Do Vietnam passport holders need a visa to visit NL?

Yes, a visa is required. Vietnamese ordinary passport holders must obtain a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa before traveling to the Netherlands for tourism. ETIAS does NOT apply to Vietnam. The Netherlands is part of the Schengen Area, and Vietnam is not on the EU's visa-exempt list. A holder of an ordinary Vietnamese passport must apply for a Schengen short-stay (Category C) visa before any tourist trip to the Netherlands. Applications are lodged in Vietnam through VFS Global centres in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City on behalf of the Netherlands embassy. The visa permits stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area. The standard fee is EUR 90 for adults (plus a VFS Global service charge), with reduced or waived fees for children. Standard processing is about 15 calendar days but can take up to 45 days in busy periods, so applicants are advised to apply at least 3 weeks (and no more than 6 months) before travel. ETIAS — the EU's new travel authorisation expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026 — applies only to visa-exempt nationalities; Vietnam is not among them, so Vietnamese travelers will continue to need a full Schengen visa. Note: the Netherlands recognises the blue Vietnamese biometric passport only if the place of birth appears on the personal-details page; otherwise a supplementary stamp from Vietnamese authorities is required.