Vietnam Visa Info

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

I have seen an on-line agency quoting me $16 for the letter plus $45 for the visa. Are there any other costs(no surprises)? I'm planning on flying from Bangkook to either Hanoi or Saigon on August 1st.

No surprise costs. When you apply, you have to give them a destination and date, plus length of stay. I just did it a couple of weeks ago. Costs the same as you state. Tip: print out the visa application and fill it out before you go. Don't forget to print out the approval letter too. Also, try to get an airline seat upfront so you can get out and get to the visa counter quickly. But don't expect fast service.

[spidermike007]

Vietnam is communist. That means they love difficulty and red tape. Easy is not in their vocabulary. Neither is convenient. If you have a choice between the north or the South, pick the South. People are more pleasant. Not the pissy, unpleasant buttheads found in the north.

Spidermike007

[MakNguyen]

Nationals of these countries listed below may visit Vietnam without visa for a period of time.

1. Citizens of Brunei are exempted to stay in Vietnam within 14 days without visa.

2. Citizens of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos are exempted to stay in Vietnam within 30 days without visa.

3. Citizens of Philippines are exempted to stay in Vietnam within 21 days without visa.

4. Citizens of Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia and Finland are exempted to stay within 15 days without visa.

5. Citizens of France, Chile holding valid diplomatic or official passports are exempted to stay within 90 days or several visits of 6 months as from the date of arrival.

6. APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Holders from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies are exempted to stay within 60 days without visa.

7. For those who travel to Phu Quoc Island – Vietnam and stay there within 15 days are exempted without visa. If they want to visit other provinces or stay there more than 15 days, the Immigration Department will be responsible for issuing visas right on the spot. Source: here

[TSF]

"7. For those who travel to Phu Quoc Island Vietnam and stay there within 15 days are exempted without visa. If they want to visit other provinces or stay there more than 15 days, the Immigration Department will be responsible for issuing visas right on the spot."

Sorry I can't make head nor tail of this. Could some kind soul please explain to me. Does this mean someone can visit Phu Quoc Island for up to 15 days without having to obtain a tourist visa for Vietnam? If so can you reach this island from any port not in Vietnam?

[harleyclarkey]

Any views on the agencies t hat issue a letter to get your tourist visa at the airport. They charge about $20 and then $45 as the fee when you arrive to immigration at the airport.

Real....or a scam! The Gov site says they are not genuine yet reviews say it works.

Also...any update on one month tourist fees in Bangkok embassy...their site is broken! Do they have a one day turn around......some here say yes and others say no.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Any views on the agencies t hat issue a letter to get your tourist visa at the airport. They charge about $20 and then $45 as the fee when you arrive to immigration at the airport.

Real....or a scam! The Gov site says they are not genuine yet reviews say it works.

Also...any update on one month tourist fees in Bangkok embassy...their site is broken! Do they have a one day turn around......some here say yes and others say no.

I have not read any reports of people with visa letters from the online sites being refused their visa at the VN airports. I've done it myself twice now as have many of my friends.

A check of Vietnam embassy sites in several countries over the last year shows many of them incomplete, unfinished or simply broken. Vietnam should be embarrassed.

[harleyclarkey]

Any views on the agencies t hat issue a letter to get your tourist visa at the airport. They charge about $20 and then $45 as the fee when you arrive to immigration at the airport.

Real....or a scam! The Gov site says they are not genuine yet reviews say it works.

Also...any update on one month tourist fees in Bangkok embassy...their site is broken! Do they have a one day turn around......some here say yes and others say no.

I have not read any reports of people with visa letters from the online sites being refused their visa at the VN airports. I've done it myself twice now as have many of my friends.

A check of Vietnam embassy sites in several countries over the last year shows many of them incomplete, unfinished or simply broken. Vietnam should be embarrassed.

Thanks KB for reply...I'll run with an agency and get the invite letter.

What worried me was that the Vietnamese embassy in BKK clearly warns against this.

My guess is that theses site take the visa fee away from the embassy to be paid direct at the airport.

The fee for me here in Ireland through the UK embassy is £54 plus all the reg post costs....about £75 in total.

[NativeSon360]

The same day processing isn't available for tourist visas - you must wait the minimum of 3 or 4 days to get this - so it summary if you want to make visa runs to live in Vietnam you'll be out of the country for 4 days every month . . . a bit of a pain in the butt!

This is not necessarily true. I lived in Vietnam for 18 months without needing to leave. Just before my original one month tourist visa expired I took my passport to a travel agency who obtained on my behalf a 6 month multiple entry visa. Every 6 months I repeated the process.

It was not "necessarily" (whatever that means) true for you (count your blessings). The right amount of Dinaro will buy you anything, even in a rigid, stick-up-the-arse, bureaucratic communist country! Vietnam is a beautiful country to visit, especially along the seacoast cities. However, residing there is totally different, and very complicated game to play. No thanks,. I'll stick with Thailand, a place where many Vietnamese people (themselves) are attempting to migrate, by the millions. Go figure

Edited December 5, 2014 by NativeSon360

[thaitakeaway]

Latest on tourist visa application at embassy in BKK. Office itself opens around 8 AM but clerks start work at 9 AM. No ticket system.

