Vietnam warns of fraudulent e-visa websites targeting foreign travelers
Authorities are stepping up efforts to detect and remove fake websites and fraudulent links that offered e-visa issuance for Vietnam travel as demand for the service has increased.
Vietnam permits e-visas for citizens worldwide, issuing over four million annually, a 30% increase from the previous year. The first half of 2026 saw nearly 2.5 million e-visa approvals, a 30% rise year-on-year. Open visa policies have attracted more than 22.8 million international visitors to Vietnam in 2025, the highest on record.
However, the surge in online visa applications has also led to the proliferation of fraudulent e-visa websites, posing risks of fraud and identity theft. Authorities caution foreigners to apply solely through the Vietnamese Government's official online portals. The official e-visa system can be accessed via evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn.
Fraudulent websites often resemble official portals, use misleading domain names or pay for online ads to attract users. They may falsely promise instant, urgent, or guaranteed visas to gain trust. Users should provide personal information and make payments only on official sites and report suspected fraud to the police. Cybersecurity experts warn that visiting fake websites could lead to theft of passport, personal details, and payment data.
Fraudulent sites have become sophisticated with AI, making them harder to distinguish from legitimate ones. The Immigration Department is also boosting digital transformation in foreigner management, with pilot programs to collect passenger data before arrival and expand biometric data use, aiming to shorten immigration processing times and improve efficiency.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
