Visa for Vietnam whilst in Thailand

[deangamble1967]

Hi, I notice on the Vietnamese embassy site in the UK that a UK national will need a visa to enter the country from July 2016 (at the moment no visa required to 15 days). I am not in the UK at the moment and will only be back for a short time before flying to Thailand on 21st May for a 6 month break in the region. So the question is can I obtain a visa for entry to Vietnam whilst in Thailand rather than trying to get it done before i leave the UK

Hope that makes sense

Cheers

[schondie]

If you're thinking of spending more than 15 days in Vietnam this may be helpful to you.

I just applied for a three month single entry visa through a visa agent. Within hours of paying the $22 fee for a letter of recommendation (it makes getting the visa stamp at the airport easier) I was sorted out. Once you get your letter, you pay $25 for the actual visa in your passport.

A 1 month visa letter costs $10. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post the company I used but it was recommended on many travel websites for Vietnam. If the link is removed send me a message and I'll be in touch.

[theoldgit]

Link removed as per forum rules, just Google Vietnam Visa on arrival, there are many agents offering to sell you a VOA letter.

If you'd rather you can get a visa at the Vietnamese Consulate here in Bangkok, I'm British and it took a couple of days.

Either system works.

[deangamble1967]

Thats great thank you both

[JMWPACIFIC]

There are a lot of .coms peddling visas online but you should look for the .org one when you google vietnam evisa.

[djayz]

There is no need to go to an agent. When you're in Bangkok, pop into the Embassy of Vietnam, 83/1 Wireless Road (5 minute walking distance from the Skytrain station "Ploen Chit"). Fill out the form, hand in your passport and fee IN THE MORNING; go back and pick up your passport and visa the NEXT AFTERNOON - working days only. Check this site for their holidays: http://www.vietnamembassy-thailand.org/en/copy_of_nr141103153953/nr150519183454/ns151120175331

Consular hours: Monday to Friday

- Morning: 9:00 - 11:30

- Afternoon: 14:00 - 16:30

Tourist visa (Counter No.1):

- Submission: 9:00 - 11:30, 14:00 - 16:00

- Collection: 16:00 - 17:00

Remember to bring along 2 photos. Photographs must be 2×2 inches in size, identical, taken within the past six months.

Dead easy. Did it just last Sept.

[Mansell]

I went in last September from Thailand on my Brit passport and it was free on arrival in Saigon...if I had used my US passport I think it was 50 dollars. I don't know why they have this letter thing now, because ten years ago you just arrived from the USA and bought the visa at the airport.

[scorecard]

There is no need to go to an agent. When you're in Bangkok, pop into the Embassy of Vietnam, 83/1 Wireless Road (5 minute walking distance from the Skytrain station "Ploen Chit"). Fill out the form, hand in your passport and fee IN THE MORNING; go back and pick up your passport and visa the NEXT AFTERNOON - working days only. Check this site for their holidays: http://www.vietnamembassy-thailand.org/en/copy_of_nr141103153953/nr150519183454/ns151120175331

Consular hours: Monday to Friday

- Morning: 9:00 - 11:30

- Afternoon: 14:00 - 16:30

Tourist visa (Counter No.1):

- Submission: 9:00 - 11:30, 14:00 - 16:00

- Collection: 16:00 - 17:00

Remember to bring along 2 photos. Photographs must be 2×2 inches in size, identical, taken within the past six months.

Dead easy. Did it just last Sept.

Agree dead easy, done it many times.

The fact that your original passport is from UK, Australia, or wherever is not relevant at all.

[Mansell]

Not true about where your passport is from....if it is from many countries including the UK you do not need a visa for a visit of 15 days or less. You might want to check your info before you post misinformation that many might believe.

[Cats4ever]

All the above contain good advice. I just find the process a bloody pest. As an Oz, I don't get the VOA option. Next trip, I may leave VN off the visited countries.

[jippytum]

Not true about where your passport is from....if it is from many countries including the UK you do not need a visa for a visit of 15 days or less. You might want to check your info before you post misinformation that many might believe.

You are correct 15 days allowed for many countries visa free .No mention of change on the website

[IMA_FARANG]

I went in last September from Thailand on my Brit passport and it was free on arrival in Saigon...if I had used my US passport I think it was 50 dollars. I don't know why they have this letter thing now, because ten years ago you just arrived from the USA and bought the visa at the airport.

