A Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City holiday is not automatically covered by the Khanh Hoa group-tour pilot.
First decide whether the Khanh Hoa pilot actually covers your trip
The 2026 announcement concerns a defined organised-tour arrangement. It should not be read as removing the visa question for every Chinese traveller. Before relying on it, compare the published conditions with the actual passport, tour organiser, flights and destinations.
| Check | Published condition |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid PRC ordinary passport; Hong Kong and Macao SAR-issued passports are excluded. |
| Tour arrangement | At least two people on a package tour arranged by a Vietnamese international travel-service provider. |
| Destination | Khanh Hoa province only. |
| Flights and gate | Direct mainland China–Cam Ranh flights; entry and exit through Cam Ranh International Airport. |
| Stay and pilot dates | No more than 30 days; pilot runs from 12 October 2026 to 31 December 2027. |
If any part of your plan falls outside those conditions, confirm the appropriate visa route before departure. Do not infer eligibility from a tour advertisement that mentions only the destination.
An independent Hanoi holiday is a different itinerary
A qualifying organised visit staying within Khanh Hoa and using the required direct Cam Ranh route should be checked against the pilot. An independently arranged trip arriving in Hanoi, visiting other provinces and departing Ho Chi Minh City needs its own visa assessment; the pilot’s destination rule does not describe that journey.
The same applies when adding a mainland side trip to an otherwise qualifying tour. Have the organiser and relevant authority confirm what permission covers the changed itinerary before treating it as part of the exemption.
Check the date and legal basis of a passport restriction
Older lists still circulate in search results. Resolution 127/NQ-CP expanded e-visa nationality access in 2023 and expressly replaced earlier resolutions. An old list that excludes a category of Chinese e-passport should not be used on its own to decide current eligibility.
For an unusual document or a question about the exact passport being presented, use current instructions and obtain document-specific confirmation. This guide does not infer a universal biometric-passport ban or a compulsory paper-visa exchange from superseded material.
For the e-visa route, align the passport and the complete journey
Use the ordinary passport information page to enter the requested names, number and dates. The form’s nationality list has a China entry; do not substitute the Taiwan option for a mainland PRC passport. The guide’s application link preselects China, which you should verify before continuing.
Then count entries and check the requested visa period against all travel dates. A second Vietnamese entry after leaving for another country is a reason to consider multiple entry. Keep the data-page image and portrait clear enough to compare with the typed form on Review.
Start the Chinese-passport e-visa application when that route fits the trip. If you intend to use the group-tour pilot instead, settle its conditions with the organiser before starting a standard application.
QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU APPLY
China passport: Vietnam visa questions
Is Vietnam visa-free for all Chinese tourists?
No. The Khanh Hoa pilot applies only when all of its passport, organised-tour, destination, flight and border-gate conditions are met. It does not make independent travel across Vietnam visa-free.
How long does the Khanh Hoa group-tour pilot last?
The published pilot runs from 12 October 2026 to 31 December 2027 and permits a qualifying stay of no more than 30 days. Recheck the current rules for the dates of your tour.
Can I add Hanoi to a visa-free Khanh Hoa group tour?
Do not assume that is permitted under the pilot. Its published destination is Khanh Hoa only. Ask the organiser and Vietnamese authorities to confirm the appropriate visa route for a wider itinerary.
Should I rely on a 2020 list that excludes Chinese e-passports?
Do not use that old list alone. Resolution 127/NQ-CP expanded nationality access in 2023 and replaced the earlier resolutions. Check current instructions for your exact passport rather than repeating an outdated blanket rule.
Are Hong Kong and Macao passports included in this pilot?
The published Khanh Hoa pilot excludes passports issued by those Special Administrative Regions. Their holders should check the visa requirements for the specific passport they will use.
Sources and review
The passport and entry statements above were checked against these primary sources on . Check again if your passport, route or travel dates change.
- Government News — Khanh Hoa pilot and full conditions ↗
- Government of Vietnam — Resolution 127/NQ-CP ↗
- Vietnamese Consulate — English text of Resolution 127 ↗