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
Feb 20, 2018, 8:20 am
#1441
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,194
Trying to figure out my best options:
Thoughts or advice? Should I wait to see if the visa-free is extended?
- UK and US passport holder
- resident in SFO area
- first trip to Vietnam is to Ho Chi Minh City entering the morning of June 30th and leaving the evening of July 1st
- second trip is to Hanoi, entering July 22nd and leaving Jul 24th
Thoughts or advice? Should I wait to see if the visa-free is extended?
Obtain e-Visa using USA passport for 22 July entry. Leave 24 July using USA passport.
Feb 20, 2018, 4:30 pm
#1442
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 106
Great stuff guys, but what i'm unclear about is why all the various websites people have used.
US citizen here, traveling to Vietnam (SGN) in April, so it appears eVisa is the way to go. But i'm not clear why the different sites. For example,
$17 here - https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/ (this one mentions taking a "Stamping fee" as well as 2 photos....so i think that's more than should be needed, correct?)
But then the official govt site is this one (i think) which is $25? - https://visa.mofa.gov.vn/Homepage.aspx
or is this one the official one? https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...trang-chu-ttdt (I believe this one is the best. i'm from USA, so eVisa is allowed. BUT....it looks like SGN Airport (Ho Chi Minh) is NOT allowed??? Is this correct? :-()
And then this is for eVisa good for 30 days, which is fine, we'll be there for 6 days, arrive and leave from SGN. Just not sure which website to use....and since SGN doesn't appear to accept eVisa, so what is the next way i need to go?
US citizen here, traveling to Vietnam (SGN) in April, so it appears eVisa is the way to go. But i'm not clear why the different sites. For example,
$17 here - https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/ (this one mentions taking a "Stamping fee" as well as 2 photos....so i think that's more than should be needed, correct?)
But then the official govt site is this one (i think) which is $25? - https://visa.mofa.gov.vn/Homepage.aspx
or is this one the official one? https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...trang-chu-ttdt (I believe this one is the best. i'm from USA, so eVisa is allowed. BUT....it looks like SGN Airport (Ho Chi Minh) is NOT allowed??? Is this correct? :-()
And then this is for eVisa good for 30 days, which is fine, we'll be there for 6 days, arrive and leave from SGN. Just not sure which website to use....and since SGN doesn't appear to accept eVisa, so what is the next way i need to go?
Last edited by shadymg; Feb 20, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Feb 20, 2018, 4:47 pm
#1443
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,194
Great stuff guys, but what i'm unclear about is why all the various websites people have used.
US citizen here, traveling to Vietnam (SGN) in April, so it appears eVisa is the way to go. But i'm not clear why the different sites. For example,
$17 here - https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/ (this one mentions taking a "Stamping fee" as well as 2 photos....so i think that's more than should be needed, correct?)
But then the official govt site is this one (i think) which is $25? - https://visa.mofa.gov.vn/Homepage.aspx
or is this one the official one? https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...trang-chu-ttdt (I believe this one is the best. i'm from USA, so eVisa is allowed. BUT....it looks like SGN Airport (Ho Chi Minh) is NOT allowed??? Is this correct? :-()
And then this is for eVisa good for 30 days, which is fine, we'll be there for 6 days, arrive and leave from SGN. Just not sure which website to use....and since SGN doesn't appear to accept eVisa, so what is the next way i need to go?
US citizen here, traveling to Vietnam (SGN) in April, so it appears eVisa is the way to go. But i'm not clear why the different sites. For example,
$17 here - https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/ (this one mentions taking a "Stamping fee" as well as 2 photos....so i think that's more than should be needed, correct?)
But then the official govt site is this one (i think) which is $25? - https://visa.mofa.gov.vn/Homepage.aspx
or is this one the official one? https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...trang-chu-ttdt (I believe this one is the best. i'm from USA, so eVisa is allowed. BUT....it looks like SGN Airport (Ho Chi Minh) is NOT allowed??? Is this correct? :-()
And then this is for eVisa good for 30 days, which is fine, we'll be there for 6 days, arrive and leave from SGN. Just not sure which website to use....and since SGN doesn't appear to accept eVisa, so what is the next way i need to go?
The official e-Visa website is https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...trang-chu-ttdt and if you look at the list of permissible airports I believe you will see that Ho Chi Minh is #8 on that list. (Tan Son Nhat airport.)
Feb 20, 2018, 4:49 pm
#1444
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 106
The first website you list is for an invitation letter to obtain a Visa On Arrival. It is NOT an e-Visa.
The official e-Visa website is https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...trang-chu-ttdt and if you look at the list of permissible airports I believe you will see that Ho Chi Minh is #8 on that list. (Tan Son Nhat airport.)