---------------------------

i believe for Brits it is now free for a 15 day visa, for a U.S. passport it has gone back to the previous $25 fee.

At the Vietnamese consulate in Bangkok.

U.S visas to Vietnam are for a single entry of 30 days stay.

Which can be extended in Ho Chi Minh City through a Vietnamese agent by paying a fee.

Went there in April 2016

Edited May 10, 2016 by IMA_FARANG

[pauleddy]

I went to Hanoi in 2015, just after they announced "free 15 days tourist visa" (Im Brit). There was no problem at all (all smiles and walked through in 30 seconds)-- and now I would never use the 50-dollar private firms (which are sometimes a shambles anyway, especially at HCM). The Viet embassy in BKK seems to be a mess too--I tried phoning for 2 days but no-one answered.

What is most intriguing about the OP's message is that they are WITHDRAWING the 15 day thing from July?? This is completely new news. AFAIK, they are extending the free 15 day "visa" to other nationals (canada, oz, US) from July 2016. I was hoping to go again this year, so can anybody confirm the bad news... or not?

Ed

[theoldgit]

What is most intriguing about the OP's message is that they are WITHDRAWING the 15 day thing from July?? ......... can anybody confirm the bad news... or not?

This is the latest advice from the Vietnam Embassy in London, they haven't updated for some weeks. It would seem that no decision has been made yet.

http://vietnamembassy.org.uk/index.php?action=p&ct=Notice3

[12DrinkMore]

I went to Hanoi in 2015, just after they announced "free 15 days tourist visa" (Im Brit). There was no problem at all (all smiles and walked through in 30 seconds)-- and now I would never use the 50-dollar private firms (which are sometimes a shambles anyway, especially at HCM). The Viet embassy in BKK seems to be a mess too--I tried phoning for 2 days but no-one answered.

What is most intriguing about the OP's message is that they are WITHDRAWING the 15 day thing from July?? This is completely new news. AFAIK, they are extending the free 15 day "visa" to other nationals (canada, oz, US) from July 2016. I was hoping to go again this year, so can anybody confirm the bad news... or not?

Ed

http://vietnamembassy.org.uk/index.php?action=p&ct=Notice3

CONSULAR SECTION

NOTICE NO. 3

1 April 2016

The visa exemption for British, German, French, Spanish and Italian citizens travelling to Vietnam for a period of up to 15 days (single entry and not returning within 30 days) is applied from 01 July 2015 to 30 June 2016. (See NOTICE 1 and NOTICE 2 for details). Up to now, the Embassy has not received any information on extension of this policy.

Until further notice, visa is required for all visits for up to 15 days after 30 June 2016 by citizens of these countries. All applications sent to the Embassy are considered to be in need of visa and applicable fees are not refunded once the application is received by the Embassy.

Vietnam is a big mess in this respect (and others).

They want to promote tourism, are building up huge infrastructures to support it, but failing miserably to make it easy to enter the country.

I do not understand why this system of paying for a letter from some dubious travel agent is in place. It is presumably a large source of income for both the letter issuer and the immigration wallahs who sign the letter. It is certainly not beneficial to the country.

Recently another scam has come to light, and a lot of the in-country visa extensions have been declared illegal. Apparently it is necessary to go through an agent to get the extension, and a few agents have been bad boys.

[jacksam]

Brit you get 15 visa exempt. If longer apply online for " letter of approval" approx 15usd. Don't listen to posters above suggesting otherwise. I go HCMC every 7 weeks. The online letter is the way to go. PM me if you want details

[shiroboi]

I'm an American and needed a visa as well. Went to Hanoi last year. We did visa on arrival but had all the forms filled out ahead of time.

[jacksam]

Also download form for visa on arrival. You need one photo. Website states 2 but that's not the case. Pre fill in and jump in line. Have USD for payment on you. Easy process

[theoldgit]

Brit you get 15 visa exempt. If longer apply online for " letter of approval" approx 15usd. Don't listen to posters above suggesting otherwise. I go HCMC every 7 weeks. The online letter is the way to go. PM me if you want details

What advice are you advising people not to listen to, the fact that at least two Vietnamese Consulates are advising that the visa free option for UK nationals is due to expire next month and that there is no confirmation whether it will be extended or not, or something else?

Nobody is arguing that the unofficial commercial letter from travel agents doesn't work.

