Vietnam warns of fraudument 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 currently offers e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories, with the application and approval process conducted entirely online. The number of e-visas granted to foreigners reached over four million in 2025, a 30% increase compared to the previous year. In the first half of 2026 alone, nearly 2.5 million e-visas were approved, marking a 30% year-on-year rise. The open visa policies are among the reasons behind Vietnam's record 22.8 million international visitors in 2025.
However, the increase in online visa applications has given rise to fake websites, posing risks of fraud and identity theft. Authorities recommend that foreigners only use the Vietnamese Government's official online portals for visa applications. Searching for "Vietnam e-visa" yields numerous websites claiming express visas, same-day approval, or guaranteed visas. These websites may appear legitimate, but not all are official government portals.
The Immigration Department's Division 5 officer, Nguyen Tien Nam, explained that fraudsters often mimic official portals, register misleading domain names, or pay for online advertisements to attract users. Some even offer services like instant visas, urgent processing, or guaranteed approval to gain trust. Users should stick to official websites with the .gov.vn domain and be cautious when providing personal information or making online payments. Anyone suspecting fraud should immediately report the case to the police for assistance.
Cybersecurity experts warn that visiting fake websites could lead to the theft of passport details, personal information, or payment data. Fraudulent websites have become more sophisticated due to artificial intelligence, making them harder to distinguish from genuine sites. The Immigration Department is accelerating digital transformation in foreigner management, including pilot programs to collect passenger information before arrival and expand the use of biometric data. These measures aim to reduce immigration processing times while improving management 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.
