Is this a straightforward procedure now that can be done at the embassy or is it still a stinky, expensive mafia like affair?

After a Google, seems straightforward but I have these questions please.....

Cost? B1000 1/30day?

What is the turn around?

Can wife pick up my pp?

Any info I need on app I don't want to forget?

★Does anyone know how long the duration before the visa must be used? Does it begin on date of issuance?

Thx

PS I do not want to do an e.visa. note. thanks.

Your wife cannot pick up your passport. As for cost it's on website. Think for US it's $45USD

It starts from date of issue to enter country before.

You should do letter of approval online. Simple and seemless

Oh ....it never has been a scam.

Yes I am an American , and I have done 4 tourist visas to Vietnam since 2010.

You can get a 30 day tourist visa at the Vietnamese embassy/consulate on Wireless Road in Bangkok.

As I recall the cost is $45 U.S. , you need two passport size photos and the application form which is available there.

It takes , I believe, 2 days for what they call express service, and 3 days for normal service....meaning that you submit the application and pay the fee in cash on in the morning of the first day and return on the 2nd or third day in the afternoon and pick up your passport with the visa in it. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months when you apply for the visa.

You will need at least one full page space for the visa.

You need to leave your passport which they issue you a receipt for while they do the visa

The last one I did was in October 2014, so if there have been any changes in fee since that time , I don't know about them.

Yes, you CAN do a letter of introduction on line with the companies that advertise on the internet.

The personal reason I don't use them, and do it directly through the Vietnamese embassy here in Bangkok is because the first time I tried to use that "letter of introduction" route my ATM/debit card was rejected by them.

Since I am retired, and live in Bangkok, I have time to go to the Vietnamese embassy and get a visa from humans rather than from a computer.

If you wish you can do the "letter of introduction" thing on line if you want to.

Myself, I prefer to talk to a human being rather than a computer, but It is your choice how you want to do it.

just my personal opinion, but once they rejected my card, so I am rejecting them now.

Besides there is a nice clean coffee shop less than 50 meters away from the Vietnamese embassy that has good sandwiches, pastries, and good coffee at a reasonable price.

almost forgot, they want to know the date you will arrive in Vietnam on your application form, that is when your visa starts.

They are strict about that date also when you arrive.

Long boring post. I am at airport now

About to board for hcmc. I have my letter of approval. BTW from online lodgement it was emailed to me in 7 hours. I downloaded visa form. Filled it in with one photo attached. Have my USD in pocket to pay at jinx airport.

Easy peasy. Or I could make two trips to lumpini. No brainer.

So with a USA passport you cannot get a visa on arrival yet ?

I know they have been talking about adding more countries to the Visa on arrival list ,

I hope the USA is one of them , but maybe we are too much of a cash cow or the letter of introduction people

it seems like the letter of introduction business was a good one to be in !