Ask us about Vietnam
Jun 21, 23, 8:41 am
#331
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Asking for a friend (since she knows me as the STC - Senior Travel Consultant)... Has anyone successfully applied and paid for a Tourist EVisa for Vietnam recently (directly by themselves not going through an agency)? The payment seems to be failing and her bank claims they are never even seeing the payment request. She was trying to use a Local Massachusetts Bank Issued Debit Card. (And is now trying one of my Capital One Credit Cards).
Jun 21, 23, 9:43 am
#332
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Do either of these cards have SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) enabled by your bank where you get a one time passcode for online purchases? If they don't, and knowing how the US banking sector is rarely keeping pace with the rest of the world, then this could be the problem - the payment provider for the Vietnam government probably requires SCA and if the card issuing bank doesn't support it then it fails.
In this case, there are two options.
1. Ring the bank that issued the card, ask them to check for failed transactions, and ask if they can do a manual pre-auth for SCA for this failed transaction and then try again.
2. Find a bank card that supports SCA. Typically from a challenger/digital bank with modern backend systems.
In this case, there are two options.
1. Ring the bank that issued the card, ask them to check for failed transactions, and ask if they can do a manual pre-auth for SCA for this failed transaction and then try again.
2. Find a bank card that supports SCA. Typically from a challenger/digital bank with modern backend systems.
Last edited by stc; Jun 21, 23 at 11:31 pm
Jun 26, 23, 4:50 am
#333
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: DinHo Ecotour (Mekong Delta, Vietnam)
Posts: 113
Having said that Oct/ Nov is not a good time for Central VN (Danang/ Hoian, Hue…), flood/ typhoon season so travel to North (Hanoi) and South (HCMC) including their surroundings will be better.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Jun 28, 23 at 2:49 pm Reason: Removed quoted post by banned member
Aug 19, 23, 4:28 am
#334
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 48
Update on Vietnam e-visas:
90 day single / multiple entry e-visas now available online here https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn/b...thc?matt=26277
US$ 25/single-entry | US$ 50/multiple-entry
The visa exemption (for some nationalities) has also been amended - from 15 days to 45 days.
Edit: It seems the original E-visa site has now been updated to issue the new 90 day E-visas: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...trang-chu-ttdt
90 day single / multiple entry e-visas now available online here https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn/b...thc?matt=26277
US$ 25/single-entry | US$ 50/multiple-entry
The visa exemption (for some nationalities) has also been amended - from 15 days to 45 days.
Edit: It seems the original E-visa site has now been updated to issue the new 90 day E-visas: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...trang-chu-ttdt
Last edited by CalmKaren; Sep 4, 23 at 3:41 am Reason: New information
Aug 19, 23, 10:07 pm
#335
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: DinHo Ecotour (Mekong Delta, Vietnam)
Posts: 113
All countries and territories are eligible to apply for Evisa from August 15th 2023.
Nothing has changed in a list of Vietnam visa exemption countries this time I mean no new country was added into the list (Maybe next time).
Nothing has changed in a list of Vietnam visa exemption countries this time I mean no new country was added into the list (Maybe next time).
Sep 1, 23, 12:55 am
#336
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Whatever is cheapest
Posts: 77
Going to DAD the first week of October. My son would like to take surfing lessons (beginner level). Any recommendations? We are staying at the new Hilton Garden Inn, so I guess it is right across the street from My Khe beach.
Also, Is Grab Car the best way to get from DAD to the hotel around mid-day?
Also, Is Grab Car the best way to get from DAD to the hotel around mid-day?
Nov 16, 23, 11:28 am
#340
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 33
This might he a stupid question, but are airlines like vietnam airlines safe? Also, do you allow for aeat belt extenders for busness class passengers with airbag seat belts. I tried contacting them and i think there is a language barrier.
Ryan
Ryan
Nov 16, 23, 11:23 pm
#341
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 39
Well, for whatever it's worth: https://www.airlineratings.com/ratin...tnam-airlines/
Nov 17, 23, 5:02 am
#342
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 33
Well, for whatever it's worth: https://www.airlineratings.com/ratin...tnam-airlines/
Thanks. It doesn't make me feel better because im taking united out there and they are only rated at 3.
Nov 17, 23, 10:59 am
#343
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,391
Vietnam Airlines are a Delta partner, we flew (business) ICN-SGN in 2019, no problems at all. I did not have concerns about safety (not 100%, but generally if an airline is part of an international alliance, I feel better about its safety record). Don't know about seatbelt extenders, sorry....
Nov 17, 23, 11:44 am
#344
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 33
Vietnam Airlines are a Delta partner, we flew (business) ICN-SGN in 2019, no problems at all. I did not have concerns about safety (not 100%, but generally if an airline is part of an international alliance, I feel better about its safety record). Don't know about seatbelt extenders, sorry....
Nov 19, 23, 4:49 pm
#345
Join Date: May 2022
Location: London
Programs: British Airways GCH
Posts: 47
Other disappointment was they had a total of 4 beers on the aircraft for the flight from Danang to Ho Chi Min so other than having the comfy large seats at the front the business class was hardly worth the extra.
