Do I need a visa if I only transit through Ho Chi Minh City and do not leave the airport?

No, if you stay in the international transit area, your bags are checked through to the final destination, and you do not pass immigration. Transit passengers who never clear immigration do not need a visa.

The situation changes when you must collect your bags, check in again, or switch to a separate ticket. That is called a self-transfer, and you must pass immigration to do it. You then need a visa or visa exemption, and the arrival card too.

Layovers where you want to leave the airport for a few hours also require a visa or exemption, with enough time to clear the queue at both ends.

Ask your airline whether your bags go through, and look at the connection time. For Vietnam, an e-visa is the easiest way to cover a self-transfer. Visitors from exempt countries may enter with no visa, and our exemption guide lists them.