Visa for Vietnam while in Phuket

[Chanoj]

I need to apply for a visa for Vietnam while I'm in Phuket, rather than trek up to Bangkok to visit the embassy. 

Does anyone know how I can get a visa for Vietnam with a one-way ticket from Phuket?

[thedemon]

Not all nationalities require a visa for short trips to Vietnam. If you are from one that does, you can apply online to an agency that will pre-arrange a visa on arrival. Once that is approved, you can fly then go to a counter on arrival (before immigration) to have the visa put in your passport. You pay separately for both steps.

 

There are a gazillion agents offering this service online.

 

This link gives a good rundown of what is involved

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293921-c148049/Vietnam:Faq.Visa.On.Arrival.Voa.html

 

[Mrjlh]

You can get a "Visa on Arrival" but it can take you a long time waiting for it. And I believe it costs a few dollars more.  Other problem is the Airline you use may not allow you to board without it.  Plan on taking a trip to Bangkok. Go in the morning 9AM submit documents with passport (they give you receipt) and pick it up in the afternoon (2PM) then fly out that night.  Just an idea.

[NamKangMan]

1 hour ago, Mrjlh said:

You can get a "Visa on Arrival" but it can take you a long time waiting for it. And I believe it costs a few dollars more.  Other problem is the Airline you use may not allow you to board without it.  Plan on taking a trip to Bangkok. Go in the morning 9AM submit documents with passport (they give you receipt) and pick it up in the afternoon (2PM) then fly out that night.  Just an idea.

 

"but it can take you a long time waiting for it." - yes, it can take a while.  Sometimes an hour.  However, still a lot quicker than getting a taxi / bus from the airport to the Embassy, and then waiting in the Embassy to be served, then waiting until that afternoon to pick up your passport, then waiting at the Embassy to pick it up, then getting a taxi / bus back to the airport.

 

You can compare prices.  Here's one of the bigger online agency from Google.  You will see 1 month and 3 month visas on arrival are available, with a single or multi-entry option.

 

https://www.myvietnamvisa.com/

 

If you add on your taxi / bus costs to the Embassy price, arranging visa on arrival will probably end up a little cheaper. 

 

"Other problem is the Airline you use may not allow you to board without it." - the online agent will email you a "letter of invitation" or it's called words to that effect, stating you have arranged to pick up your visa when you land at the airport.  Print out this letter and produce it with you passport and air ticket at the airport - you will be allowed to board the flight.  YOU MUST PRODUCE THIS LETTER AT CHECK-IN.  

 

Don't forget to have some US Dollars for the "stamping fee" at immigration, and you can save some time by filling out the visa application form and attaching a passport photo before you leave.  (the form says 2 photos but they usually hand one back)  Exchange some baht for US Dollars at the airport in Bangkok.

 

If you are flying into Swampy from Phuket, but don't want to go over to Don Muang, check out Vietjet.  They are a Vietnamese budget airline and they fly out of Swampy. If you are flying into Don Muang from Phuket, check out Air Asia and Nok Air. 

 

I am also on Phuket, and have done several visa runs to Vietnam using this method, and still continue to do so.  This information is current.

Edited January 9, 2017 by NamKangMan

[LongTimeLurker]

Note that if you are planning on doing this after 1 February then Vietnamese Immigration are due to have their own evisa portal up and running so you apply online directly to them and receive your visa to print out yourself.

[juice777]

Do I need a Visa or can I pick one up at the Airport?

I am a UK citizen I
I am flying form Bangkok to HCMC on the 17 April. I don't have a Ticket out because I plan to go over land through Cambodia back to Thailand.

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[opalred]

am going in Feb and waiting to see if they change anything on1 Feb

 past trips go online for visa and pay

being oz have to pay  UK free

[juice777]

am going in Feb and waiting to see if they change anything on1 Feb
 past trips go online for visa and pay
being oz have to pay  UK free

But I have 2 get it online? Not at the airport?

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[thedemon]

26 minutes ago, juice777 said:

But I have 2 get it online? Not at the airport?

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UK citizens can enter Vietnam visa free for 15 days. 

 

Return/onward tickets is a requirement for visa exempt entry. It is unlikely Vietnamese Immigration would enforce that but it is reasonably likely that the airline flying you there would.

 

For a stay longer than 15 days, a visa is required. You can either apply and have that issued at the Viet Embassy in BKK or apply online via an agent for pre-approval to have a visa issued on arrival.

 

Return/onward tickets aren't required with a visa.

 

 

[juice777]

Thanks for the info so a visa before I fly is a must for for me then. Or maybe it would be cheaper to get a onward ticket and chuck it away. Do you know how much the visa cost online?

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[thedemon]

22 minutes ago, juice777 said:

Thanks for the info so a visa before I fly is a must for for me then. Or maybe it would be cheaper to get a onward ticket and chuck it away. Do you know how much the visa cost online?

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You could try this: https://flyonward.com/en/

 

No experience with it but I don't see any reason it wouldn't work. It is only to show the airline check-in staff anyway.

 

I no longer need a visa for VN so I'm out of touch with the costs sorry. I'm sure another poster will come along with that info.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, juice777 said:

Thanks for the info so a visa before I fly is a must for for me then. Or maybe it would be cheaper to get a onward ticket and chuck it away. Do you know how much the visa cost online?

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From stayinvietnam.com that myself and fellow workers and holidaymakers have used well over 80 times since 2005 with absolutely no hassles.

 

"Normal" and "Urgent" is what you pay stayinvietnam online via secure website for the letter of invitation from Vietnamese Immigration that they email back to you. This letter needs to be printed out and shown at check-in before boarding is permitted.

"Stamping Fee" is what you pay the Visa On Arrival desk after you deplane in Saigon, file the actual visa application (accompanied with above-mentioned letter) to get the visa stamp in your passport before you head for Immigration desks.

 

For your application, it is US$15 online + US$25 at the VoA desk.

 

Type of visa	Number of travellers	Normal - 2 days	Urgent - 1 day	Stamping fee
Single - 1 month	1	$15	$25	$25
	2 - 3	$13	$23	$25
	4 - 5	$11	$21	$25
	6 upward	$9	$19	$25
Multiple - 1 month	1	$20	$30	$50
	2 - 3	$18	$28	$50
	4 - 5	$16	$26	$50
	6 upward	$14	$24	$50
Single - 3 months	1	$25	$35	$25
	2 - 3	$23	$33	$25
	4 - 5	$21	$31	$25
	6 upward	$19	$29	$25
Multiple - 3 months	1	$55	$65	$50
	2 - 3	$53	$63	$50
	4 upward	$51	$61	$50

Edited January 19, 2017 by NanLaew