Jun 22, 2014, 10:21 am
Last edit by: stephem
Moderator note: this Wikipost provides general visa guidelines and summarizes the information provided by FT members throughout this thread. Businesses mentioned in this wiki are in no way endorsed or recommended by FlyerTalk, and advertising is prohibited. FlyerTalk's commercial post rule is strictly enforced in this thread, and all spam-like posts will be immediately removed.
Vietnam Visa Information
Transit Without Visa
Vietnam permits foreigners to transit without a visa (TWOV) provided they remain inside the airport transit areas while awaiting an onward flight out of the country within 24 hours of arrival. Travelers are not allowed to leave the airport without a visa.
Visa Exemption for Phu Quoc Island
If you are only visiting Phu Quoc Island, guess what, you probably don't need a visa at all! There is a 30 day visa exception for Phu Quoc visits, and many people report being able to transit in HAN or SGN en route to PQC. But there are now direct flights to PQC and that allows you to avoid having to get a visa at all. Worth considering...
Regular Visa in Advance of Travel
Foreigners may obtain a visa at the nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate. Prices are not published and appear to vary from location to location. Most recent reports suggest a typical fee of approximately USD 100.
ONLINE APPLICATION LOOSE LEAF VISA
Vietnam Visa Online Application and instructions:
http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/consul...cation-process
From what I've learned, you attach the three (3) files listed below to an email along with your credit card number and the visa section will mail back a loose leaf visa.
As of December, 2015, the fees are $80 = 1 month visa, $20 = overnight USPS, $10 priority mail. Multiple entry visas are available.
Fill out the online application form.
http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/consul...cation-process
Follow "online form" link. Choose language top right.
Including uploading to the application a correctly sized photo, 2x2 inches (website will check and confirm) that will propagate into the application.
Print out the application form, sign, scan as .pdf file. Attach the .pdf to your email.
Attach a correctly sized photo (2x2 inches).
Attach a scanned a copy of your passport (photo, personal detail pages and signature page).
Include your credit card number. The visa section will charge your card for visa type and USPS Express return a loose leaf visa.
Ask politely for the tracking number and total charges.
Call Embassy Visa to double check the above details and current email address: 202. 861. 0737, x118/121/122/123/125
As of December, 2015, the email address to send the application is: [email protected].
Visa Exemption
Those traveling on passports issued by the following nations are generally exempt from visa requirements for varying durations of stay: Belarus, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand and UK. See the entry visa exemption list at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for duration of stay info.
eVisa
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en...trang-chu-ttdt
List of countries eligible for eVisa: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/do...b-91595a4f5867 (link updated 2017-12-19, note new list can be published with different link) 35 more countries were announced as eligible for e-visa on Feb 20, 2019. Total is now 81 countries. See post 1561 for new additions (government website is down currently, will update with link here when possible).
Remember to print out the e-visa form they give you, as they will request it on arrival and on departure!
Some ports of entry require the evisa to be validated on arrival. In particular DAD has been cited in the thread as requiring the evisa holder to be processed at the VOA desk. Takes about 15 mins.
Visa On Arrival (VOA) at Airport Border Entries
Travelers planning to obtain a VOA should arrive with the following documents:
VOA stamp fees for Non-USA passport holders (as of December 2019) are US$25 for a single entry of 1 or 3 months validity, US$50 for multiple entry of 1 or 3 months validity or US$100 for multiple entry 1 year validity.
For USA passport holders, there was a temporary increase from September to December of 2016, up to $135. However Effective December 15, 2016 the $135 stamping fee for US citizens has been dropped, and there are reports US passport holders can be issued VOA letters for single entry 30 day visas again AND that US citizens should only have to pay a $25 stamp fee at on collection of VOA. In late December, there were reports are that the desks in HAN and DAD did not receive the memo, so YMMV until the airport desks "get the memo."
This fee must be paid at the VOA counter on arrival , and is in addition to whatever fees you have paid the VOA service provider for the invitation letter. Payments are accepted in Vietnamese Dong, USD or Euros.
