Vietnam is moving further toward the digitization of its entry formalities.
Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR), the main air gateway to the Nha Trang region, has now been added to Vietnam’s Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) system. This digital arrival card allows foreign travelers to submit certain information before reaching Vietnam, helping streamline immigration procedures upon arrival.
The addition of Cam Ranh is part of the gradual expansion of the system launched in spring 2026 by the Immigration Department under Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security. The PAI system was first piloted at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City starting April 15, 2026. Vietnamese authorities said at the time that the system would later be deployed at other international airports across the country.
Since that initial trial in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has been expanding the system step by step. PAI was first extended to Phu Quoc (PQC), then to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport (HAN) and Da Nang Airport (DAD). With the addition of Cam Ranh / Nha Trang, the system now covers several of the country’s major air entry points, serving both business travelers and international tourists.
A declaration to complete before traveling to Vietnam
In practical terms, travelers arriving through Cam Ranh / Nha Trang can now select this entry point on the official Pre-Arrival Information portal operated by Vietnam Immigration.
The PAI system allows foreign travelers to enter their personal details, travel information and certain information related to their stay in Vietnam online. Once the declaration is submitted, the portal generates a QR code that travelers should keep on their phone or print out, so it can be presented during entry procedures.
According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, the declaration can be completed from a computer, smartphone or any other connected device within the three days before entering Vietnam. Authorities present the system as a way to reduce waiting times at immigration checkpoints, particularly during periods of heavy traffic.
Pre-Arrival Information does not replace a visa for Vietnam
Vietnam has emphasized that Pre-Arrival Information is not a visa application. It does not, on its own, change the entry rules that apply based on a traveler’s nationality.
Travelers who need a visa to visit Vietnam must still obtain the appropriate document before departure, including through the electronic visa (e-Visa) system when eligible. Nationals who benefit from a visa exemption remain subject to the usual conditions regarding length of stay, passport validity and purpose of travel.
PAI is an additional step alongside these formalities. It is therefore closer to a digital arrival card than to an electronic travel authorization or an e-Visa.
VisasNews Take
The addition of Cam Ranh to the Pre-Arrival Information system confirms that Vietnam is moving quickly toward a more digital management of international arrivals. For travelers, the measure should not be seen as making entry formalities more complicated, but rather as one more step to anticipate before departure, much like an online arrival card.
The key point is to keep the different procedures clearly separate: PAI helps facilitate the immigration process, but it does not replace a visa, a visa exemption or the entry conditions that apply to each nationality. For a tourism destination such as Nha Trang, which attracts many international visitors, this expansion mainly shows that Vietnam wants to make arrivals smoother while modernizing its border checks.
