Vietnam Tet

[easyride]

Sorry if this is off topic but I need to get a Visa from the Consular section and with TET imminent was wondering if anyone knew when and for how long the embassy (indeed the country) would be closed this year? every number listed on the embassy website has an American voice saying the phone can't be answered, please call back. Ironic.

[PattayaParent]

There is a government declared 9 day public holiday in country this year.

As Tet falls on 23 January and the staff will need to get home in advance of that I'd guess that you're not likely to get anything from them for a week beforehand and a week after.

For visas you might be better using an online service if you can't get down to the Embassy PDQ.

In country besides the 9 day public holiday a lot of places will close for 2 weeks, many for a whole month. This includes places in tourist areas.

Travel during Tet is difficult also as busses, trains etc. will be fully booked out by people returning home.

[tutsiwarrior]

if you can obtain a commercial 'invitation letter' from your host/employer before you travel then you can get a visa on arrival...just show it at the check in and you can board the plane...the visa costs USD50 at the airport in Hanoi...

otherwise beware...Hanoi was like a ghost town last year during TET...most places are closed...I went on an internal flight from Ha Tinh province and wanted to buy some warm clothes and ended up buying a complementary bathrobe from the Melia hotel as nothing else was available to buy...

cold and hungry on the deserted winter streets of Hanoi, brrrrr...

[easyride]

There is a government declared 9 day public holiday in country this year.

As Tet falls on 23 January and the staff will need to get home in advance of that I'd guess that you're not likely to get anything from them for a week beforehand and a week after.

For visas you might be better using an online service if you can't get down to the Embassy PDQ.

In country besides the 9 day public holiday a lot of places will close for 2 weeks, many for a whole month. This includes places in tourist areas.

Travel during Tet is difficult also as busses, trains etc. will be fully booked out by people returning home.

Many thanks for the info. Was wondering about the cost of the visa. Thier embassy site for BKK had a 2004 document saying it was 25 US dollars and you say 50 dollars last year. I'll be battering the Consulate door down this monday morning.

[PattayaParent]

There is a government declared 9 day public holiday in country this year.

As Tet falls on 23 January and the staff will need to get home in advance of that I'd guess that you're not likely to get anything from them for a week beforehand and a week after.

For visas you might be better using an online service if you can't get down to the Embassy PDQ.

In country besides the 9 day public holiday a lot of places will close for 2 weeks, many for a whole month. This includes places in tourist areas.

Travel during Tet is difficult also as busses, trains etc. will be fully booked out by people returning home.

Many thanks for the info. Was wondering about the cost of the visa. Thier embassy site for BKK had a 2004 document saying it was 25 US dollars and you say 50 dollars last year. I'll be battering the Consulate door down this monday morning.

It depends on your nationality and the type of visa you want.

They will automatically assume you want an express visa which is 1,800 Baht I think and you get it same day if you apply early morning. A normal process visa is 1,000 Baht and takes 4 days. I'm going by memory from a few years ago here as I don't need a visa anymore.

An online visa costs $25 to the online agent and $25 on arrival at the airport in Viet Nam.