Vietnam Embassy and Consulate in Germany

Vietnam has two diplomatic missions in Germany: the Embassy in Berlin and the Consulate General in Frankfurt am Main. Germany is home to one of the largest Vietnamese communities in Europe, so the two offices share the consular work between them, with each one covering a different group of federal states. This guide is for German travelers, foreign residents in Germany and Vietnamese citizens living there. It gives the address, phone numbers, email and opening hours for each office, plus a few tips that can save you a wasted trip.

Good news first: most German travelers never need to visit either office. German 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 and consulate matter most when you need a special type of visa, help with Vietnamese documents, or support as a Vietnamese citizen abroad.

Which Office Should You Contact?

Each office handles consular matters for people living in specific federal states:

In short, if you live in the north or east of Germany, contact Berlin. If you live in the south or west, contact Frankfurt.

Embassy of Vietnam in Berlin

The Embassy is on Elsenstraße in Alt-Treptow, in the south-east of Berlin, close to the Treptower Park S-Bahn station. Besides its diplomatic role, it runs a busy consular section for the northern and eastern states.

The consular section only receives visitors three days a week. Applications are usually accepted early in each session, with the later part set aside for collecting documents, so arrive early.

Consulate General of Vietnam in Frankfurt

The Consulate General is based at Villa Hanoi on Kennedyallee in Sachsenhausen, just south of the river Main. Consular visitors, however, are received at a separate entrance on nearby Rubensstraße.

For visas, passports and other paperwork, go to the Rubensstraße entrance rather than the main villa. The citizen protection hotline is for emergencies only, not for general consular questions.

What Can the Embassy and Consulate Help With?

The two offices handle consular work for both foreigners and Vietnamese citizens. Services typically include:

• Vietnam visas issued at the mission, 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 in Germany

Do You Need to Visit for a Tourist Visa?

Usually not. German 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 either office 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 or consulate 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. Each office 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:

• Plan around the three consular days. Both offices receive consular visitors only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, so avoid turning up on a Tuesday or Friday.
• Go to the right office for your state. Applications are handled based on where you live, so check the table above before you set off.
• Check public holidays on both sides. The offices may close on Vietnamese national holidays, including several days around Lunar New Year (Tet), and on German public holidays, some of which vary from state to state.
• Mind the time difference. Germany 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.

German Citizens Needing Help While in Vietnam

The Vietnamese missions above serve people in Germany. If you are already in Vietnam and need help as a German citizen, for example with a lost passport or an emergency, contact Germany’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.