How to Apply for a Vietnam Visa in San Francisco, United States

How to apply for a Vietnam visa in San Francisco: US tourists apply for a Vietnam e-visa online and keep their passport at home instead of visiting the consulate. The Vietnam consulate in San Francisco is at 1700 California St, Suite 580, and handles consular services Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco opened in October 1997 and covers 11 western states. Most of its work is for Vietnamese citizens and Vietnamese Americans, so the visa options table further down matters more to tourists than the address.

Vietnam consulate in San Francisco: contact details and hours

The Vietnam consulate in San Francisco lists the details below on its own website, checked on 2026-11-03. Call before you go, because it closes on US federal holidays and Vietnamese public holidays.

Contact details:

The visa exemption desk posts longer weekday hours: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closures include Lunar New Year, so check when Tet falls if you plan a visit in late January or February.

Consular district: 11 western states

Vietnam's consulate for California also serves Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming. Residents of these states use it for passports, legalizations and visa exemption certificates.

Texas and nearby states go to the consulate in Houston, while the embassy in Washington and the office in New York cover the East. For every office, see the Vietnam embassy in the United States page or the full list of Vietnamese embassies.

How to apply for a Vietnam visa in San Francisco

There are three ways for a San Francisco traveler to get a Vietnam visa: an e-visa online, a visa from the consulate, or a visa on arrival at an airport. Only the e-visa needs no visit and no passport in the mail. The table starts with the option most US tourists use. Prices last checked: 2026-11-03.

The e-visa allows stays of up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. Our full price list shows each speed, and the processing time guide explains working days.

Time zones matter for rush orders, because our cutoffs run on Vietnam time (GMT+7). Example: a Super Urgent order at 6:00 p.m. Monday in San Francisco (PST) lands at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday in Vietnam, so the e-visa is due at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Vietnam time, or 8:30 p.m. Monday in San Francisco. The exact delivery time shows before you pay. If you fly within a day or two, start with the urgent Vietnam e-visa options.

Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes, US citizens need a visa for Vietnam for any visit, including short holidays, because the United States is not on Vietnam's visa exemption list. Holders of a valid 5-year visa exemption certificate are the exception. Our guide to the Vietnam visa for US citizens covers passport validity and entry ports.

Services at the consulate and how to book

The Vietnam consulate (SF office) handles visas, Vietnamese passports, legalization, marriage and birth registration, powers of attorney and the 5-year visa exemption certificate. Each section has its own email:

• Visas: Email visa@vietnamconsulate-sf.org for current fees and timing before you send a passport.
• Vietnamese passports: Write to hochieu@vietnamconsulate-sf.org.
• Legalization: Use legalization@vietnamconsulate-sf.org.
• Mail-in requests: Ask mailin@vietnamconsulate-sf.org how to post documents.
• 5-year visa exemption: Apply in person at the consulate.

The consulate website shows no online booking system, so email the right section or call first. VietnamVisa.com is a private visa agency, not a government website. You can apply yourself at evisa.gov.vn for US$25 (single entry) or US$50 (multiple entry). If you are a tourist who only needs entry, apply for your Vietnam e-visa online and skip the consulate queue.

Last verified: 2026-11-03, against the consulate's contact page and district page.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Vietnam embassy in San Francisco?

No, there is no Vietnam embassy in San Francisco: the city has a Consulate General, and the embassy is in Washington, DC. Both issue visas, but a US tourist can skip both by applying for an e-visa online with a passport scan and a photo, then printing the PDF.

Can I get a Vietnam visa at the San Francisco consulate on the same day?

The consulate does not publish a same-day visa service, so ask the visa section by email first. If you fly soon, an e-visa is quicker to arrange: our Same day and Super Urgent packages show the exact delivery time, in Vietnam time, before you pay.

How do Vietnamese Americans get a 5-year visa exemption?

Vietnamese Americans apply for the 5-year visa exemption certificate in person at the consulate, according to its website. Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens or people of Vietnamese origin can also qualify. Email the consulate for the document list, because the e-visa form does not cover it.

What time is it in Vietnam when it is morning in San Francisco?

Vietnam is 15 hours ahead of San Francisco from early November to mid-March and 14 hours ahead during US daylight saving time. So 9:00 a.m. Monday in San Francisco is midnight or 11:00 p.m. Monday in Vietnam. Plan rush e-visa orders with this gap in mind.

Frequently asked questions