Vietnam Electronic Arrival Card — Register online in advance to save 30 minutes

Travelers entering Vietnam through Da Nang Airport should be aware of 2 types of declarations: the immigration arrival card, which has been integrated into the digital process since 2025, and the customs declaration — mandatory if you are carrying more than 5000 USD or restricted goods. Declaring online in advance can save you 20-45 minutes of waiting in line.

Do you need to fill out an arrival card when entering Vietnam? Since January 1, 2024, Vietnam has eliminated paper arrival cards for general travelers. Passport information is scanned directly at the check-in gate. A customs declaration is still required if you are carrying: cash over 5,000 USD, gold, valuable jewelry, high-value electronic devices (professional cameras, drones), or commercial samples. No declaration needed: ordinary personal luggage, personal laptops/phones, clothing, cosmetics.

Electronic customs declaration — Pre-register via VNeID. If you need to make a customs declaration, there are 2 ways: (1) Declare in advance online at customs.gov.vn or via the VNeID app 24 hours before your flight — receive a QR code, show it at the gate, and save 15-20 minutes. (2) Paper declaration at the airport — pick up a pink form at the counter, fill it out, and hand it to the customs officer. Recommendation: declare online in advance if you're experienced, or use the paper form if it's your first time or you're not familiar with Vietnamese.

Checklist of what you need when going through immigration at Da Nang: (1) A passport valid for more than 6 months (mandatory). (2) A printed e-visa or a PDF file on your phone — it's best to bring a printed backup copy, as the airport wifi is slow. (3) Round-trip flight ticket — some travelers get asked for it, so have it printed in advance. (4) Your hotel address in Da Nang — at minimum the hotel name + district. (5) Keep 100 USD in emergency cash — in case you need to pay for a visa on arrival or exchange money. (6) Complete the electronic customs declaration if you are carrying goods that must be declared.

Da Nang arrival immigration process — step by step (10-25 minutes): Step 1 (3-10 minutes): Get off the plane and follow the Arrival/Nhập cảnh signs. Step 2 (5-15 minutes): Queue at the Immigration gate — choose the Foreign Passport lane if you are a foreign visitor. Hand over your passport + e-visa (if applicable). The officer scans your passport, takes your photo, and asks 1-2 simple questions (purpose, where you're staying, how long). Your entry stamp is issued. Step 3 (2-5 minutes): Collect your luggage at the baggage carousel area. Step 4 (if declaring customs): Go through the Red Channel and hand in the form. Step 5: Exit to the arrival hall — there are currency exchange and SIM card counters.

Tips to cut down your waiting time in line: (1) Fly on weekends in the early morning (6-8 AM) or late at night (10 PM-1 AM) — there are fewer flights then. (2) Avoid 1–3 PM — 3–4 flights from Korea/Japan arrive at the same time, so the queue can take 45–60 minutes. (3) Complete your electronic customs declaration in advance. (4) Use the automated E-gate if you are eligible (overseas Vietnamese holding a Vietnamese passport, or members of the Trusted Traveler program).

👉 VietSpots E-form Assistant: The VietSpots app now includes step-by-step guidance for filling out the electronic customs declaration in 7 languages (Vietnamese/English/Japanese/Korean/Chinese/Thai/Russian) — see it at vietspots.com/vi/entry-card.

Vietnam Entry Declaration 2026 — now 95% digitized, all you need is your passport + e-visa to get through.