Visa on arrival (VOA) is permitted for one of the following purposes:
There are countless service providers on the internet that offer VOA approval letters for a fee. Legitimate providers are licensed travel agencies, thus meeting the highlighted criterion above. Those planning to obtain a VOA approval letter are advised to take steps to ensure they are working with a licensed Vietnam travel agency or tour operator. Some Vietnam hotels are also able to provide this service.
Some VOA service providers offer expedited processing for same day or 30 minutes turnaround on issuance of VOA letter and priority processing upon arrival at the airport in Vietnam for an additional fee.
Advantages of VOA include lower cost than embassy-issued visa, eliminates the need to visit an embassy or mail passport for advance visa, and faster receipt of VOA approval letter (sent via email).
Disadvantages of VOA include longer immigration processing upon arrival, with potentially long waits for receipt of visa (usually 10-20 min., but longer waits do occur); privacy concerns due to inclusion of personal data for multiple unrelated travelers on one approval letter; and risk of scams by unauthorized VOA service providers.
VOA Process at the Airport in SGN
Removed by poster
VOA Service Providers Recommended By FTers
The following are a few of the VOA service providers that have been used and discussed in the thread by active FlyerTalk members. These providers publish sufficient information on their websites to suggest that they are authorized operators (e.g., provide physical business address, state actual travel company name, display tour operator license number, etc.). Members should verify these basic criteria before adding providers this list; simply having had successful transactions is not sufficient:
External Sources
26th-April
Edited to note that some ports of entry require the e-visa to be validated on arrival.
8 December 2019- Edited to add note about Phu Quoc being exempt from visa for 30 day visit and add info about 1 year multiple entry Visa which is now available via VoA process too.
FlyerTalkers with at least 90 days of membership and a minimum of 90 posts are invited to make corrections and update the information in this Wikipost.
Vietnam Visa Information
Main source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam - Visa Application and Information - includes fillable application (external website)
Transit Without Visa
Vietnam permits foreigners to transit without a visa (TWOV) provided they remain inside the airport transit areas while awaiting an onward flight out of the country within 24 hours of arrival. Travelers are not allowed to leave the airport without a visa.
Visa Exemption for Phu Quoc Island
If you are only visiting Phu Quoc Island, guess what, you probably don't need a visa at all! There is a 30 day visa exception for Phu Quoc visits, and many people report being able to transit in HAN or SGN en route to PQC. But there are now direct flights to PQC and that allows you to avoid having to get a visa at all. Worth considering...
Regular Visa in Advance of Travel
Foreigners may obtain a visa at the nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate. Prices are not published and appear to vary from location to location. Most recent reports suggest a typical fee of approximately USD 100.
ONLINE APPLICATION LOOSE LEAF VISA
Vietnam Visa Online Application and instructions:
http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/consul...cation-process
From what I've learned, you attach the three (3) files listed below to an email along with your credit card number and the visa section will mail back a loose leaf visa.
As of December, 2015, the fees are $80 = 1 month visa, $20 = overnight USPS, $10 priority mail. Multiple entry visas are available.
Fill out the online application form.
http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/consul...cation-process
Follow "online form" link. Choose language top right.
Including uploading to the application a correctly sized photo, 2x2 inches (website will check and confirm) that will propagate into the application.
Print out the application form, sign, scan as .pdf file. Attach the .pdf to your email.
Attach a correctly sized photo (2x2 inches).
Attach a scanned a copy of your passport (photo, personal detail pages and signature page).
Include your credit card number. The visa section will charge your card for visa type and USPS Express return a loose leaf visa.
Ask politely for the tracking number and total charges.
Call Embassy Visa to double check the above details and current email address: 202. 861. 0737, x118/121/122/123/125
As of December, 2015, the email address to send the application is: [email protected].
Visa Exemption
Those traveling on passports issued by the following nations are generally exempt from visa requirements for varying durations of stay: Belarus, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand and UK. See the entry visa exemption list at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for duration of stay info.
eVisa
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en...trang-chu-ttdt
List of countries eligible for eVisa: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/do...b-91595a4f5867 (link updated 2017-12-19, note new list can be published with different link) 35 more countries were announced as eligible for e-visa on Feb 20, 2019. Total is now 81 countries. See post 1561 for new additions (government website is down currently, will update with link here when possible).