[jacksam]

Double post removed

Edited May 10, 2016 by jacksam

[jacksam]

Brit you get 15 visa exempt. If longer apply online for " letter of approval" approx 15usd. Don't listen to posters above suggesting otherwise. I go HCMC every 7 weeks. The online letter is the way to go. PM me if you want details

What advice are you advising people not to listen to, the fact that at least two Vietnamese Consulates are advising that the visa free option for UK nationals is due to expire next month and that there is no confirmation whether it will be extended or not, or something else?

Nobody is arguing that the unofficial commercial letter from travel agents doesn't work.

Yes you are correct. Visa exempt may end for UK PP nationals. The op will need to check. Think I was being over top. Mainly because members in similar threads post about online application for approval letter is hit and miss. This is simply not the case. I would not see need to use travel agent.

The op mentioned 6 month in Asia, perhaps he will need longer than 15 days hence needs visa.

[deangamble1967]

Thanks again, it seems like a fairly simple process once in BKK based on your responses, I didnt want to have to rush around in the UK if i didnt need to as i am currenty in Spaain and not back till next week. And yes I may well stay more than 15 days if a visa is simple to get in BKK. If the 15 exemption is still in place I may not bother and will just limit my visit to this amount of time.

Thanks again I'll let you know how I get on

[theoldgit]

@jacksam, the point is that the guys who sell these visa on arrival letters are travel agents or tour companies, there is nothing official about them even though their product works perfectly well.

[NickJ]

I was reading about the new one year multiple entry visa that has been approved for Americans. Does anyone know if it can be applied for here in Thailand or must it be applied for in the U.S. ?

[johnatong]

I was reading about the new one year multiple entry visa that has been approved for Americans. Does anyone know if it can be applied for here in Thailand or must it be applied for in the U.S. ?

The METV is not exclusively available to Americans !

The visa is available to anyone but they must apply in their country of origin.

[elgenon]

There is no need to go to an agent. When you're in Bangkok, pop into the Embassy of Vietnam, 83/1 Wireless Road (5 minute walking distance from the Skytrain station "Ploen Chit"). Fill out the form, hand in your passport and fee IN THE MORNING; go back and pick up your passport and visa the NEXT AFTERNOON - working days only. Check this site for their holidays: http://www.vietnamembassy-thailand.org/en/copy_of_nr141103153953/nr150519183454/ns151120175331

Consular hours: Monday to Friday

- Morning: 9:00 - 11:30

- Afternoon: 14:00 - 16:30

Tourist visa (Counter No.1):

- Submission: 9:00 - 11:30, 14:00 - 16:00

- Collection: 16:00 - 17:00

Remember to bring along 2 photos. Photographs must be 2×2 inches in size, identical, taken within the past six months.

Dead easy. Did it just last Sept.

Do you need an appointment as you do at the US Embassy?

[theoldgit]

There is no need to go to an agent. When you're in Bangkok, pop into the Embassy of Vietnam, 83/1 Wireless Road

Tourist visa (Counter No.1):

- Submission: 9:00 - 11:30, 14:00 - 16:00

- Collection: 16:00 - 17:00

Do you need an appointment as you do at the US Embassy?

No, just turn up during normal opening hours, it can get quite busy.

[pauleddy]

None the wiser

[theoldgit]

None the wiser

What don't you understand, need clarification of or need to know?

[WISteve]

I was reading about the new one year multiple entry visa that has been approved for Americans. Does anyone know if it can be applied for here in Thailand or must it be applied for in the U.S. ?

The METV is not exclusively available to Americans !

The visa is available to anyone but they must apply in their country of origin.

If you read his post a bit more carefully considering the subject of this string you might realize he is not referring to Thailand's METV program but a new 12 month, multiple-entry visa which soon will be available to US citizens. It was announced in an April 11, 2016 press release by the US Consulate in HCM City and it was covered in several Vietnamese news articles as well.

"HANOI, April 11, 2016 – On April 9, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam approved a plan to issue 12-month, multiple-entry visas to American citizens who travel temporarily for business or tourism.

The new reciprocity arrangement, which is expected to enter into force in late May or early June, will benefit American and Vietnamese tourists and business travelers, generating new opportunities for trade, investment and tourism....."

http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/pr-041116.html

I would assume it will be available in the Bangkok Consulate of the SRV as well as in the US but I will try to check back on this string after my attempt in Bangkok when June rolls around.