Hi,

I'll be in Thailand in November for 3 weeks. I want to take a short side trip to Vietnam to meet a new friend for 3 days and then come back to Thailand. How do I get a visa to Vietnam? How long does it take? How much does it cost? Should I get the visa and airline ticket here in America or should I do this in Thailand? It's my first time in this part of the world. I understand I won't need a visa for Thailand, just my American passport.

Thanks!

Post withdrawn by OP

Vietnam has an Embassy in Bangkok and a consulate in Khon Kaen where you can get a tourist visa. Vietnam Embassy Bangkok

Application in the US:

http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/consular...ices/visa_info/

Bangkok: 83/1 Wireless Road · Phone: (662)251-7202

(that's next to Plaza Athenee Hotel)

Visa fee, single entry tourist Baht 1,850

Actually, waiting time depends hwo busy they are, usually bunches of people there. I normally get a multiple business visa, which takes max. 24 hours, tourist can be longer?

Yes, with an American passport, you can get "visa on arrival" at the Bangkok airport good for at least 30 days.

Unfortunately, it's not that easy for a Vietnam visa. If you have the time in Thailand, you can go to the Vietnam Embassy in Bangkok and the officially-announced waiting time is 3-5 days (although some have gotten theirs sooner--I think you can pay a premium surcharge for expedited service). If you have the time now, go through the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington D.C. or nearest consulate, but be prepared for a 10-day wait, plus shipping your passport both ways with accompanying costs and time lag. I remember paying about 1,500 baht for my visa ($40 US) here in Thailand.

Of course, the uncomfortable thing about this procedure is that you have to surrender your passport to the Vietnamese staff while you want to run around Thailand or Bangkok--without a passport. Best you can do is keep a photocopy of your passport along with a receipt from the Vietnamese Embassy which shows your passport is being processed with them.

Another alternative in Thailand: if you want to take a 2-day bus excursion (round trip) up to Khon Kaen in Isaan, visit the Vietnam consulate and get your visa in under 1/2 hour. Fee is the same.

In either location, you need to provide an address where you'll be staying in Vietnam (or a friend/family you know there).

Sorry, can't advise you about the airline ticket, as I have only procured it from the internet several weeks in advance, within Thailand. However, there are plenty of flights from Bangkok to Vietnam (mostly Saigon) operated by many airlines, with a price of about $250 round trip.