Remember to print out the e-visa form they give you, as they will request it on arrival and on departure!
Some ports of entry require the evisa to be validated on arrival. In particular DAD has been cited in the thread as requiring the evisa holder to be processed at the VOA desk. Takes about 15 mins.
Visa On Arrival (VOA) at Airport Border Entries
Travelers planning to obtain a VOA should arrive with the following documents:
- VOA approval letter
- Completed VISA APPLICATION which can be downloaded from most VOA service provider websites (travelers are advised to print the form on A4-size paper as there have been reports of US letter-size paper being refused)
- One passport-type photo
- Cash for visa stamp fee (see below)
VOA stamp fees for Non-USA passport holders (as of December 2019) are US$25 for a single entry of 1 or 3 months validity, US$50 for multiple entry of 1 or 3 months validity or US$100 for multiple entry 1 year validity.
For USA passport holders, there was a temporary increase from September to December of 2016, up to $135. However Effective December 15, 2016 the $135 stamping fee for US citizens has been dropped, and there are reports US passport holders can be issued VOA letters for single entry 30 day visas again AND that US citizens should only have to pay a $25 stamp fee at on collection of VOA. In late December, there were reports are that the desks in HAN and DAD did not receive the memo, so YMMV until the airport desks "get the memo."
This fee must be paid at the VOA counter on arrival , and is in addition to whatever fees you have paid the VOA service provider for the invitation letter. Payments are accepted in Vietnamese Dong, USD or Euros.
Visa on arrival (VOA) is permitted for one of the following purposes:
- Attend the funeral of family member or visit a family member in critical condition;
- Arrival from a country where there is no Vietnamese diplomatic mission/consular office;
- Visit Vietnam on tours organized by Vietnamese international travel agencies;
- Provide emergency technical assistance for construction works, projects; emergency treatment for critical patients or accident victims; emergency relief in cases of natural disasters or epidemics in Vietnam;
- For other urgent reasons.
- Provide emergency technical assistance for construction works, projects; emergency treatment for critical patients or accident victims; emergency relief in cases of natural disasters or epidemics in Vietnam;
- Visit Vietnam on tours organized by Vietnamese international travel agencies;
- Arrival from a country where there is no Vietnamese diplomatic mission/consular office;
There are countless service providers on the internet that offer VOA approval letters for a fee. Legitimate providers are licensed travel agencies, thus meeting the highlighted criterion above. Those planning to obtain a VOA approval letter are advised to take steps to ensure they are working with a licensed Vietnam travel agency or tour operator. Some Vietnam hotels are also able to provide this service.
Some VOA service providers offer expedited processing for same day or 30 minutes turnaround on issuance of VOA letter and priority processing upon arrival at the airport in Vietnam for an additional fee.
Advantages of VOA include lower cost than embassy-issued visa, eliminates the need to visit an embassy or mail passport for advance visa, and faster receipt of VOA approval letter (sent via email).
Disadvantages of VOA include longer immigration processing upon arrival, with potentially long waits for receipt of visa (usually 10-20 min., but longer waits do occur); privacy concerns due to inclusion of personal data for multiple unrelated travelers on one approval letter; and risk of scams by unauthorized VOA service providers.
VOA Process at the Airport in SGN
Removed by poster
VOA Service Providers Recommended By FTers
The following are a few of the VOA service providers that have been used and discussed in the thread by active FlyerTalk members. These providers publish sufficient information on their websites to suggest that they are authorized operators (e.g., provide physical business address, state actual travel company name, display tour operator license number, etc.). Members should verify these basic criteria before adding providers this list; simply having had successful transactions is not sufficient:
- Hotels-in-Vietnam.com - part of Tun Travel, international tour operator license 0738/2007/TCDL-GP LHQT
- VietnamStay.com - multi-office tour operator, no license info found on website, multiple physical addresses provided
***Link not working - VietnamVisaCorp.com - part of Song Thu Travel, international tour operator license 79-411/2013/TCDL-GP LHQT
- Visa4Vietnam.com - part of Sense of Indochina, company license 0103103092
- Cheapvietnamvisa.net - data references on this thread Sep/08 & Sep/24 & Oct/07 & Dec/02 - 2015
External Sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam - Visa Application and Information - includes fillable application
- Ordinance on Entry, Exit and Residence of Foreigners - Vietnam Ministry of Justice
26th-April
Edited to note that some ports of entry require the e-visa to be validated on arrival.
