Do you need an onward or return ticket to enter Vietnam, and who checks it?
Based on 3 discussions · Last activity: 13 days ago
TL;DR
In practice, the onward or return ticket is usually checked by the airline at boarding rather than by immigration in Vietnam, especially if you do not have a visa. If the airline lets you board without it, travelers report that Vietnam immigration often does not ask for it.
What the community said
Recent traveler experience suggests that the main check for an onward or return ticket happens at check-in and boarding for the flight to Vietnam. This is especially relevant if you are traveling without a pre-arranged visa.
today return ticket / onward ticket
If the airline has already allowed you to board without an onward ticket, travelers say responsibility usually shifts to the carrier. At immigration in Vietnam, the ticket itself is often no longer a key concern.
1 day ago flight boarding
Using a bus ticket, for example from Vietnam to Cambodia, may not always solve the issue: first you still need to be accepted for travel to Vietnam. For a flight, it is safer to have confirmed proof of onward travel that the airline can accept.
3 days ago Vietnam to Cambodia