Last verified: August 26, 2026
Quick Answer
Yes — Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports can now use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy.
From August 20, 2026, China added Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan to the policy, increasing the number of eligible countries to 57.
Eligible Vietnamese travelers can enter through any of China’s 65 designated ports and stay within the permitted areas for up to 240 hours (10 days).
But there is one very important condition:
You must be transiting through mainland China on your way to a third country or region.
This is not simply 10 days of visa-free tourism for a Vietnam–China–Vietnam trip.
How Does the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Work?
The easiest way to understand it is:
Country/Region A → Mainland China → Country/Region B
Your itinerary must show that you are transiting mainland China on your way to a third country or region.
For example:
| Itinerary | 240-hour transit? |
|---|---|
| Hanoi → Beijing → Hanoi | ❌ No |
| Ho Chi Minh City → Shanghai → Ho Chi Minh City | ❌ No |
| Hanoi → Beijing → Tokyo | ✅ Potentially |
| Ho Chi Minh City → Shanghai → Seoul | ✅ Potentially |
| Hanoi → Guangzhou → Hong Kong | ✅ Potentially |
“Potentially” matters: you must still satisfy the other requirements of the policy.
What Changed on August 20, 2026?
China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) officially added Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan to the 240-hour visa-free transit policy from August 20, 2026.
Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports and interline passenger tickets with confirmed dates and itineraries to a third country or region may enter visa-free through any of the 65 designated ports, including ports in Beijing and Shanghai.
They may remain within the designated areas for no more than 240 hours.
The addition of Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan increased the number of nationalities covered by the policy from 55 to 57.
This Does NOT Mean “Vietnamese Can Visit China Visa-Free for 10 Days”
This distinction is important.
If your trip is:
Hanoi → Beijing → Hanoi
the 240-hour transit policy does not apply.
But:
Hanoi → Beijing → Tokyo
could potentially qualify.
So the important question isn’t:
“Am I staying in China for fewer than 10 days?”
It is:
“Am I transiting mainland China on my way to a third country or region?”
Travelers must also stay within the designated areas covered by the policy. The 240-hour scheme does not automatically allow unrestricted travel throughout mainland China.
Can You Sightsee During the 240 Hours?
Yes.
This isn’t merely an airport layover policy.
Eligible travelers may use their stay for short-term activities including:
- tourism;
- business;
- visits; and
- family visits.
Employment, study and news reporting are not covered and still require the appropriate visa or prior approval.
So a flight through China can potentially become a genuine stopover — several days exploring Beijing, Shanghai or another eligible destination before continuing your journey.
Vietnamese Citizens Also Get 30 Days Visa-Free in Hainan
This is the second major change announced on August 20 — and it is a completely separate policy.
Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports are now also eligible for China’s 30-day visa-free entry policy for Hainan Province.
Eligible Vietnamese travelers may enter through Hainan’s open ports and remain within the administrative region of Hainan Province for up to 30 days.
Most importantly, the NIA announcement does not impose the third-country transit requirement that applies to the 240-hour policy.
So:
Vietnam → Hainan → Vietnam
can potentially qualify under the separate Hainan visa-free policy.
240-Hour Transit vs Hainan Visa-Free Entry
| 240-Hour Transit | Hainan Visa-Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese ordinary passport | ✅ | ✅ |
| Maximum stay | 240 hours | 30 days |
| Third country/region required | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Travel area | Designated permitted areas | Hainan Province |
| Tourism allowed | ✅ | ✅ |
What Should You Prepare?
For 240-hour visa-free transit, travelers should have:
- a valid ordinary passport;
- an onward ticket with a confirmed date and itinerary to a third country or region;
- accommodation information; and
- details of their China itinerary.
Your onward travel arrangements are particularly important because they demonstrate that you are actually transiting through China.
Final admission remains subject to immigration inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Vietnamese citizens visit China without a visa in 2026?
Yes, under certain policies. From August 20, 2026, Vietnamese ordinary-passport holders became eligible for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the separate 30-day Hainan visa-free entry policy.
Can I fly Hanoi → Beijing → Hanoi without a visa?
Not under the 240-hour transit policy. You must be traveling through mainland China to a third country or region.
Can I fly Vietnam → China → Japan or South Korea?
Potentially yes. If your itinerary and entry port meet the requirements, this is the type of third-country transit itinerary the policy is designed for.
Can I leave the airport and go sightseeing?
Yes. Tourism is permitted, provided you remain within the designated areas and comply with the policy.
Can Vietnamese citizens visit Hainan without continuing to another country?
Yes, potentially. The separate Hainan policy allows eligible Vietnamese ordinary-passport holders to enter Hainan and remain within Hainan Province for up to 30 days without the 240-hour policy’s third-country transit requirement.
Can I work or study during the visa-free stay?
No. Work, study and news reporting still require the appropriate visa or prior approval.
ChinaTravelBUG’s Take
There are now two different rules Vietnamese travelers should know:
Vietnam → Mainland China → Third Country/Region = potentially up to 240 hours visa-free.
And separately:
Vietnam → Hainan → Vietnam = potentially up to 30 days visa-free in Hainan.
That second rule is easy to miss because it was announced at the same time as the 240-hour transit change.
For Vietnamese travelers, the August 20, 2026 changes make short trips and China stopovers considerably easier.
But don’t remember the headline simply as:
“Vietnamese can now visit China visa-free for 10 days.”
That’s misleading.
Dad’s advice: check your exact route, entry port and permitted stay area against the latest official rules before buying non-refundable tickets.
Official sources:
National Immigration Administration (NIA), Announcement No. 4 of 2026:
https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147468/c217849/content.html
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Vietnam, August 20, 2026 notice:
https://vn.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsyw/202608/t20260820_12007534.htm
Immigration rules can change. This article provides general travel information and is not immigration or legal advice.
Last verified: August 26, 2026.
