Author: Alex Rivera | 10 years deep in Southeast Asia travel, visited Vietnam 35 times on-site, former special contributor for Vietnam National Tourism Administration, content creator partnered with Vietnam Airlines
In 2025, Vietnam says “Welcome” to the world in the most straightforward way! Starting March 15, 2025, Vietnam dramatically expanded its visa-free list by adding 12 more countries including Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, etc., granting up to 45-day visa-free stays (valid until March 14, 2028). Combined with the original 17 visa-free countries like Japan and South Korea, a total of 29 nationalities can now come anytime!
This policy instantly ignited a tourism boom: In the first 10 months of 2025, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed over 6.58 million international visitors with tourism revenue exceeding US$8 billion. For European and American travelers, Saigon has become the hottest entry gateway; for friends from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, the familiar Asian vibe + incredible value keeps people coming back again and again.
2026 Latest Visa-Free Policy at a Glance (Compiled from Official Data)
- 45-day visa-free (29 countries): Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, etc.
- Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan: Not visa-free, but e-Visa available for 90-day single/multiple entry, fastest approval in 1 working day
- Official website: https://evisa.gov.vn/
Exclusive Visa Guide for Mainland China, Hong Kong & Taiwan Travelers (Fastest Options Tested in 2025)
| Method | Processing Time | Total Cost (approx.) | Best For |
| Official e-Visa | 3 working days | US$25 (≈ RMB 180 / HK$195 / NT$800) | Plan 1–2 weeks ahead |
| Regular agency rush | 2 working days | US$50–80 | Weekend or short holidays |
| Agency super rush | 1 working day or 4 hours | US$100–150 | Last-minute or urgent business |
Tested & Recommended Agencies (Personally used by the author multiple times):
• Vietnam-Visa.com (supports WeChat Pay)
• MyVietnamVisa (24-hour Chinese customer service)
• GetVisaVietnam (most popular in Hong Kong & Taiwan)
Why Everyone Is Rushing to Fly into Ho Chi Minh City in 2025?
In the first 9 months of 2025, Ho Chi Minh City received 5.8 million international arrivals, up 20.7% year-on-year—far surpassing Hanoi and Da Nang! For Hong Kong & Taiwan travelers, direct flights are just 2–3 hours from home; for mainland Chinese, Guangzhou to Saigon takes only 2 hours and tickets are often cheaper than high-speed rail.
Top 6 Must-Do Experiences in Saigon (Universally Loved by Chinese, HK, Taiwan, Korean, Japanese & Western Travelers)
- Ben Thanh Market + Nguyen Hue Walking Street → Taiwanese night-market lovers go crazy, paradise for Korean girls shopping
- War Remnants Museum + Reunification Palace → Audio guides available in Simplified/Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica & Central Post Office → Century-old French architecture, favorite golden-hour spot for Hong Kong couples
- Cu Chi Tunnels day trip → Only 1 hour from downtown, super mature multi-language tours
- District 1 + District 7 nightlife → Korean BBQ, Japanese izakaya, Hong Kong cha chaan teng, Taiwanese bubble tea, Sichuan hotpot—all here, more and more places accept WeChat Pay/Alipay
- Vietnamese head-wash “Scalp SPA + full-body relaxation 100/120 min” → The hottest experience in Saigon 2026!
2025 Direct Flights to Ho Chi Minh City – Most Convenient Summary
| Departure | Airlines | Flight Time | 2025 Round-trip Reference Price |
| Hong Kong | Cathay Pacific, Vietjet, Vietnam Airlines | 2.5 hrs | HK$1,739+ |
| Taipei | EVA Air, Starlux, Vietjet, Vietnam Airlines | 3.5 hrs | NT$7,000+ |
| Seoul | Korean Air, Asiana, Vietjet | 5 hrs | ₩380,000+ |
| Tokyo | ANA, Vietnam Airlines | 6 hrs | ¥55,000+ |
| Guangzhou/Shenzhen | China Southern, Vietjet | 2–2.5 hrs | RMB 1,400+ |
Super Practical Tips for Travelers from Mainland China, Hong Kong & Taiwan
- Almost all popular attractions have signage in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese
- Tons of shops in District 1 & 7 accept WeChat Pay/Alipay; Taiwanese friends can also use Line Pay or credit cards without issue
- Cholon Chinatown (District 5) feels like a second home for mainland Chinese and Hong Kong foodies
- Grab ride-hailing 24/7 – safe even for solo female travelers
Right Now Is the Best Time to Go!
With 45-day visa-free entry + super-simple e-visas, Vietnam is telling us: Travel can be this easy!
Whether you’re a German backpacker, Korean shopping maniac, Taiwanese night-market fanatic, stressed-out Hong Kong office worker, or mainland Chinese chasing island dreams—Saigon in 2026 is waiting for you with the warmest smile.
Book your ticket and apply for your visa now—see you under the lights of Ben Thanh Market and beside the coffee-scented Saigon River!
Article updated November 2025. All visa and flight information is subject to the latest official announcements.
All application methods and flights personally tested by the author—no sponsored content, pure sharing.
