Vietnam Warns of Fraudulent E-Visa Websites Targeting Travelers

Vietnam has issued a warning to foreign travelers regarding a surge in fraudulent e-visa application websites. The country currently offers e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories, with the entire process from application to payment and approval conducted online. International visitor numbers to Vietnam reached a record high of over 22.8 million in 2025. E-visa issuances also surpassed four million in 2025, a 30% increase from the previous year. In the first half of 2026, nearly 2.5 million e-visas were approved, an almost 30% year-on-year rise. This open visa policy is a significant factor drawing international tourists. However, the increase in online visa applications has led to the proliferation of fake websites, escalating the risks of fraud and identity theft. Authorities strongly advise foreign travelers to exclusively use the Vietnamese government's official online portals for visa applications. Numerous websites and social media pages advertise "express visas," "same-day approval," or "guaranteed visas." Many of these are not official government portals. The Immigration Department has previously recorded many fake websites ranking prominently on search engines, causing confusion for users, even before the Ministry of Public Security launched the official e-visa system on the domains evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn. Users are advised to access only official websites with the ".gov.vn" domain and remain cautious when providing personal information or making online payments. Anyone detecting signs of fraud should immediately report the case to the police for timely assistance, Nam said. Cybersecurity experts warn that users visiting fake websites risk having their passport details, personal information, or payment data stolen. With advancements in artificial intelligence, fraudulent websites have become increasingly sophisticated, making them much harder to distinguish from genuine ones. Alongside efforts to enhance cybersecurity, the Immigration Department is accelerating digital transformation in the management of foreigners. Pilot programs for collecting passenger information before arrival and expanding the use of biometric data are expected to shorten immigration processing times and improve management efficiency.