Here's the response when I sent an e-mail to the embassy from their site....
DEAR APPLICANT:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN VISITING VIETNAM AND FOR WRITING TO THE EMBASSY.
PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ORGANIZED IN THE FORM OF Q&A'S.
1) DO I NEED A VISA?
- YES, YOU DO.
- TECHNICALLY, ANY HOLDER OF A VALID (6 MONTHS PRIOR TO EXPIRATION) PASSPORT OTHER THAN VIETNAMESE, NO MATTER WHAT CITIZENSHIP, NEEDS A VISA.
- THIS GENERAL RULE IS APPLICABLE TO US CITIZENS, CANADIAN CITIZENS, LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES, EU CITIZENS, AND JAPANESE CITIZENS.
- PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST VIETNAM EMBASSY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION IF YOU THINK YOUR COUNTRY AND VIETNAM HAVE A VISA-WAIVER AGREEMENT.
2) HOW EARLY AND HOW LATE CAN I APPLY FOR A VISA?
- YOU CAN APPLY FOR YOUR VISA AS EARLY AS SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PROPOSED DATE OF ENTRY.
- YOU CAN APPLY FOR A VISA AS LATE AS A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR DEPARTURE. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL THE EMBASSY TO CHECK YOUR OPTIONS FOR RUSH/EXPEDITED SERVICE.
3) HOW LONG WILL THE VISA BE GOOD FOR?
- THE VISA WILL BE ISSUED ON THE BASIS OF YOUR SPECIFIC PROPOSED DATES ON THE APPLICATION.
- THE APPLICANT CANNOT ENTER THE COUNTRY BEFORE THE DATE.
4) WHAT TO SUBMIT?
- PASSPORT.
- APPLICATION FORM (<http://www.vietnamembassy.us/consular_services/visa_info/>).
- 1 PASSPORT-SIZE PICTURE (2X2).
- FEE (2 MONEY ORDERS PER APPLICATION PACKAGE), PAYABLE TO "EMBASSY OF VIETNAM." APPLICANTS APPLYING TOGETHER MAY SUBMIT THE FEE IN ONE MONEY ORDER.
- A SELF-ADDRESSED POSTAGE-PAID RETURN ENVELOPE. FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR PASSPORT(S), PLEASE USE ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MAILING SERVICES WHICH PROVIDE TRACKING NUMBERS: US EXPRESS MAIL OR CERTIFIED MAIL WITH FULL LABEL. PLEASE DO NOT USE OTHER MAILING SERVICES. APPLICANTS APPLYING TOGETHER MAY PROVIDE ONE ENVELOPE FOR VISAS TO BE RETURNED TO THE SAME ADDRESS.
5) HOW TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION?
- ALL ITEMS MUST BE FILLED-OUT COMPLETELY IN UPPER CASE LETTERS.
- DO NOT USE PO BOX ADDRESSES.
- ITEM 11 (NAME, ADDRESS OF YOUR CONTACT IN VIETNAM) IS REQUIRED FOR "BUSINESS TRIPS" ONLY.
- PUT YOUR TOWN/CITY ON THE LINE "PLACE" AT THE END OF THE FORM.
6) WHAT IS THE FEE?
WITHOUT A PRIOR AUTHORIZATION/APPROVAL:
-SINGLE ENTRY, ONE-MONTH:
- $65.00 (REGULAR SERVICE - 5-7 BUSINESS DAYS).
- $85.00 (RUSH SERVICE - 02-3 WORKING DAYS).
7) HOW TO PAY THE FEE?
PLEASE PREPARE TWO MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO "THE EMBASSY OF VIETNAM" AS FOLLOWS:
-SINGLE ENTRY, ONE-MONTH, REGULAR SERVICE:
- ONE MONEY ORDER OF $25.00 (MEMO LINE: VISA FEE).
- ONE MONEY ORDER OF $40.00 (MEMO LINE: REGULAR PROCESSING FEE).
-SINGLE ENTRY, ONE-MONTH, RUSH SERVICE:
- ONE MONEY ORDER OF $25.00 (MEMO LINE: VISA FEE).
- ONE MONEY ORDER OF $60.00 (MEMO LINE: RUSH PROCESSING FEE).
NOTE: ONE GROUP APPLYING TOGETHER CAN TURN IN TWO MONEY ORDERS (ONE FOR THE VISA FEE AND THE OTHER FOR THE PROCESSING FEE) FOR THE ENTIRE GROUP.
8) HOW TO SUBMIT?
- HOURS FOR DROP-OFF AND WALK-IN AT THE EMBASSY: 9:30-12:00 (MONDAY-FRIDAY)
- BY MAIL:
FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR PAPER(S), PLEASE ONLY USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MAILING SERVICES WHICH PROVIDE TRACKING NUMBERS:
- EXPRESS MAIL (
WWW.USPS.COM <HTTP://WWW.USPS.COM>)
- CERTIFIED MAIL WITH FULL LABEL
PLEASE DO NOT USE OTHER MAILING SERVICES. APPLICANTS APPLYING TOGETHER MAY PROVIDE ONE ENVELOPE FOR VISAS TO BE RETURNED TO THE SAME ADDRESS.
9) WHERE TO SUBMIT?
CONSULAR SECTION
EMBASSY OF VIETNAM
1233 20TH STREET, NW
SUITE 400
WASHINGTON, DC 20036
10) IMMUNIZATION?
- NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE NOW, AND IT IS NOT REQUIRED.
11) CAN I GET A VISA AT THE AIRPORT?
- WITHOUT A PROPER ENTRY VISA, AIRLINERS WILL NOT ALLOW THE PASSENGER TO BOARD.
- PLEASE USE THE 2-DAY PROCEDURE DESIGNED TO ASSIST APPLICANTS UNDER TIME PRESSURE.
WE HOPE ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
IF YOU STILL HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL TO THE EMBASSY AT
CONSULAR@VIETNAMEMBASSY.US
THE EMBASSY WILL BE CLOSED FROM FEBRUARY 16 TO FEBRUARY 21, 2007 IN OBSERVANCE OF THE VIETNAMESE LUNAR NEW YEAR .
THE EMBASSY WILL BE OPEN AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007
REGARDS,
SF Vietnam Consulate Visa Info
