Vietnam Tourist Visa

[chillibilly]

Does anyone know if a citizen (such as from the USA) can get a tourist visa upon arrival at the airport in Vietnam? I was able to do this 3 years ago; now when I "google" it, I get confusing information. Since my flight is only days away, I am starting to panic that I may have to go to BKK and get the visa.

[NanLaew]

Go to www.stayinvietnam.com

Select the visa you want, complete the online form and pay their fee via their secure website. 48-hours later (maybe sooner) they will email your letter of invitation to you as a pdf file. Print it out and show it when you check in for yr flight to VN. When u arrive in SGN or HAN, go immediately to the visa-on-arrival desk, complete the application form, submit with passport, LOI and picture. A few minutes later they will page you, go pay for the visa, collect your passport and proceed through normal immigration.

With the time difference (assuming u are in the US), I recommend you go online and do the payment NOW so that they process it first thing Monday THEIR TIME and you should have the LOI via email by Tuesday night YOUR TIME.

Edited July 19, 2009 by NanLaew

[lekatai]

Does anyone know if a citizen (such as from the USA) can get a tourist visa upon arrival at the airport in Vietnam? I was able to do this 3 years ago; now when I "google" it, I get confusing information. Since my flight is only days away, I am starting to panic that I may have to go to BKK and get the visa.

No you cannot get a visa on arrival in Vietnam.There are two ways to get it,either from the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok, or what is called a pre-approved visa(described in the above post).If you go to the Vietnamese Embassy in Wireless Road in Bangkok,you can get the visa in 24 hours.I have tried to get a same day service before,and they have always refused. It's simple to do it,just go there,fill out the application form,you need one passport photo, I think from memory the fee is 2400THB for next day service,and you can pick it up after 3 or 4 PM the next day.I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes,and the Embassy staff are quite helpful.

Edited July 19, 2009 by lekatai

[chillibilly]

Thanks for the information. I DID find information on the USA government sight about Vietnam and it said US citizens CANNOT get a tourist visa at the airport; for, the authorities will make you get on the next plane. Thank goodness for reality travel websites from travelors who give tid bits of info that one would not be able to find on formal ones. It was suggested that it would be cheaper to do it on line than going to the Vietnam embassy in Bangkok (also less time consuming) so I got on visa-vietnam.org and it was a simple procedure to go through (as mentioned on a post above).