Ha Long Bay and Sapa in 2026: Vietnam Just Widened Its E-Visa Net

On 5 August 2026, Vietnam's government issued Resolution 389/NQ-CP, adding 41 new border gates -- four airports (including the newly opened Long Thanh International), 11 land crossings and 26 seaports -- to the list accepting e-visa holders. That takes the total to 83 international border gates nationwide, according to Immigration Department director Pham Dang Khoa. Combined with a policy already rolled out earlier in 2026 -- a 90-day, multiple-entry e-visa open to citizens of every country, not just a shortlist -- it is now meaningfully easier to build a longer northern Vietnam loop through Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa without juggling separate visa runs or worrying whether your specific crossing point is on the approved list.

The e-visa itself has not gotten more expensive: the official government fee, payable only at evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn, is US$25 for a single-entry 90-day e-visa and US$50 for multiple entry. Processing typically runs three to five working days, so apply before you book non-refundable domestic flights or the overnight train to Lao Cai. Vietnam issued more than 4 million e-visas in 2025 (up 30% year-on-year) and had already approved 2.5 million more in just the first half of 2026, so demand -- and the queue -- is only getting heavier through the autumn booking window.

Ha Long Bay, and its quieter neighbour

Ha Long Bay's roughly 1,600 limestone karsts remain the reason most itineraries start in Quang Ninh province, and an overnight cruise is still the standard way to see them: junk boats loop through Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha bays as well as Ha Long proper, with kayaking stops, cave visits and a sunrise on deck built into most two-day packages. If you want fewer boats in your photos, look northeast to Bai Tu Long Bay itself. Conde Nast Traveller named it third on its "7 Wonders of Southeast Asia for 2026" list, published 25 March 2026 via Vietnam's own government news portal, describing it as "a more tranquil, less crowded, but just-as-beautiful alternative" to its famous neighbour, and recommending small boutique cruises over large-scale ones. The bay borders Bai Tu Long National Park and a string of islands worth building a multi-day loop around -- Co To, Cai Chien, Vinh Trung, Vinh Thuc -- plus Tra Co Beach near the Chinese border.

For a shorter, land-based day in Ha Long city itself, budget lightly: the Quang Ninh Museum and Library charges around US$1.20 for adults, and the 3D Funny Art Museum inside the Bai Chay Marine Plaza is a rainy-day filler. The real cost of a Ha Long trip is the boat, not the shore attractions -- expect prices to swing hard between a budget day-cruise and a multi-night luxury junk, so compare inclusions (meals, kayak rental, cave entry fees) rather than the headline price alone.

Sapa and Fansipan: the roof of Indochina, twenty-five minutes up

Four to five hours by limousine van from Hanoi (via the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway, which cut the old eight-to-ten-hour drive), Sapa is the base for Fansipan, at 3,143 metres the highest peak in Indochina. The Sun World Fansipan Legend cable car -- a Guinness World Record holder for a three-rope system, climbing 1,410 metres over a 6,292.5-metre span -- gets you to a summit that used to require a two-to-three-day, 40-kilometre trek in about 25 minutes. A combo ticket covering the cable car plus the vintage Muong Hoa Valley train from Sapa town starts around US$50 for an adult and US$40 for a child. At the top, a flag-raising ceremony runs on weekends and holidays, and a 21.5-metre, 62-tonne copper Amitabha Buddha statue anchors a small temple complex. Nearby, May Village runs cultural shows from five local ethnic groups twice daily, at 9:30-11:30am and 1:50-4:00pm.

Seasonally, spring brings cherry and plum blossom, late April into early summer brings azaleas, summer stays under 20 degrees Celsius at altitude even when Hanoi is sweltering, and autumn -- the "golden season" -- lights up the rice terraces around Sapa town, which is the pull for most people planning a trip in the current August booking window for a September or October arrival.

Which airport you land at now matters more

Long Thanh International, southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, is one of the four airports newly added to the e-visa list under Resolution 389/NQ-CP, alongside Noi Bai in Hanoi, which was already on it. That matters for itinerary planning more than it sounds: a route that flies into Hanoi for the Ha Long/Sapa loop and out through Long Thanh after a separate leg further south -- Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, a beach stop in Da Nang -- no longer forces you to double back through the same gate you arrived at, since both ends of that loop are now confirmed e-visa entry and exit points under the same resolution. Land-border travellers connecting onward to Cambodia or Laos get the same benefit: eleven more crossings now accept the e-visa, so check the current list on evisa.gov.vn before you fix a border town into your route, since the list changed this month and older blog posts and forum threads may still describe the pre-August gate count.

Booking the loop

A realistic first-timer route is Hanoi in, two to three days around Ha Long or Bai Tu Long Bay by boat, back to Hanoi, then a night train or limousine van up to Sapa for two to three days around Fansipan and the terraced villages, before flying out of Hanoi or the newer Long Thanh gateway near Ho Chi Minh City if your onward leg runs south. With the e-visa now valid for 90 days and usable at four times as many entry and exit points as before this month's resolution, that kind of multi-region loop -- or a add-on to Cambodia or Laos and a return through a different border gate -- is far less of an administrative headache than it was even a year ago.

Whichever route you build, sort connectivity before the trip lands on you at a rural checkpoint with patchy signal: check Roameo's Vietnam eSIM plans so Ha Long's boat wifi gaps and Sapa's mountain coverage don't leave you stranded on the train-booking app. As with any network we resell, coverage and speed track the local carrier and your handset, not a guarantee from us -- check device compatibility before you fly.

FAQ

Do I need a new e-visa if I already have one for a past Vietnam trip?

Yes. Vietnam's e-visa is tied to a specific entry and exit point and a specific trip window; it is not a multi-trip credential across separate visits unless you specifically purchased the multiple-entry 90-day version. Apply again for a new trip, and double check your chosen entry/exit border gate is on the current list of 83 before you submit.

How much does the Vietnam e-visa cost in 2026?

The official government fee, charged only through evisa.gov.vn or thithucdientu.gov.vn, is US$25 for a single-entry 90-day e-visa and US$50 for multiple entry. Third-party sites that charge more are not the official channel -- use only the two government domains.

Is Bai Tu Long Bay worth adding to a Ha Long Bay itinerary?

If your schedule allows an extra day or two, yes -- it borders Ha Long Bay to the northeast, shares the same limestone-karst scenery, and draws noticeably fewer large cruise groups, which is precisely why Conde Nast Traveller flagged it as one of Southeast Asia's seven wonders for 2026.

What's the best time of year to see Fansipan's summit clearly?

Autumn (roughly September through November) gives the clearest combination of dry weather and the golden rice-terrace views Sapa is known for; mornings on the cable car tend to catch cloud drifting through the valley, while early afternoon extends into sunset colour if visibility holds.