8 December 2019- Edited to add note about Phu Quoc being exempt from visa for 30 day visit and add info about 1 year multiple entry Visa which is now available via VoA process too.
FlyerTalkers with at least 90 days of membership and a minimum of 90 posts are invited to make corrections and update the information in this Wikipost.
Prior to 2022: Visa / VOA Info for Vietnam
Mar 3, 2015, 6:53 pm
#556
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: EWR, SLC, SGN
Posts: 1,113
Seriously thinking of using the fast service of http://cheapvietnamvisa.net/. Anyone an idea how many flights come into SGN around 19:35. (besides the EK A340)
Mar 3, 2015, 11:56 pm
#557
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Belgium
Programs: Miles&More IHG
Posts: 148
True.. I should have looked around a bit more.
Mar 5, 2015, 4:23 am
#558
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Land of Oz
Posts: 948
A few weeks ago i arrrived into SGN from SIN at 1840, i had my Visa already from Australia, i was in the front row of Economy, i hoofed it off the plane straight to immigration, there was still a large group of people waiting for visas from earlier flights but there was only one person at all the counters so i was through immigration within 5 minutes of stepping off the plane.
Getting baggage and cash then took a further 25 minutes unfortunatly.
Getting baggage and cash then took a further 25 minutes unfortunatly.
Mar 25, 2015, 10:32 pm
#559
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO, SJC, SEA
Programs: A3 Gold, AA Plat
Posts: 203
I'm getting conflicting information regarding transit in Vietnam. Some sites are telling me that the connecting flight must depart on the same day, while some do not. I am looking to buy a ticket with VN from KUL to LHR via SGN that arrives at SGN at about 9pm and departs four hours later at 1am. Just to be absolutely certain before I purchase, do I need a transit visa as an American citizen with that itinerary? Thanks.
Mar 26, 2015, 2:19 am
#560
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
I'm getting conflicting information regarding transit in Vietnam. Some sites are telling me that the connecting flight must depart on the same day, while some do not. I am looking to buy a ticket with VN from KUL to LHR via SGN that arrives at SGN at about 9pm and departs four hours later at 1am. Just to be absolutely certain before I purchase, do I need a transit visa as an American citizen with that itinerary? Thanks.
Mar 26, 2015, 2:44 am
#561
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO, SJC, SEA
Programs: A3 Gold, AA Plat
Posts: 203
If you have an onward international flight within 24 hours you do not need any kind of visa. Note however, that some personnel at some airlines (LCCs) do not know the rules and may not let you board especially if your onward flight is on a different airline and/or ticket. It may be a good idea to carry a boarding pass, itinerary or receipt for your onward flight. As well as a copy of the TIMATIC rules. Worse case you can apply for a VOA or generate a "pro-forma" VOA letter to be on the safe side.
Mar 26, 2015, 3:21 am
#562
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Mar 26, 2015, 4:52 am
#563
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
If you have an onward international flight within 24 hours you do not need any kind of visa. Note however, that some personnel at some airlines (LCCs) do not know the rules and may not let you board especially if your onward flight is on a different airline and/or ticket. It may be a good idea to carry a boarding pass, itinerary or receipt for your onward flight. As well as a copy of the TIMATIC rules. Worse case you can apply for a VOA or generate a "pro-forma" VOA letter to be on the safe side.
This means they will be unable to verify that the passenger has a valid and current onward connection within the terms of the visa-free transit arrangement.
A printout of the e-ticket (rather than the itinerary) will help, although it's not 100% reassuring (the passenger could have changed the reservation subsequent to printing the document). Thus the agent might need to confirm with the other carrier that the reservation is current. This adds to the complexity of the check-in procedure, something LCCs don't like (time=money).
