Vietnamese Consulate in Khon Kaen - Reports?

[NanLaew]

There's a Vietnamese Consulate in Khon Kaen. Has anyone (non-Thai) got any experience with getting a 3-month, multi-entry visa for Vietnam there? Is it a same-day procedure or 2-day like the Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok? Any extra paperwork? Sponsor letters?

I usually go online and get the visa-on-arrival letter but the rugby scrum at the VoA desk at Saigon airport is pretty grim these days, despite having the paperwork all filled in and ready to submit.

Why not in Bangkok? It's an option but I will also be heading up-country next month and it's on my way (and way back).

Thanks,

NL

[Gonsalviz]

Why not ca;ll and ask them?

[NanLaew]

I am not in LOS right now.

Edited April 14, 2014 by NanLaew

[Tomtomtom69]

Yes they issue 3 month multiple entry visas there as easily as at any other Vietnamese consulate Vietnam isn't Thailand. No paperwork is required except for filling in the application form.

[Tomtomtom69]

I forgot to add both Bkk and Khon Kaen can do same day visas even 3 month ones can be issued same day. However they will charge a lot more for the privilege.

[Tomtomtom69]

I agree that Khon Kaen is a better place to get a visathan Bkk mainly because the Bkk embassy has more applicants and is a nuisance to get to due to the traffic whereas Kk is a breeze with the light traffic and you'll probably be the only applicant at the time.

[NanLaew]

I agree that Khon Kaen is a better place to get a visathan Bkk mainly because the Bkk embassy has more applicants and is a nuisance to get to due to the traffic whereas Kk is a breeze with the light traffic and you'll probably be the only applicant at the time.

Thanks for all the info ttt69. I agree that the KK option is probably better, quicker, easier and I will be passing through the area.

[theoldgit]

Flame removed, as well as a couple of reasonable responses.

This is a forum where members share information and their own experiences, if people want advice it's perfectly reasonable that they ask here in the first instance, sarcastic comments are not welcome.

[durhamboy]

There is also a Laotian Consulate in Khon Kaen. This could be useful for getting a tourist visa for Laos because it means that you can get the direct bus from KK straight through to Vientiane without a lot of messing about at the border (they wont let foreigners on the bus without a visa).

I haven't used this consulate but does anyone here have experience of it. Can you get the visa on the same day? If so, how long do you generally have to wait? What is the cost for UK nationals - at the border it is US$35 (actually US$36 at weekends!) - a ridiculous amount really but then so are UK visa costs these days.

Thanks.

[bkkmick]

Sorry for the hijack but can an Irish passport holder get a visa on arrival in Vietnam or do I have to go to their embassy and get one first.

Thanks

Sent from my LG-D802 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[theoldgit]

Sorry for the hijack but can an Irish passport holder get a visa on arrival in Vietnam or do I have to go to their embassy and get one first.

You can get a visa on arrival which is nothing more than a letter from a commercial organisation myvietnamvisa which you present to the Immigration Authorities on arrival at the Vietnamese Airport.

[bkkmick]

That was great 'git'.

I contacted them this morning and got the letter of approval this afternoon.

Hanoi on Monday for me and the Mrs.

Cheers for the link.

[NanLaew]

That was great 'git'.

I contacted them this morning and got the letter of approval this afternoon.

Hanoi on Monday for me and the Mrs.

Cheers for the link.

That was fast! Did you pay any extra for 'expedited' service?

Make a post on your experience at the visa on arrival desk in Hanoi. The one in Saigon is pretty much a zoo most days with all these tour groups arriving.

Edited April 18, 2014 by NanLaew

[bkkmick]

It was fast. U ended up paying $40 to get it same day. It's the letter that allows me to board the plane and get a visa on arrival. I'll let you know how I get on.

Sent from my LG-D802 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NanLaew]

Sorry for the hijack but can an Irish passport holder get a visa on arrival in Vietnam or do I have to go to their embassy and get one first.

You can get a visa on arrival which is nothing more than a letter from a commercial organisation myvietnamvisa which you present to the Immigration Authorities on arrival at the Vietnamese Airport.

It is letter from Vietnamese Immigration that is applied for and issued. This enables you to board in Bangkok without a visa (show the check-in staff) and then you get in line at the VoA desk on arrival.

Many years ago, a client tried the commercial organisation letter (invite on company letterhead) and that was not accepted at check-in.

Also last month on arrival in Saigon, there was a young chap who had arrived via an airline that obviously never checked if he had a visa or a letter. He had been there for about 8 hours, trying all sorts of ways to be allowed in and was finally being told by an 'agent' that there was no way he was ever going to get a visa on arrival and better start talking to the airline about getting a seat on flight back out.

Edited April 18, 2014 by NanLaew

[NanLaew]

It was fast. U ended up paying $40 to get it same day. It's the letter that allows me to board the plane and get a visa on arrival. I'll let you know how I get on.

Sent from my LG-D802 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

That's the going rate for same-day. I have done VoA in Hanoi a couple of times and it was always fast as that route was much quieter. Totally unlike the rugby scrum in Saigon these days!

Have a nice trip.

[bkkmick]

Just got back from Hanoi.

The process is like this (for anyone interested):

Either go to the Vietnam embassy nearest you and get a visa (allow 2-3 working days and bring a photo) or contact a visa agency like suggested by theoldgit ( myvietnamvisa ) - they did it same day for me after paying $40. You will receive a "Letter of Approval" which will list your name together with other foreigners arriving the same day that the agency processed.

If you're getting the visa on arrival then print off this form: http://www.approval-letter.com/form-on-arrival.pdf "Application for Entry and Exit Visa" (it says take two copies but that is no longer the case - only one required).

When you get off the plane in Hanoi airport and head to passport control, you will find the Visa Upon Arrival (as it's called there) opposite the row of passport control officers. There are two windows: go to the left one (as you look at it from passport control) and hand "Application for Entry and Exit Visa" together with the "Letter of Approval" and your passport. Then go around to the window on the other side and wait (there's no queue) for the robotic voice to call out your name (it's not so clear, so listen carefully - surname followed by forename). Pay the US$45 (April2014), receive your passport with the visa and head through passport control.

Edited April 23, 2014 by bkkmick