Today's cost was 3000 THB, with pickup tomorrow at 4 PM; though I was 2nd in the queue (irrelevant) there was no chance of getting it this arvo.

What a WTVD (Welcome to Vietnam, Dude). Otherwise known as my first taste of corruption?

By the way, does anyone know of any good places to hangout visit/travel safely in the country for a fortnight? I'm a 50-something going on 67 year old Aussie, tired of the LOS after 2 months.

[rebeccadang]

I saw that many people here booked Vietnam visa on arrival through travel agents.

Can you suggest me some reliable companies offering reasonable visa service?

[dabhand]

Looks like visiting Vietnam just became a bit easier for five European countries:

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/vietnam-to-scrap-visas-for-five-european-countries-in-july

The visa-free travel policy will be applicable to German, French, British, Italian, and Spanish visitors.

Vietnam currently applies a one-sided free-visa policy to eight countries, including Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, and Belarus.

[bartender100]

Booked to go in November to Vietnam, has any UK citizen been recently? is nothing is required except turn up with passport?

https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/united-kingdom-citizens/

Or do you still need a visa but its free? as it would seem on below link

http://vietnamembassy.org.uk/index.php?action=p&ct=Notice2

[professor21]

with a US passport what's the cheapest visa and transportation to Ho Chi Minh City from Bangkok? I think the embassy in Bangkok is only open 2-4 and maybe in the morning

[Too]

Booked to go in November to Vietnam, has any UK citizen been recently? is nothing is required except turn up with passport?

https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/united-kingdom-citizens/

Or do you still need a visa but its free? as it would seem on below link

http://vietnamembassy.org.uk/index.php?action=p&ct=Notice2

You'll be requested to show the IO an onward ticket if you arrive in VN

by air on a visa-exempt stamp, which is for free.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Too

[Too]

with a US passport what's the cheapest visa and transportation to Ho Chi Minh City from Bangkok? I think the embassy in Bangkok is only open 2-4 and maybe in the morning

It'd be cheapest to get a promo fare for Air Asia or VietJet.

[doctor pat]

just sharing my experience in Pakse at the Vietnamese consulate

its located in the touristy area where most of the hotels are, no need to get a tuktuk

open monday to friday, AM and PM but they have a long lunch break

I walked in. no one else there. no queing

they asked me where i was from, i said UK he explained about the new visa waiver for 15 days, but i reply that i want to spend longer time in vietnam than that

i though i could get a 1 month visa and asked about that and if i could extend it in country. he told me no problem, but i could have either a 1, 2 or 3 month visa, and then said they were all the same price

of course i asked for a 3 month. it was $70 to get back in 2 days, or $80 for same day. gave them $80 and walked out with 3 month single entry visa, after 5 minutes wait

theres an overnight bus BKK to Pakse, and an overnight bus from Pakse to Danang, so you could get to Pakse in the morning, get visa in afternoon and be on the overnight bus into Vietnam. or pakse has an airport,

all in all it was a very easy visa to obtain

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

just sharing my experience in Pakse at the Vietnamese consulate

its located in the touristy area where most of the hotels are, no need to get a tuktuk

open monday to friday, AM and PM but they have a long lunch break

I walked in. no one else there. no queing

they asked me where i was from, i said UK he explained about the new visa waiver for 15 days, but i reply that i want to spend longer time in vietnam than that

i though i could get a 1 month visa and asked about that and if i could extend it in country. he told me no problem, but i could have either a 1, 2 or 3 month visa, and then said they were all the same price

of course i asked for a 3 month. it was $70 to get back in 2 days, or $80 for same day. gave them $80 and walked out with 3 month single entry visa, after 5 minutes wait

theres an overnight bus BKK to Pakse, and an overnight bus from Pakse to Danang, so you could get to Pakse in the morning, get visa in afternoon and be on the overnight bus into Vietnam. or pakse has an airport,

all in all it was a very easy visa to obtain

Good report. You didn't happen to ask the cost of a 3-month multi-entry visa?

[Too]

just sharing my experience in Pakse at the Vietnamese consulate

its located in the touristy area where most of the hotels are, no need to get a tuktuk

open monday to friday, AM and PM but they have a long lunch break

I walked in. no one else there. no queing

they asked me where i was from, i said UK he explained about the new visa waiver for 15 days, but i reply that i want to spend longer time in vietnam than that

i though i could get a 1 month visa and asked about that and if i could extend it in country. he told me no problem, but i could have either a 1, 2 or 3 month visa, and then said they were all the same price

of course i asked for a 3 month. it was $70 to get back in 2 days, or $80 for same day. gave them $80 and walked out with 3 month single entry visa, after 5 minutes wait

theres an overnight bus BKK to Pakse, and an overnight bus from Pakse to Danang, so you could get to Pakse in the morning, get visa in afternoon and be on the overnight bus into Vietnam. or pakse has an airport,

all in all it was a very easy visa to obtain

WOW, this is good to know. It's such a good deal.

