Vietnam Embassy and Consulates in the US

Vietnam has four diplomatic offices in the United States that handle consular work: the Embassy in Washington, D.C., the Consulates General in San Francisco and Houston, and the Consulate in New York. The US is home to the largest Vietnamese community outside Asia, so these offices are some of the busiest Vietnamese missions in the world. This guide is for American travelers, foreign residents in the US 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 travelers heading to Vietnam for a holiday or a short business trip never need to visit any of these offices. US passport holders do need a visa for Vietnam, but the Vietnam e-visa is handled 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?

As a general guide, contact the office that serves your region:

Each office’s exact list of states can change, so check with the nearest one before you send documents or travel.

Embassy of Vietnam in Washington, D.C.

The Embassy is on 20th Street NW, near Dupont Circle in central Washington. Besides its diplomatic role, it runs a consular section for the capital region and nearby states.

The embassy is in an office building, so look for Suite 400 when you arrive. Consular services may run at set times, so call ahead before you visit.

Consulate of Vietnam in New York

The New York office shares a building with Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, on United Nations Plaza in Midtown Manhattan. It handles consular matters for people in New York and the surrounding region.

Building security is strict around the UN area, so bring photo ID and allow a few extra minutes to get through the lobby.

Consulate General of Vietnam in Houston

The Houston office is on Westheimer Road in the Uptown/Galleria business district. It serves one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the country, across Texas and the southern states.

Call ahead to confirm the consulate’s current opening hours before you visit.

Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco

The San Francisco office is on California Street, between Nob Hill and Pacific Heights. It serves Vietnamese citizens and local residents across the western states, home to the largest Vietnamese-American community.

The consulate only receives visitors in the morning, although staff work longer hours. If you live in Southern California, start with a phone call or email before making the trip north.

What Can the Embassy and Consulates Help With?

The four 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 the US

Do You Need to Visit for a Tourist Visa?

Usually not. US passport holders 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 consulates are the better route when your trip doesn’t fit what 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:

• Use mail-in services where you can. Many consular services can be handled by mail, which saves a long trip in a country this size. Ask your nearest office about the process.
• Check public holidays on both sides. The offices may close on Vietnamese national holidays, including several days around Lunar New Year (Tet), and on US federal holidays such as Independence Day and Thanksgiving.
• Mind the time difference. Washington and New York are 12 hours behind Vietnam in winter and 11 hours behind in summer. Houston is one hour further behind, and San Francisco three hours further.
• 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.
• Bring originals and copies. For any in-person service, carry your passport, photocopies and passport photos, plus any supporting papers the office asks for.

American Citizens Needing Help While in Vietnam

The Vietnamese missions above serve people in the United States. If you are already in Vietnam and need help as an American citizen, for example with a lost passport or an emergency, contact the US government’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.