Vietnam Embassy in France

Vietnam is represented in France by one embassy: the Embassy of Vietnam in Paris. There are no Vietnamese consulates in Lyon, Marseille or any other city, so the embassy handles consular matters for the whole country. France is home to one of the oldest and largest Vietnamese communities outside Asia, and the embassy building also houses Vietnam’s permanent delegation to UNESCO. This guide is for French travelers, foreign residents in France and Vietnamese citizens living there. It covers the embassy’s address, phone numbers, email and opening hours, plus a few practical tips before you get in touch.

Good news first: most French travelers never need to visit the embassy at all. French passport holders can currently visit Vietnam visa-free for stays of up to 45 days, and anyone planning a longer trip can apply for a Vietnam e-visa fully online. The embassy matters most when you need a special type of visa, help with Vietnamese documents, or support as a Vietnamese citizen abroad.

Embassy of Vietnam in Paris

The Embassy is on Rue de Miromesnil in the 8th arrondissement, a short walk from the Champs-Élysées and Saint-Augustin. The consular section, which handles visas and passports, is in the same building. It serves all of France.

The embassy is open only in the morning on Fridays. You may still see its old address on Rue Boileau in the 16th arrondissement on some websites, but all services are now at Rue de Miromesnil.

What Can the Embassy Help With?

The embassy handles consular work for both foreigners and Vietnamese citizens. Services typically include:

• Vietnam visas issued at the embassy, for travelers whose plans need one
• Visa exemption certificates for overseas Vietnamese and their family members
• Passports and travel documents for Vietnamese citizens
• Notarization and legalization of documents to be used in Vietnam
• Civil registration, citizen protection and support for the Vietnamese community and students in France

Do You Need to Visit for a Tourist Visa?

Usually not. French passport holders can currently enter Vietnam without a visa for stays of up to 45 days. Vietnam reviews this policy from time to time, so check that it’s still in place before you travel. For longer stays, you can apply for a Vietnam e-visa online without visiting the embassy or posting a passport. You fill in the form, upload a passport scan and a photo, pay, and receive the e-visa by email.

The embassy is the better route when your trip doesn’t fit what visa-free entry or the e-visa offers, for example certain work, study or other long-term stays. The embassy sets its own document list and fees for these cases, so check with them before you apply.

Practical Tips Before You Go

A little preparation goes a long way with consular offices. Keep these in mind:

• Call or email first. Hours, phone lines and procedures can change, and some services may need an appointment.
• Avoid Friday afternoons. The embassy closes at 12:30 PM on Fridays, so plan your visit earlier in the week.
• Check public holidays on both sides. The embassy may close on Vietnamese national holidays, including several days around Lunar New Year (Tet), and on French holidays such as Bastille Day on 14 July and Armistice Day.
• Mind the time difference. France is 6 hours behind Vietnam in winter and 5 hours behind during European summer time.
• Count your days. If you’re entering visa-free, plan your trip within the 45-day limit, including your arrival and departure days. Staying longer means you’ll need a visa before you travel.

French Citizens Needing Help While in Vietnam

The Vietnamese embassy above serves people in France. If you are already in Vietnam and need help as a French citizen, for example with a lost passport or an emergency, contact France’s own offices there:

Travelers in southern Vietnam will usually find the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City the most convenient. For anywhere else in the country, start with the Embassy in Hanoi.