Vietnam Embassy in Sri Lanka

Vietnam is represented in Sri Lanka by one embassy: the Embassy of Vietnam in Colombo. There are no Vietnamese consulates in Kandy, Galle or anywhere else in the country, so the embassy handles consular matters for all of Sri Lanka. This guide is for Sri Lankan travelers, foreign residents in Sri Lanka and Vietnamese citizens living there. It covers the embassy’s address, phone number, email and opening hours, plus a few practical tips before you get in touch.

Good news first: most travelers heading to Vietnam for a holiday or a short business trip never need to visit the embassy. Sri Lankan passport holders do need a visa for Vietnam, but the Vietnam e-visa is handled 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 Colombo

The Embassy is on Ward Place in Colombo 7, the leafy Cinnamon Gardens area that is home to many of the city’s foreign missions. It serves all of Sri Lanka.

If you live outside Colombo, start with a phone call or email. Many questions can be sorted out without making the trip to the embassy.

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 emergency support for Vietnamese nationals in Sri Lanka

Do You Need to Visit for a Tourist Visa?

Usually not. Sri Lankan passport holders 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 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.
• Plan around the lunch break. The embassy closes between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM, so aim for the morning or mid-afternoon.
• Watch out for Poya days. Sri Lanka has a public holiday on every full moon day, so check the calendar before you go. The embassy may also close on Vietnamese national holidays, including several days around Lunar New Year (Tet), and on Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April.
• Mind the time difference. Sri Lanka is 1 hour 30 minutes behind Vietnam all year round.
• Heading only to Phu Quoc? Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island has its own visa-free policy for foreign visitors arriving directly from abroad. If your trip is limited to the island, check whether you need a visa at all before you apply.

Sri Lankan Citizens Needing Help While in Vietnam

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

Travelers anywhere in Vietnam can contact the embassy in Hanoi for consular help.