#1
redondo-beach , Jan 12, 2012 6:04 am
I was thinking of booking a flight to Bangkok for 3 weeks in the summer and take a few days off and fly to Saigon where I have never been .
Has anyone done that ?
Did you get your Vietnam Visa in Bangkok or on arrival ?
What airline did you use ?
I know a couple years ago Lufthansa had a Bangkok - Saigon flight !
Anything else to think of ?
Thanks for your ideas
RB
Has anyone done that ?
Did you get your Vietnam Visa in Bangkok or on arrival ?
What airline did you use ?
I know a couple years ago Lufthansa had a Bangkok - Saigon flight !
Anything else to think of ?
Thanks for your ideas
RB
#2
Braindrain , Jan 12, 2012 11:27 pm
I used BKK as a connection from HKG to SGN. It's a short flight (~2.5 hrs) and used Thai. There might be some LCC's doing this run but I didn't bother checking. There's a couple of threads on VOA in the Asia forum.
#3
whackyjacky , Jan 13, 2012 11:27 am
Done it a lot. Go to VN Embassy on Wireless Rd (next to Plaza Athenee). You'll have the visa the next day. They close for 2hrs for lunch 11:30-1:30 maybe. Big lines and wait time at SGN for VOA. Air Asia is usually the cheapest, but check Kayak. I took a Turkish Air flight back to BKK a month ago and it was maybe $10 more than AA. wj
#4
redondo-beach , Jan 13, 2012 11:45 am
Quote:
thanks for the info, what do you need to bring for the visa ? and what does it cost ? Do you pay in Baht ?Originally Posted by whackyjacky
Done it a lot. Go to VN Embassy on Wireless Rd (next to Plaza Athenee). You'll have the visa the next day.
thanks again
RB
#6
whackyjacky , Jan 13, 2012 12:37 pm
Quote:
thanks again
RB
Yeah baht and your PP. That's all you need. Can't remember how much. Got mine in Phnom Penh in Dec and it was $40 maybe $50. BTW, make sure the date on your visa precedes your arrival. They were running a scam at the BKK Embassy a few years back where VN immigration at SGN threatened to turn you around back to BKK because you arrived BEFORE the visa date. They asked for $100. I gave 'em $40 I think. Happened to 5 or 6 other people I know too. I don't think they're pulling it anymore though. wjOriginally Posted by redondo-beach
thanks for the info, what do you need to bring for the visa ? and what does it cost ? Do you pay in Baht ?thanks again
RB
#7
It's not a VOA. It's a pre-arranged Visa. You can't just show up in Saigon and get a Visa (they won't let you on the plane without a Visa in your passport or a letter explaining you have a pre-arranged Visa).
You should also bring a couple of passport photos as well.
You should also bring a couple of passport photos as well.
#8
whackyjacky , Jan 14, 2012 12:45 pm
Quote:
You should also bring a couple of passport photos as well.
I got the photos done in PP and they didn't want 'em. Something new I guess. This was a month ago. Maybe you should get 'em anyway. You will use them eventually. wjOriginally Posted by SaigonCyclo
It's not a VOA. It's a pre-arranged Visa. You can't just show up in Saigon and get a Visa (they won't let you on the plane without a Visa in your passport or a letter explaining you have a pre-arranged Visa).You should also bring a couple of passport photos as well.
#9
dsquared37 , Jan 15, 2012 2:40 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Quote:
In PNH it's $45 and you'll either get the passport back that afternoon or the next day. Do not give the guards outside your passport no matter what they say. Originally Posted by whackyjacky
Yeah baht and your PP. That's all you need. Can't remember how much. Got mine in Phnom Penh in Dec and it was $40 maybe $50.
A few years ago I received a visa at the Vietnam embassy in Bangkok. At that time there was a maze of dates when the embassy was closed due to new years etc and I paid for a rush visa.
As for flights I've taken LH. That segment is basically service-less, at least that particular time. No beer ('we offload the beer in BKK') and no immigration forms ('we never carry them'). Ironically after calling them out of both items they miraculously appeared. My parents in F got neither. Next time I'll take TK.
VN also runs special BKK-SGN so look into them as well.
#10
We are making similar trip this weekend (msp-nrt-bkk then bkk-sgn). Booked bkk-sgn with Air Asia at ~$70usd one way. Heard mixed reports on the VOA so we sent our passports to the embassy in the US to get the Visa (not just a Visa approval). Here is the link:
http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/se...cation-process
Will post back next week on how it goes.
http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/se...cation-process
Will post back next week on how it goes.
#11
whackyjacky , Jan 18, 2012 4:14 pm
Quote:
http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/se...cation-process
Will post back next week on how it goes.
How much was the visa ? I looked at it a few years back and thought it was kinda expensive. wjOriginally Posted by milesk
We are making similar trip this weekend (msp-nrt-bkk then bkk-sgn). Booked bkk-sgn with Air Asia at ~$70usd one way. Heard mixed reports on the VOA so we sent our passports to the embassy in the US to get the Visa (not just a Visa approval). Here is the link:http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/se...cation-process
Will post back next week on how it goes.
#12
Quote:
It was more expensive at $80 for a single entry 30 day and $100 for a multi entry plus the Fed Ex shipping both ways. For us it was worth the extra to avoid standing in line for however long and hopefully avoid any potential issues. Also, the visa stays in the passport vs a VOA where they remove it when you leave.Originally Posted by whackyjacky
How much was the visa ? I looked at it a few years back and thought it was kinda expensive. wj
#13
Quote:
Its not a VOA. Its a pre-arranged Visa. You can't arrive in Vietnam and get a Visa (they won't let you on the plane without a Visa in your passport or a letter explaining you have a pre-arranged Visa).Originally Posted by milesk
Also, the visa stays in the passport vs a VOA where they remove it when you leave.
Where did you read they remove the Visa from your passport when you leave? What do they do, tear the page out of your passport? My pre-arranged Visa is still in my passport.
#14
Braindrain , Jan 26, 2012 12:07 am
Quote:
Definitely misinformation.Originally Posted by milesk
... a VOA where they remove it when you leave.
#15
CrazyInteg , Jan 27, 2012 12:40 pm
I have always got my visa in the US ahead of time. It's somewhere around $75
I flew Qatar airways. WOW! Most impressive coach seats ever. I think it was around $120 round trip. Vietnam airways was the same price but I didn't like their departure times. Both airlines served food. This was 2 years ago.
I flew Qatar airways. WOW! Most impressive coach seats ever. I think it was around $120 round trip. Vietnam airways was the same price but I didn't like their departure times. Both airlines served food. This was 2 years ago.