With Vietnam now apparently open with similar requirements as Cambodia, which is better for a "border run", Vietnam or Cambodia?

[BangkokReady]

As the title says, Vietnam is apparently now open with only a pre-flight RT-PCR test within 72 hours of arrival, with visas returning to pre-covid procedures.  This means it is, in theory, just as east to get into Vietnam as it is to get into Cambodia.  With that in mind, which place is better to go to get a new visa for Thailand?  Vietnam or Cambodia?

 

My instinct is to say Vietnam, based on which place is nicer to visit (I especially miss the coffee), but what about getting a visa?  Is one country known for being easier on foreigners trying to get visas for Thailand?

 

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/foreign-visitors-can-travel-freely-with-negative-covid-test-health-ministry-4439344.html

[Onerak]

Are US passport holders allowed visa free entry into Vietnam? If so, I would say vietnam is better for $100 round trip.

[Caldera]

5 minutes ago, Onerak said:

Are US passport holders allowed visa free entry into Vietnam?

No, but they can apply for an eVisa for $25.

[vinci]

Quote

Are US passport holders allowed visa free entry into Vietnam

no

[Caldera]

28 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Is one country known for being easier on foreigners trying to get visas for Thailand?

Historically, the Thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and the Thai embassy in Hanoi used to be quite friendly, while the same cannot be said about the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh. If you're talking about tourist visas for people who have spent a lot of time in Thailand, that is.

 

What it's like now is anyone's guess.

Edited March 17, 2022 by Caldera

[BangkokReady]

9 minutes ago, Caldera said:

Historically, the Thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and the Thai embassy in Hanoi used to be quite friendly, while the same cannot be said about the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh. If you're talking about tourist visas for people who have spent a lot of time in Thailand, that is.

 

What it's like now is anyone's guess.

I had a theory about this, many years ago, when comparing the ease of getting visas in Cambodia vs. Laos.  I wondered if maybe Thailand wanted people to do their visa runs in Laos rather than Cambodia (for whatever reason) and therefore made it easier to get them in the former and harder in the latter.  No idea if that is the case though.

 

If this is somewhere near being true, hopefully this will continue to be the case now.

Edited March 17, 2022 by BangkokReady

[DrJack54]

It's a no brainer.

Saigon consulate is  small efficient and helpful.

For TV from Saigon consulate you submit AM application and pick up PM next day. 

Not to mention district 1 , Bui Vien is nice.

Phnom Penh not so, imo.

I haven't seen the details of what's required to enter Vietnam. 

I realize there is a link above.

Being Oz we need a visa. 

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by DrJack54

[DrJack54]

43 minutes ago, Caldera said:

No, but they can apply for an eVisa for $25.

Things must have changed.

Previously USA folk could obtain a multiple entry one year tv.

Only country that could.

They have no visa exempt entry.

Seems they can obtain eVisa. Is that single entry 30 day? 

Edited March 17, 2022 by DrJack54

[Onerak]

Does HCM offer 90-day Non-O for retirement? If so, what are the requirements? 

[BangkokReady]

28 minutes ago, Onerak said:

Does HCM offer 90-day Non-O for retirement? If so, what are the requirements? 

https://hochiminh.thaiembassy.org/en/page/cate-7425-announcement-|-thông-báo-mới-nhất-về-thị-thực?menu=5d80ab3215e39c2fe800a722

[connda]

So the new trick isn't getting out of Thailand, but getting back in.  Still isn't ready for visa runs.

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, connda said:

So the new trick isn't getting out of Thailand, but getting back in.  Still isn't ready for visa runs.

I agree.

IMO the covid extensions will continue after March 25, however that doesn't help everyone.

Some now have no options apart from an exit.

Bit crazy in my thinking untill some land borders open.

[audaciousnomad]

Cambodia announced it will be opening land borders. But there is no indication that Thailand will reciprocate.  If they do, Cambodia will be easier than Vietnam.

[audaciousnomad]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Things must have changed.

Previously USA folk could obtain a multiple entry one year tv.

Only country that could.

They have no visa exempt entry.

Seems they can obtain eVisa. Is that single entry 30 day? 

The one year is still available. I know of someone who got it this week, but they applied at the Vietnamese consulate in San Francisco, California.

Edited March 17, 2022 by audaciousnomad

[audaciousnomad]

1 hour ago, Onerak said:

Are US passport holders allowed visa free entry into Vietnam? If so, I would say vietnam is better for $100 round trip.

No free visas for Vietnam.

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Things must have changed.

Previously USA folk could obtain a multiple entry one year tv.

Only country that could.

They have no visa exempt entry.

Seems they can obtain eVisa. Is that single entry 30 day? 

The eVisa is for 30 days and single entry, correct. It's the cheapest option for those who cannot enter visa exempt. All the other pre-Covid visa options such as the multi entry visa you've mentioned should also be available again.

[WEBBYB808]

2 hours ago, Onerak said:

Are US passport holders allowed visa free entry into Vietnam? If so, I would say vietnam is better for $100 round trip.

Cost you more than that.  Is insurance still required?  Is the SHA + and PCR still mandatory?  