Last year I applied for a 3-month single-entry VOA. I first

paid US$30 to a travel agency for an approval letter on-line

and then US$45 upon arrival at Sai Gon airport plus the

air-fare from BKK.

I heard that you could extend your 15-day VISA-EXEMPT

entry for 15 days at one of travel agencies licensed by

the government once you're in VN but must show an

onward ticket when applying for one. You could pay

more to get away with it, though.

You can extend your VISA once you're in the country

no problem. I know some Western expats who have

entered VN on a 3-month visa and extended it three

times to stay in the country for a total of 1 year without

even having to leave the country once.

[doctor pat]

I ticked the box for multi entry visa. but the Consulate guy came back and told me i coudn't have a multi entry, only single

[Too]

I ticked the box for multi entry visa. but the Consulate guy came back and told me i coudn't have a multi entry, only single

Maybe you'd try the VN Embassy in Phnom Penh or the Consulate in Sihanoukville,

Cambodia. I heard they are among the best to apply for VN visas. I hope they still

are after the new immigration rules have been implemented this year.

[Too]

Hello,

I heard the news that the VN VOA fees (stamping fees) go down,

starting next Monday on 23 Nov.2015.

Both a 1-month and a 3-month visas with a single entry go down

to US$20 from US$45 in fee accordingly.

Hope the news is true.

[KenNguyen]

Vietnam visa stamping fee has massively reduced from 23rd November 2015, for specific price list you guys may check here:

https://www.vietnam-evisa.org/visa-fee.html

Hot news for those who plan to travel to Vietnam from this year !

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Vietnam visa stamping fee has massively reduced from 23rd November 2015, for specific price list you guys may check here:

https://www.vietnam-evisa.org/visa-fee.html

Hot news for those who plan to travel to Vietnam from this year !

I checked a number of online Viet visa companies. Nearly all have updated their fee structures with the new lower stamping fee.

I wonder if anyone has gone to the Viet embassy in Bangkok to get a visa since the fee cut.

[Cheesekraft]

what is the best way to stay in vietnam for a year and a half without having a business visa?

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Vietnam has made it very hard to stay in the country long-term by restricting visas to 3-month single and multi-entry ones. There are backdoors, which is pretty much how VN operates anyway. Nearly all visas are provided by third parties, otherwise known as agents. Providers have been listed on FB expat sites, such as for Ho Chi Minh and Hoi An/Da Nang. Probably others, too.

Edited January 19, 2016 by Kaoboi Bebobp

[ev1lchris]

Is the Vietnam Embassy / Consulate in Bangkok easy to get to via MRT or BTS?

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Is the Vietnam Embassy / Consulate in Bangkok easy to get to via MRT or BTS?

BTS Chitlom station. Get off on the even-soi side. Walk down Wireless Road. Viet embassy across the street from the massive US embassy.

[PattayaBoy]

You dont have to go to Bangkok

You fill form http://govietnamvisa.com/step_1

Get invitation letter, show it on airport arrival, and they issue visa on arrival

Edited July 26, 2016 by PattayaBoy

[IMA_FARANG]

For anyone in Bangkok, you can get a 30 day Visa for Vietnam at the Vietnamese consulate here in Bangkok on Wireless Road.

Because I am an American it now costs me $25 and takes 2 or 3 days.

Two day service is for what they call "express service", "normal service" takes 3 days which actually means you apply in the morning of the 1st day, and can pick up the completed visa on the afternoon of the 3rd day.

They give you a receipt for your payment on the day of application and hold your passport, the receipt can be shown to the Thai police as proof the Vietnamese embassy has your passport if you are stopped by the police on a passport check in Bangkok.

Vietnam is looking for tourists now, and in my opinion they are friendlier than Thailand towards tourists.

Of course, like any country in Southeast Asia there are still some scams but anyone with a little common sense will soon that find Vietnam has fewer scams than Thailand does.

Last year it was $45, for Americans, but was dropped back to $25 at the beginning of 2016

For those with U.K. passports, I believe a 30 day tourist visa to Vietnam is now free.

the Vietnamese embassy does not yet offer the 3 month visa at least here in Bangkok. but I am told by people in Vietnam you can get a 3 month visa there from an agency in Vietnam, although I have never tried that myself.

[IMA_FARANG]

with a US passport what's the cheapest visa and transportation to Ho Chi Minh City from Bangkok? I think the embassy in Bangkok is only open 2-4 and maybe in the morning

---------------------

I can't remember the exact hour it opens but it opens in the morning for visa applications and then in the afternoon until four for pickups of completed visas.

And yes, things there are changing fast, but they will not yet issue you a 3 month multi entry visa here in Bangkok, at least at present for Americans.

That may be coming soon, since Obama visited Hanoi and had a bowl of Beef Pho soup in a shop there.