metro Red Line connects T1 and T3 to city center. First day: Vietnam Airlines and most Vietnamese charter flights arrive in the morning. Check into your hotel or leave luggage at storage, then visit the Dubai Creek historic area in Deira — the Gold Souk opens at 10am. The first morning in Dubai is ideal for the Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and a traditional abra water taxi crossing (AED 1) before Dubai Mall crowds arrive. Communication: Vietnamese community in Dubai is relatively small compared to Indian or Filipino communities, but Vietnamese restaurants exist in Jumeirah and Deira. WhatsApp and Zalo both work freely in UAE.

On-arrival tips

• 1Apply for your UAE e-visa at icp.gov.ae at least 5 business days before travel — processing is 3–5 business days.
• 2Wise is the best card for Vietnamese travelers in UAE — VND-to-AED at 0.35% versus standard Vietnamese bank rates of 3%+.
• 3Have hotel booking and return ticket printed for UAE immigration — e-visa holders face more scrutiny than visa-free nationals.
• 4Always select AED at UAE ATMs and POS terminals — DCC in VND would be especially costly given the large denomination difference.
• 5Vietnamese restaurant options exist in Dubai's Jumeirah and Deira areas for familiar food.
• 6Gold souk in Deira is popular with Vietnamese travelers — compare prices to Ho Chi Minh City jewelry retail.