Do I need an onward ticket and hotel booking to enter Vietnam or apply for a visa?

One traveler notes that a visa may not be necessary for an initial short stay; the main difference is the permitted length of stay before the first visa run. They booked flights and accommodation before applying for a visa.

If your itinerary is fixed, do not assume that losing a few days of your permitted stay is harmless: check that your arrival and departure dates fit your entry conditions in advance.

A traveler who has crossed borders and arranged visas several times reports never being asked for an onward ticket. This is personal experience rather than a guarantee, so it is still sensible to have proof available.

For a visa application, a flight reservation may be requested as itinerary evidence even if the final ticket has not yet been purchased. One traveler encountered this requirement when applying for a Schengen visa.