Vietnam Embassy in the United Kingdom

Vietnam is represented in the United Kingdom by one embassy: the Embassy of Vietnam in London. There are no Vietnamese consulates in Manchester, Edinburgh or any other city, so the embassy handles consular matters for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK is home to a sizeable Vietnamese community, and the embassy is one of Vietnam’s busiest in Europe. This guide is for British travelers, foreign residents in the UK 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 British travelers never need to visit the embassy at all. British 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 London

The Embassy is on Victoria Road in Kensington, a short walk from High Street Kensington tube station and Kensington Gardens. It serves the whole of the United Kingdom.

The consular section only receives visitors in the morning, so plan to arrive well before 12:30 PM. If you live outside London, many questions can be sorted out by phone or email.

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 the UK

Do You Need to Visit for a Tourist Visa?

Usually not. British 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:

• Go in the morning. Consular services run from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM on weekdays only.
• Living in Ireland? Vietnam now has its own embassy in Dublin, so residents of the Republic of Ireland should contact that office instead of London.
• Check public holidays on both sides. The embassy may close on Vietnamese national holidays, including several days around Lunar New Year (Tet), and on UK bank holidays.
• Mind the time difference. The UK is 7 hours behind Vietnam in winter and 6 hours behind during British 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.

British Citizens Needing Help While in Vietnam

The Vietnamese embassy above serves people in the UK. If you are already in Vietnam and need help as a British citizen, for example with a lost passport or an emergency, contact the UK’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.