Your adventure in Hai Phong—the gateway to the stunning Ha Long Bay—is about to begin! After a long flight, the only thing standing between you and the city’s vibrant energy is the airport. But what if you could bypass the longest queues and make your arrival as seamless as the rest of your trip? This guide will show you how.
This is where planning and insider knowledge become your most valuable travel companions. You’ve planned your itinerary, booked your flights, and dreamt of the incredible food and scenery. Now, let’s plan your arrival. This guide is designed to give you a complete, step-by-step walkthrough of the arrival process at Hai Phong’s Cat Bi Airport. More importantly, it will reveal how you can transform a potentially stressful arrival into a seamless, VIP experience by using an Arrival Fast Track Service, ensuring your first moments in Vietnam are as smooth and enjoyable as the rest of your trip.
Whether you hold an e-visa, are a visa-free visitor, or are using the visa-on-arrival facility, this comprehensive guide has you covered.
A smooth arrival is all in the preparation. Before you even head to your departure airport, take some time to organize your documents and understand the local regulations. Having everything in order will save you from potential stress and delays.
Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months from your date of entry into Vietnam. This is a strict requirement, and airlines will deny boarding if your passport doesn’t meet this validity rule. Also, check that you have at least one or two blank pages for the visa and entry stamps.
👉 E-Visa: As of 2025, the Vietnam e-visa is the most popular and recommended method for tourists. It allows for stays of up to 90 days with single or multiple entries. You must apply for this online through the official Vietnam Immigration portal before your trip. Once approved, print out a physical copy of your e-visa. While a digital copy on your phone is good to have, immigration officials will require the printed paper version.
👉 Visa-Free Travel: Citizens of several countries can enter Vietnam without a visa for a specific period (typically up to 45 days). Check the latest visa exemption list to see if your nationality qualifies. If you plan to stay longer than the exempted period, you must apply for an e-visa.
👉 Visa on Arrival (VOA): While once common, the VOA service is now very limited and generally reserved for specific cases or those traveling via pre-approved tour agencies. To use VOA, you must have a “Visa Approval Letter” obtained online beforehand from an authorized agency. Without this letter, you cannot get a visa on arrival. We’ll cover the specific requirements for VOA holders in detail later.
💡 Tip for a Stress-Free Application: While you can navigate the official portals yourself, many travelers prefer a streamlined, worry-free process. To avoid common mistakes or delays, consider using our expert visa service. We ensure your application is accurate and managed professionally from start to finish. Get Your Vietnam Visa with Expert Assistance Here.
Have the details of your trip readily accessible. This includes:
To avoid fines or confiscation of goods, be aware of what you can and cannot bring into Vietnam.
👉 Currency: You must declare any cash amount exceeding US$5,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) or over 15,000,000 Vietnamese Dong (VND).
👉 Duty-Free Allowance:
👉 Prohibited Items: Do not bring narcotics, weapons, explosives, anti-government materials, or pornographic content into the country.
👉 Important 2025 Ban on E-cigarettes: The Vietnamese government has enacted a ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Do not bring vapes or similar devices into Vietnam. They are subject to confiscation at customs, and use can result in fines.
👉 Drones: Flying a drone requires a permit from the Ministry of Defense, which must be secured well in advance of your trip. Flying without a permit is illegal and will result in confiscation and fines.
Cat Bi International Airport (IATA: HPH, ICAO: VVCI) is your gateway to Hai Phong and the surrounding region. It’s a modern and growing airport, reflecting the city’s rising importance as a commercial and tourist hub.
The short distance to the city makes for a quick and affordable transfer.
If you have your e-visa printed or are eligible for visa-free entry, your arrival process is relatively straightforward. Here’s the path you’ll follow:
After disembarking, follow the signs to “Arrivals” and “Immigration.” Here, you will join a queue to be processed by an immigration officer. You will need to present your passport and your printed e-visa (if applicable). The officer will check your documents, stamp your passport, and officially welcome you into Vietnam.
Once through immigration, proceed to the baggage claim area. Check the screens for your flight number to find the correct carousel and collect your checked luggage.
With your luggage, you’ll head towards the customs area. If you have nothing to declare (meaning you are within the duty-free limits and have no prohibited items), you can usually walk through the “Green Channel.” If you need to declare goods or currency, you must go through the “Red Channel.”
After clearing customs, you will enter the arrivals hall. Here you can find currency exchange counters, SIM card vendors, and the exit to transportation services. Congratulations, you’ve officially arrived!
While the process seems simple, the main bottleneck is almost always the Arrival Immigration Checkpoint. Queues here can be long and slow-moving, especially if several international flights land at the same time. After a long journey, waiting for 30 minutes to an hour (or sometimes longer) can be exhausting and frustrating. This is the first challenge where an Arrival Fast Track service becomes invaluable.
For those using the Visa on Arrival facility, the process involves an extra, crucial step right at the beginning.
Do not go to the main immigration queues. First, you must find the “Landing Visa” or “Visa on Arrival” counter. It is a separate area you must go to before the main immigration checkpoint. Here, you will need to submit the following documents:
You will hand over your documents and wait for your name to be called. Once your visa is processed and affixed to your passport, you can proceed to the main immigration checkpoint.
Now with your visa in your passport, you join the main immigration queues to get your entry stamp.
Proceed to collect your luggage from the carousel.
Go through the Green or Red Channel depending on what you are carrying.
You are now free to exit and begin your Vietnam adventure.
The VOA process has two major potential queuing points: the Landing Visa counter and the main Immigration Checkpoint. The Landing Visa counter can become very crowded, and the process of checking documents and issuing visas can be slow. Furthermore, arriving unprepared—without a photo, the completed form, or the exact cash amount—can cause significant stress and delays.
This is where the Arrival Fast Track Service is not just a luxury, but a problem-solver.
You’ve seen the potential for delays and stress. Now, imagine a different arrival experience. Instead of standing in line, you are personally greeted and escorted past the crowds. This isn’t just a dream; it’s the reality offered by the Arrival Fast Track Service at Hai Phong City’s Int’l Airport. This VIP service is the savvy traveler’s secret to transforming a potentially tiring arrival into a smooth, comfortable, and impressively fast start to your Vietnamese holiday.
The process is designed to be effortlessly smooth from the moment you step off the plane.
With the Full Fast Track service, the agent can even assist with collecting your baggage and escorting you all the way to the arrivals hall to meet your driver.
The advantages go far beyond just skipping a line.
Booking your VIP arrival experience is incredibly simple and can be done online in just a few steps.
It’s that easy. In just a few clicks, you can arrange for a seamless, stress-free arrival at Hai Phong City’s Int’l Airport.
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Your first moments in a new country set the tone for your entire trip. Don’t let them be defined by long lines and stress. By preparing properly and choosing the Arrival Fast Track Service, you ensure your Vietnam adventure begins exactly as it should: with ease, comfort, and the excitement of the journey ahead. Arrive like a VIP and step into Hai Phong ready for everything this beautiful region has to offer.
