There is no dedicated nomad visa (yet)
As of 2026, Vietnam does not offer a standalone digital nomad visa. This surprises a lot of people, because cities like Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City are full of remote workers.
What people actually use is the 90-day multiple-entry e-visa. It is the most practical legal option for staying several months at a time, and it is fast and cheap compared to other countries in the region.
The e-visa — your main option
Vietnam's e-visa is applied for fully online, no consulate visit needed.
- Single-entry e-visa: $25 (about 625,000 VND)
- Multiple-entry e-visa: $50 (about 1,250,000 VND), valid up to 90 days
- Processing: 3–7 business days; urgent service (1–2 days) for an extra $10–$50
Citizens of many countries also get 14–45 days visa-free, but for a real stay the 90-day multiple-entry e-visa is what most nomads choose.
Temporary Residence Card (TRC)
If you want to stay longer than 90 days at a time, the path is a Temporary Residence Card. The catch: it normally requires a work permit tied to a Vietnamese company or a family/investment basis.
- TRC is issued at the Provincial Immigration Department
- Processing: 5–7 working days after the work permit is issued
- Fees typically range from $100 to $300 depending on type and duration
For a pure remote worker with no local employer, the TRC is hard to get directly. Most long-stayers rotate e-visas instead.
The legal grey zone — read this
Be honest with yourself about the rules. Article 8.2 of Vietnam's 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence bars foreigners on tourist visas from "labour activities."
Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Labour has classified working online while on a tourist visa as illegal employment, with administrative fines of 15–25 million VND ($600–$1,000).
In practice, enforcement against quiet remote workers is rare. But it is a real law, not a myth. Know the risk you are taking, especially if you plan to stay long term or work with any local clients.
Cost of living reality
Vietnam is one of the cheapest bases in Southeast Asia. Da Nang in particular has become a nomad favorite: beach, fast internet, and low prices.
Rough monthly budget for a comfortable solo nomad in Da Nang: - Apartment (1BR, decent area): $350–$600 - Coworking: $80–$120 - Food (mix of local and Western): $300–$450 - Transport (motorbike rental + fuel): $60–$90
A comfortable life runs $850–$1,200/month. Living more local brings it well under $800.
Practical tips
— Apply for the e-visa on the official government portal, not a lookalike agency site. Many third-party sites charge 3–5x the real fee.
— Da Nang is the easiest soft landing: smaller, cleaner, and cheaper than HCMC, with a strong nomad community.
— Keep your work quiet and your clients foreign. Do not take on Vietnamese clients on a tourist/e-visa.
— Border runs to Laos, Cambodia, or a quick flight to Bangkok reset your stay cleanly.
— Get a local SIM (Viettel or Mobifone) on arrival — cheap data, works almost everywhere.
