Vietnam Embassy and Consulates in Japan

Vietnam has three diplomatic missions in Japan: the Embassy in Tokyo and two Consulates General, one in Osaka and one in Fukuoka. Japan is home to one of the largest Vietnamese communities anywhere in the world, so all three offices are kept busy with both Vietnamese residents and Japanese travelers. This guide is for Japanese travelers, foreign residents in Japan 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 Japanese travelers never need to visit any of these offices. Japanese passport holders can 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 consulates 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 Vietnamese mission in Japan looks after its own region. As a general guide:

So if you live in Kyoto, your office is the Consulate General in Osaka, not the Embassy in Tokyo. If your prefecture isn’t listed above, call or email the nearest office first to check where to go.

Embassy of Vietnam in Tokyo

The Embassy is in Motoyoyogi-cho, a quiet residential part of Shibuya. The nearest station is Yoyogi-Hachiman on the Odakyu Line, a short walk away. Besides its diplomatic role, it handles consular matters for most of eastern and northern Japan.

The Tokyo embassy serves a very large community and can get busy, especially before major holidays. Using the consular email for questions first can save you a trip.

Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka

Despite its name, the Osaka office is located in Sakai, a city just south of central Osaka. It serves the Kansai region and nearby prefectures in western Japan.

When planning your route, search for the consulate’s address in Sakai rather than central Osaka, so you don’t end up in the wrong part of town.

Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka

The Fukuoka office is in the Aqua Hakata building in Nakasu, in the centre of the city. Opened in 2009, it serves Kyushu and Okinawa, where tens of thousands of Vietnamese people live, study and work.

The consulate only answers phone enquiries about consular procedures during the hours above, so call within those times or send an email.

What Can the Embassy and Consulates Help With?

The three 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 Vietnamese students and workers in Japan

Do You Need to Visit for a Tourist Visa?

Usually not. For a holiday of up to 45 days, Japanese passport holders don’t need a visa at all. For longer stays, you can apply for a Vietnam e-visa online without visiting any 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 a 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:

• Call or email first. Hours, phone lines and procedures can change, and some services may need an appointment.
• Check public holidays on both sides. The offices may close on Vietnamese national holidays, including several days around Lunar New Year (Tet), and on Japanese holidays such as the New Year period and Golden Week.
• Mind the time difference. Japan is 2 hours ahead of Vietnam all year round.
• 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.
• Bring originals and copies. For any in-person service, carry your passport, photocopies and passport photos, plus any supporting papers the office asks for.

Japanese Citizens Needing Help While in Vietnam

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