Travel China Guide · Visa & Entry · Vietnam
Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa for China?
From 20 August 2026, Vietnamese citizens may use 240-hour visa-free transit or stay up to 30 days in Hainan. A mainland round-trip holiday still needs a visa. Recheck edge cases in the interactive visa checker.
240-hour transit and Hainan 30-day stay
Two visa-free paths — not nationwide 30-day entry
From 20 August 2026, Vietnamese citizens with an ordinary passport may (1) stay up to 240 hours visa-free when transiting to a third country through a designated port, or (2) stay up to 30 days inside Hainan Province after entering through a Hainan open port. A round-trip holiday around mainland China still needs a visa.
- Passport
- Vietnam
- Hainan 30-day stay
- Up to 30 days inside Hainan Province only
- 240-hour transit
- Up to 240 hours / 10 days (conditions apply)
- Policy reviewed
- Hainan 30-day stay: enter through a Hainan open port and remain in Hainan Province
- 240-hour transit: confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region
- Enter through an eligible 240-hour port and stay inside that port’s allowed area
- A mainland round-trip holiday that starts and ends at home still needs a visa
What Vietnamese citizens should know
- From 20 August 2026, Vietnam is on China’s 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit list (57 countries). A standalone Vietnam–China–Vietnam holiday still needs a visa.
- 240-hour transit requires an ordinary passport, a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, and entry through one of 65 designated ports (Beijing, Shanghai, and others).
- The same announcement also lets Vietnamese ordinary-passport holders enter through Hainan’s open ports and stay up to 30 days inside Hainan Province only — not a nationwide mainland visa-free stay.
- Typical Vietnam land borders (Hekou, Dongxing, and similar) are not a substitute for an eligible 240-hour port. Do not assume visa-free land entry into Guangxi or Yunnan.
If you use Hainan’s 30-day visa-free stay
Vietnam ordinary-passport holders may enter through a Hainan open port and stay up to 30 days inside Hainan Province only.
- Enter through Haikou, Sanya, or another Hainan open port
- Remain inside Hainan Province for the whole stay
- This does not authorize travel around the rest of mainland China
If you qualify for 240-hour transit
Your passport (Vietnam) is on China’s 240-hour transit visa-free list. Entering via Shanghai Pudong International Airport Port allows a stay within Shanghai Municipality, subject to transit conditions.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region
- Enter through an eligible 240-hour port
- Leave within 240 hours and stay inside the allowed region for that port
Frequently asked questions
Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa for China?
Not for two published visa-free paths. From 20 August 2026 Vietnamese citizens may use 240-hour transit with a confirmed third-country ticket, or stay up to 30 days in Hainan Province after entering through a Hainan open port. A round-trip mainland holiday that starts and ends at home still needs a visa.
Can Vietnamese citizens use China’s 240-hour transit visa-free policy?
Yes, if conditions are met: confirmed onward ticket to a different third country/region, entry through an eligible port, stay within 240 hours, and remaining inside the allowed stay area for that port. A simple round-trip home–China–home itinerary does not qualify.
Can Vietnamese citizens cross into China by land without a visa?
Not at ordinary Vietnam–China land crossings for tourism. From 20 August 2026, visa-free transit is through designated ports with a confirmed third-country ticket. A Hanoi–Nanning bus or a Hekou walk-across still needs a valid Chinese visa unless you actually qualify at an eligible port.
Can Vietnamese citizens visit Hainan without a mainland visa?
Yes under the 20 August 2026 Hainan 30-day visa-free policy: ordinary passport, enter through a Hainan open port, and stay inside Hainan Province. Work, study, and journalism still need a visa in advance. This does not authorize travel around the rest of mainland China.
Can Vietnamese citizens enter visa-free on an emergency passport?
Generally no. China’s short-stay visa-free and transit visa-free policies typically require an ordinary passport. If you hold an emergency or limited-validity travel document, plan to apply for a visa.
Is this official immigration advice?
No. This page summarizes published policy for trip planning only. Rules change — confirm with the National Immigration Administration, your airline, and a Chinese embassy or consulate before you book non-refundable travel.
Common entry routes
Common air entries include Guangzhou, Nanning, Kunming, and Shenzhen from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City; Haikou and Sanya for Hainan-only stays.
For trains, metros, and booking tips after you land, see the Transport in China hub. For Alipay and WeChat Pay setup, start with Payments in China.
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