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Prior to 2022: Visa / VOA Info for Vietnam

Old Jun 22, 2014, 10:21 am
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Last edit by: stephem
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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.

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

Change log
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.
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Prior to 2022: Visa / VOA Info for Vietnam

Old Apr 18, 2017, 12:05 pm
  #1306  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
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Going to Vietnam again next month, my last visit was HCMC back in August 2016, this time I'll be visiting Hanoi.

Last time, as a US citizen, I did VOA. I got the invitation letter online for like $10 and brought the passport photos.

Is this a true E-Visa in the sense that once I purchase online that I can proceed through customs? Or will I still need to visit the VOA desk to get a physical visa added and pay the stamping fee?
ChiefNWA is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2017, 12:59 pm
  #1307  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: EWR, SLC, SGN
Posts: 1,113
Originally Posted by hayleyt
Hi

I was wondering if anyone knows what to do in the intended exit checkpoint for the Kaam Samnor / Ving Xuong crossing?thanks

I can't find the option in the drop down menu. Shall i just pick another option- they dont check your vietnam visa as you leave the country do they?

Help is much appreciated
Welcome to FlyerTalk. I'm not sure your question is clear, at least to me.

If you're asking about the dropdown menu when you request a VOA, it is only available at several international airports. So you wouldn't see any overland entry points as an option. Entering by land you would need to get a visa beforehand at an embassy/consulate, or the new evisa if you're eligible might be an option - I don't know much about it yet but maybe someone else will confirm.

As for leaving Vietnam, they check your visa to make sure you did not overstay, but they do not care about if you got VOA or other type of visa when you exit, and you can exit overland or by air with any type of visa.
maverick17 is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2017, 1:01 pm
  #1308  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: EWR, SLC, SGN
Posts: 1,113
Originally Posted by ChiefNWA
Going to Vietnam again next month, my last visit was HCMC back in August 2016, this time I'll be visiting Hanoi.

Last time, as a US citizen, I did VOA. I got the invitation letter online for like $10 and brought the passport photos.

Is this a true E-Visa in the sense that once I purchase online that I can proceed through customs? Or will I still need to visit the VOA desk to get a physical visa added and pay the stamping fee?
No need to visit the VOA desk, proceed to the queue for immigration entry.
maverick17 is offline  
Old Apr 19, 2017, 7:14 am
  #1309  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Originally Posted by maverick17
No need to visit the VOA desk, proceed to the queue for immigration entry.
Thanks, good to hear.
ChiefNWA is offline  
Old Apr 19, 2017, 7:40 pm
  #1310  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
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Originally Posted by maverick17
No need to visit the VOA desk, proceed to the queue for immigration entry.
Same experience here two weeks ago - straight to the Immigration officers for entry with e-visa in hand. (In Hanoi, I also had to fill out a health questionnaire upon arrival.)
Diplomatico is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2017, 2:55 pm
  #1311  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
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With the e-visa do they attach a full page visa to your passport like the VOA or just stamp in the passport? No fully empty pages left, but plenty of spots for stamps.
sky303 is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2017, 7:56 pm
  #1312  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Originally Posted by sky303
With the e-visa do they attach a full page visa to your passport like the VOA or just stamp in the passport? No fully empty pages left, but plenty of spots for stamps.
Stamp only. You print the full page visa and it remains loose leaf in/with your passport.
Diplomatico is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2017, 7:59 pm
  #1313  
 
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Originally Posted by Diplomatico
Stamp only. You print the full page visa and it remains loose leaf in/with your passport.
I figured. Thanks for the help.
sky303 is offline  
Old May 8, 2017, 8:39 am
  #1314  
 
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One more quick question, does the $25 stamping fee apply to those (US citizens) that have the E-visa? I've got that printed but totally forgot the $25 I was going to bring just in case. Want to make sure before I go paying an exchange fee in TPE tomorrow.
ChiefNWA is offline  
Old May 8, 2017, 4:42 pm
  #1315  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Originally Posted by ChiefNWA
One more quick question, does the $25 stamping fee apply to those (US citizens) that have the E-visa? I've got that printed but totally forgot the $25 I was going to bring just in case. Want to make sure before I go paying an exchange fee in TPE tomorrow.
There's no stamping fee if you already have an e-visa. (You paid the $25 when you purchased the visa on-line.)
Diplomatico is offline  
Old May 11, 2017, 2:48 am
  #1316  
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 4
Going to Vietnam in August, I'm entitled for visa exemption but I'm going to exit the country by bus (HCMC - Phnom Penh).
I have tickets for a Phnom Penh - Siem Reap flight and REP-BKK, both are within the 15 days visa exemption limit.
Do you think they can work as proof of onward travel?

Do you think that is safer to get a visa in advance (no need of poot as far as i can understand)?
gtmlt is offline  
Old May 12, 2017, 5:52 am
  #1317  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Originally Posted by gtmlt
Going to Vietnam in August, I'm entitled for visa exemption but I'm going to exit the country by bus (HCMC - Phnom Penh).
I have tickets for a Phnom Penh - Siem Reap flight and REP-BKK, both are within the 15 days visa exemption limit.
Do you think they can work as proof of onward travel?

Do you think that is safer to get a visa in advance (no need of poot as far as i can understand)?
Proof of onward travel is not required to get a visa. It may be required to enter the country regardless of whether you have visa in advance, a VOA or entitled to visa exemption. So no.... it will be no safer to get a visa in advance.

It's rare that they ask for proof of onward travel, but if you're a worry wart, you're options are:
  • Book the bus in advance and bring a copy of the confirm.
  • Book an airline flight and then cancel.
  • Create a pro-forma flight confirmation.
  • Be prepared to tip the immigration agent $20
5khours is offline  
Old May 12, 2017, 8:23 am
  #1318  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Originally Posted by 5khours
Proof of onward travel is not required to get a visa. It may be required to enter the country regardless of whether you have visa in advance, a VOA or entitled to visa exemption. So no.... it will be no safer to get a visa in advance.

It's rare that they ask for proof of onward travel, but if you're a worry wart, you're options are:
  • Book the bus in advance and bring a copy of the confirm.
  • Book an airline flight and then cancel.
  • Create a pro-forma flight confirmation.
  • Be prepared to tip the immigration agent $20
The only thing you may be overlooking is that - in many cases - the airline in which the traveler is booked upon to depart the origin country (esp. in the US) may not allow the traveler to board the flight without proof of onward travel (or a visa).

A visa obtained in advance will eliminate that potential problem. Doesn't always happen....but it does happen.
Diplomatico is offline  
Old May 12, 2017, 5:04 pm
  #1319  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Originally Posted by Diplomatico
The only thing you may be overlooking is that - in many cases - the airline in which the traveler is booked upon to depart the origin country (esp. in the US) may not allow the traveler to board the flight without proof of onward travel (or a visa).

A visa obtained in advance will eliminate that potential problem. Doesn't always happen....but it does happen.
No.

Airline agents will almost always check for visas or VOA letters unless you are visa exempt. Separately they will sometimes check for onward tickets but this is completely unrelated to whether you are traveling on a visa, carry a VOA, or are visa exempt.

Checking for visas and checking for onward reservations are unrelated and independent of one another.

If you are visa exempt there is NO benefit in obtaining a visa.
5khours is offline  
Old May 12, 2017, 5:37 pm
  #1320  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
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I am planning a trip to Vietnam. I am located in NYC. Is it better that I just go to the consulate to get the visa vs messing with the online application?
Red259 is offline  

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