How to fill out the Vietnam arrival declaration form and calculate visa/entry-stamp dates when entering via Ho Chi Minh City?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 13 days ago
TL;DR
You can only submit the online arrival declaration within 72 hours before your flight; for visa-exempt entry, enter the arrival date as the issue date and add 45 days for the expiry date; you may depart on or before the stamped date (e.g. leaving on Sept 12 itself is fine).
What the community said
When filling the arrival card under the visa-exemption section, put your entry date as the 'issue date' and that same date plus 45 days as the 'expiry date', since the visa-free stay period is 45 days.
14 days ago 45-day visa exemption
The online arrival declaration for e-visa holders only opens up 72 hours before your flight departure time — if it's earlier than that window, the arrival date field won't be selectable. Wait until you're within 72 hours of departure and try again.
16 days ago 72-hour submission window before departure
If your passport stamp says the stay is valid 'until September 12', you can legally depart on that exact date — leaving on the 12th itself is fine, you don't need to exit a day earlier on the 11th.
21 days ago departure allowed on or before stamped date