The Vietnam Grand Prix has been cancelled twice now, but it may take place in 2022 or 2023, so get your visa sorted out in advance if you want to attend.
The Vietnam Grand Prix initially featured on the 2020 Formula 1 calendar for the first time but it could not take place due to the corona pandemic. The Grand Prix was then re-scheduled for 2021, but dropped again. If the Vietnam Grand Prix does make it back on the Formula 1 calendar this year and you want to attend, get your tickets in time and apply for a Vietnam visa in advance.
Planned Vietnam Formula 1 Grand Prix
The Vietnam GP would be the fifth in the series of races in East Asia. Grands Prix have already taken place in Malaysia, Singapore, China and Japan. The new race was announced in November 2018 and would be held in Vietnam for the first time on 5 April 2020, following on from the Singapore GP.
However, measures related to the coronavirus pandemic threw a spanner in the works, initially postponing the planned 2020 GP. On 16 October the final cancellation for 2020 was announced.
The Grand Prix could not take place in Vietnam in 2021 either as it was removed from the racing calendar for the 2021 season due to an arrest of Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung. He was arrested in August 2020 for fraud. Chung was heavily involved in the organisation of the F1 race
Hanoi Street Circuit, Hanoi, Vietnam
The Grand Prix was to be held on a temporary street circuit of just over 5.5 kilometres in the suburbs of Hanoi, on the Hanoi Street Circuit. The drivers would have to drive 55 laps to complete the race. A special feature of the circuit is that it must be driven counter-clockwise. The circuit contains 23 bends.
Whether the Grand Prix will get a place on the 2022 Formula 1 calendar is still unclear, but Formula 1 still considers it a good option. A lot of money has been invested in the infrastructure, which is fully equipped for the race.
Apply for a Vietnam visa
Should the Grand Prix of Vietnam be added to the racing calendar in the coming year, make sure you are there by getting tickets for the GP and a flight to the capital, Hanoi, in time. You will also need to apply for a Vietnam visa. You don’t need much time to apply for the Vietnam visa. That’s because since 2018, there is the possibility to apply for the Vietnam visa completely online.
To be allowed to travel to Vietnam, you will have to meet a number of requirements. British nationals are part of a select group that can stay in Vietnam for up to 15 days without needing a visa. Since that is a relatively short amount of time, most travellers still end up applying for a visa, which also grants more flexibility when planning your trip. Should your stay exceed the 15 day limit, you can then still stay in Vietnam if you have a visa.
Carefully read the visa requirements before you start the visa application. The Vietnamese immigration service does not only impose requirements on your nationality, but also on your purpose of travel and passport. In addition, you may only enter and leave the country through a number of locations.
Before 2018, most travellers to Vietnam used the visa on arrival. Before departure, you then bought an approval letter and upon arrival in Vietnam, you then had to pick up a stamping fee at the airport. The embassy of Vietnam advises travellers to apply for an online or physical visa instead of a visa on arrival. With a visa on arrival, there is no guarantee that you will get past the passport control without any problems. Be aware that there are visa agencies active, who claim to arrange a visa Vietnam for you, but actually only provide you with an approval letter, which means you will still have to wait in line for your stamping fee in Vietnam all the same.
