Do I need to fill out an arrival QR code / entry declaration before flying to Vietnam?

As of mid-July, immigration officers on arrival are indeed asking to see the arrival declaration QR code — without it you may face questions at passport control.

The QR code requirement officially took effect on July 1. The declaration website can be a bit slow at times but generally works — better to fill it out in advance rather than last minute.

A couple of days before the requirement kicked in (late June), some travelers found the declaration site down for an entire day — no one confirmed exact consequences of arriving without a QR code, but the advice is to keep trying at different times of day.

Travelers who arrived in late June confirmed the QR code system genuinely works — border officers verify the code and let you through without delays.

Even earlier, when the requirement first rolled out, travelers who arrived with the QR code ready reported that the check went quickly and smoothly.

Entry under the 45-day visa-exempt regime with the QR code went smoothly even without a return ticket — no issues at check-in for the flight.

The requirement was originally announced to start June 22: the QR-code declaration must be completed in advance on the official government website, ideally 72 hours before departure.