[shdmn]

28 minutes ago, WEBBYB808 said:

Cost you more than that.  Is insurance still required?  Is the SHA + and PCR still mandatory?  

For Vietnam, my understanding is only supervised antigen test 24hrs before or RT-PCR test 72hrs before is required.  No quarantine hotel required but I think you need 10k covid insurance.

Edited March 17, 2022 by shdmn

[BangkokReady]

25 minutes ago, WEBBYB808 said:

Cost you more than that.  Is insurance still required?  Is the SHA + and PCR still mandatory?  

It sounds like you still need pre-departure test, insurance and day one test with stay in quarantine style hotel to enter Thailand.

 

There's supposedly going to be some sort of discussion on Friday about reducing the entry requirements though.  Possibly reduced insurance and no test on entry, but we'll have to see what they actually come up with.

 

If they want to compete with now Cambodia and Vietnam, they need to drop something.

[CG1 Blue]

10 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

It sounds like you still need pre-departure test, insurance and day one test with stay in quarantine style hotel to enter Thailand.

 

There's supposedly going to be some sort of discussion on Friday about reducing the entry requirements though.  Possibly reduced insurance and no test on entry, but we'll have to see what they actually come up with.

 

If they want to compete with now Cambodia and Vietnam, they need to drop something.

Rumour has it the discussion on Friday will be about dropping the pre-departure test, not the test on entry. So the risk of testing positive on entry would still remain, putting off the vast majority of travellers to Thailand.

Great opportunity for Cambodia/Vietnam to attract all the would-be Thailand tourists. 

[Daithi85]

4 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

Rumour has it the discussion on Friday will be about dropping the pre-departure test, not the test on entry. So the risk of testing positive on entry would still remain, putting off the vast majority of travellers to Thailand.

Great opportunity for Cambodia/Vietnam to attract all the would-be Thailand tourists. 

Most tourists who go to Cambodia usually start off in Thailand, until Thailand opens up fully cambodia ain't gonna see much tourist action. 

[aussiexpat]

Vietnam is a great option if you're one of the 13 countries who don't require a visa (a 24 hr prior departure ATK is all that's required)

 

(I'm thinking US, Australia and New Zealand may not yet be forgiven for the 50 years ago Vietnam War?)

 

"Vietnam’s government on March 15 agreed to resume its visa exemption policy for 13 countries for up to 15 days regardless of the purpose of entry. This applies to citizens of Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the UK"

 

https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/covid-19-vietnam-travel-updates-restrictions.html/

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by aussiexpat

[Lemsta69]

land borders are open now? cool ????

[ubonjoe]

19 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

land borders are open now? cool ????

No

Maybe Malaysia and Laos soon. But it will not be easy.

[DrJack54]

7 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

I was at cnx immig today and the volunteers would disagree with your post

When an immigration officer suggests anything relating to covid extensions just disregard it.

As for volunteers, lucky to find their way to the immigration office.

 

When folk suggest in forum if CE will continue or not it's just guess work.

Everyone has an opinion.

I think they will be continued.

One more time would see it out. imo.

Edited March 18, 2022 by DrJack54

[problemfarang]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

No

Maybe Malaysia and Laos soon. But it will not be easy.

 

Sorry to ask but what do you mean by not easy? Do you mean like to decide to open or not OR like crossing the border. I asked because might need a trip to laos soon. Thnx

Edited March 18, 2022 by problemfarang

[BangkokReady]

8 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

Rumour has it the discussion on Friday will be about dropping the pre-departure test, not the test on entry.

Crazy.  The pre-departure is logical and airlines might even ask for it regardless.  The test upon arrival with the associated hotel stay is the one that needs to go.

[Homburg]

2 hours ago, Daithi85 said:

Most tourists who go to Cambodia usually start off in Thailand, until Thailand opens up fully cambodia ain't gonna see much tourist action. 

I have just spent a month in Phnom Penh and can verify that there are many, many tourists there.  As an example The Big Easy in Street 172 is PACKED every night.  I expect that Siem Reap (Angkor) may be even busier than Phnom Penh.  

I guess that the tourists who would usually start in Thailand are just by-passing it until the nonsense ends.  I personally know of two potential tourists from UK who both tried more than once to get a Thailand Pass, kept getting rejected and gave up. 

I arrived at PNH (from LHR via BKK), was given a FREE rapid test on arrival.  It was negative and so 15 minutes later I was outside in the sunshine starting my holiday. ????

No quarantine for the vaccinated.????

No enforced hotel stays.????

No expensive tests.????

The bars are open and they can serve alcohol. ????????????????????????

 

 

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, Homburg said:

.  It was negative and so 15 minutes later I was outside in the sunshine starting my holiday

First up...thanks for the report.

So with regards your negative test. What happens if it's positive? 

[sometimewoodworker]

33 minutes ago, problemfarang said:

Sorry to ask but what do you mean by not easy?

Easy was rocking up to the border filling in a form for your visa then toddling across time, about 10 minutes cost about 1,500 Baht, on return nothing.

 

not easy, covid test & insurance before, possible covid test after, then to return covid test & insurance before & after entry covid test with compulsory hotel stay and possible 2nd test requirements. All that along with a potential 2 week stay on either side if the after tests are positive.