So there are reasons behind the reluctance of LCCs to accept visa-less connecting passengers, especially where they face penalties for accepting passengers without the correct documentation.
For peace of mind it's probable best to buy a through-ticket or connect via a "legacy" carrier; or simply get an online visa.
Mar 26, 2015, 4:42 pm
#564
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM/MM; Hilton Diamond; National Exec
Posts: 273
Thanks to the advice here and in the Wiki, I applied for VOA thru hotels-in-Vietnam.com . It's a strange way of doing things, but everything went well. $14 to apply. The "approval letter" was essential to get a boarding pass out of TG BKK-SGN. 1/2 hour wait at SGN for visa. This sure beats wasting time at the embassy. 45 USD for the visa. So generally fairly painless. 
Mar 27, 2015, 5:38 pm
#565
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
To be fair, it's not really a question of knowing the rules. The LCCs are (generally) not into connecting and interlining and very probably don't have access to other carriers' reservation systems.
This means they will be unable to verify that the passenger has a valid and current onward connection within the terms of the visa-free transit arrangement.
A printout of the e-ticket (rather than the itinerary) will help, although it's not 100% reassuring (the passenger could have changed the reservation subsequent to printing the document). Thus the agent might need to confirm with the other carrier that the reservation is current. This adds to the complexity of the check-in procedure, something LCCs don't like (time=money).
So there are reasons behind the reluctance of LCCs to accept visa-less connecting passengers, especially where they face penalties for accepting passengers without the correct documentation.
For peace of mind it's probable best to buy a through-ticket or connect via a "legacy" carrier; or simply get an online visa.
This means they will be unable to verify that the passenger has a valid and current onward connection within the terms of the visa-free transit arrangement.
A printout of the e-ticket (rather than the itinerary) will help, although it's not 100% reassuring (the passenger could have changed the reservation subsequent to printing the document). Thus the agent might need to confirm with the other carrier that the reservation is current. This adds to the complexity of the check-in procedure, something LCCs don't like (time=money).
So there are reasons behind the reluctance of LCCs to accept visa-less connecting passengers, especially where they face penalties for accepting passengers without the correct documentation.
For peace of mind it's probable best to buy a through-ticket or connect via a "legacy" carrier; or simply get an online visa.
Being able to check other airlines online reservation systems doesn't prevent a pax from subsequently cancelling the reservation.
There are many more "pro forma" VOA letters being used than there are fake reservations.
I would guess that fines in VN for stranding pax without visa or onward ticket are fairly trivial.
IMHO the problem is in fact that some of the carriers don't have consistent policies, they don't advise their pax of their policies, and their own personnel don't know the policies.
And as a result, I do agree that pax flying on these airlines might want to take some precautions.
Mar 28, 2015, 9:58 am
#566
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Airlines check documentation to avoid the consequences of landing unwelcome passengers. If the associated fines and other costs were trivial, why would they bother checking in the first place?
Last edited by IAN-UK; Mar 28, 2015 at 10:36 am
Mar 29, 2015, 9:13 am
#567
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Belgium
Programs: Miles&More IHG
Posts: 148
Some stupid last minute questions:
- Do i need to reprint the confirmation letter for each passport holder
- Do I already attach the photos to the entry/exit form or do I let them do it?
- Do i need to reprint the confirmation letter for each passport holder
- Do I already attach the photos to the entry/exit form or do I let them do it?
Mar 29, 2015, 9:30 am
#568
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: EWR, SLC, SGN
Posts: 1,113
2. Doesn't matter. I have never stapled it. But I see many who do.
Apr 4, 2015, 1:40 am
#569
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Germany
Posts: 1,244
Does anyone know if a chinese airline will let board passenger without a valid visa in their passport? I know it's not possible for chinese to get a VOA in thailand if they fly directly from china mainland to thailand. But how about vietnam?
Apr 6, 2015, 8:53 am
#570
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
For US passport holders... is applying for a visa "online" worth the extra hassle than applying in person? The website says they only accept cashier/company check or money order, three things I've never used, you can't pay via other methods?