The official e-Visa website is https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/we...trang-chu-ttdt and if you look at the list of permissible airports I believe you will see that Ho Chi Minh is #8 on that list. (Tan Son Nhat airport.)
Feb 20, 2018, 6:51 pm
#1445
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
Definitely going to do this - doesn't seem like there's any reason to wait, barring some miniscule risk of Vietnam closing entry to holders of both passports.
Thanks for the clarity on the options, really helpful.
This is one I was playing around with -- but somewhere I came across verbiage intimating that your entire trip had to be complete by June 30th to take advantage of the visa-free entry.
I did email the embassy locally, and they said that I should get a multiple entry visa as I definitely can't go in visa free twice within 30 days. I suspect the above is the alternative to that.
Will follow up for the thread once I finally do something!
I don't quite keep up with this as I used to, since this thread mostly died with the e-visa introduction. But the thing you need to be careful of is that some of the visa-free entries do not allow for re-entry within X days of exiting the country. This is to avoid people from those countries basically living here without any fee and then doing the same day turnaround at Cambodia or Bangkok etc. But it catches the tourists also who exit to Siem Reap or other plances then want to come back in. So you can wait and see what will happen, which is wise you have plenty of time -it only takes a few days or a week for most options. But you should look to see if your return into Hanoi will be inside or outside that timeframe.
Options:
Don't want to worry: Get a multiple entry visa ahead of time or at get a letter and do multi entry at the VOA desk.
Don't want to spend: Wait to see about visa-free, or use the USA passport with e-visa as secondary cheapest (but single entry only I believe, so you need to do it for both entries).
Don't want to stand in line: Evisa or Visa from embassy or Visa free, all will be shorter (by 20-45 min) of the VOA option.
Options:
Don't want to worry: Get a multiple entry visa ahead of time or at get a letter and do multi entry at the VOA desk.
Don't want to spend: Wait to see about visa-free, or use the USA passport with e-visa as secondary cheapest (but single entry only I believe, so you need to do it for both entries).
Don't want to stand in line: Evisa or Visa from embassy or Visa free, all will be shorter (by 20-45 min) of the VOA option.
I did email the embassy locally, and they said that I should get a multiple entry visa as I definitely can't go in visa free twice within 30 days. I suspect the above is the alternative to that.
Will follow up for the thread once I finally do something!
Mar 15, 2018, 1:34 pm
#1446
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1
I'm confused as to which way to enter my full name for the e-visa? On the one screen it shows last name and then first name. On the application page it labeled as full name as First Middle Last Name. Which is the correct format? Are both acceptable?
May 2, 2018, 8:46 am
#1447
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 413
As a Canadian, just applied for e-Visa, fairly painless, will see if it works in 3 days
Came out to CAD$ 33.25, based on my MasterCard authorization of 589,349 VND
Came out to CAD$ 33.25, based on my MasterCard authorization of 589,349 VND
May 3, 2018, 1:10 am
#1448
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 246
I am a U.S. citizen.
On Tuesday afternoon I applied for an eVisa and today is Thursday, it took almost exactly 48 hours. My biggest issue was my bank, which likes to reject basically every online transaction involving a foreign country.
I will be entering at Lao Cai’s land checkpoint, where VOA is not even an option. But if it were, I wouldn’t use it now that I have gone through the easy process of an eVisa. Why go through the process of getting a letter, and waiting for quite some time at the boarder, when I can simply pay $25 and enter the country straight away?
On Tuesday afternoon I applied for an eVisa and today is Thursday, it took almost exactly 48 hours. My biggest issue was my bank, which likes to reject basically every online transaction involving a foreign country.
I will be entering at Lao Cai’s land checkpoint, where VOA is not even an option. But if it were, I wouldn’t use it now that I have gone through the easy process of an eVisa. Why go through the process of getting a letter, and waiting for quite some time at the boarder, when I can simply pay $25 and enter the country straight away?
May 3, 2018, 4:21 am
#1449
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: EWR, SLC, SGN
Posts: 1,113
I will be entering at Lao Cai’s land checkpoint, where VOA is not even an option. But if it were, I wouldn’t use it now that I have gone through the easy process of an eVisa. Why go through the process of getting a letter, and waiting for quite some time at the boarder, when I can simply pay $25 and enter the country straight away?
May 3, 2018, 7:25 pm
#1450
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
This has been answered a few times. Longer visas, and shorter notice visas, are still reasons people might choose to use the VOA process. Also some other countries still have VOA as the best option, so this thread is still relevant to them. But yes, the evisa has made the VOA much less common.
You can get a multiple entry visa with VOA
Travel agencies can turn VOA around in 5 minutes in a pinch.
Applying for a VOA takes 30 seconds if you know what you're doing.
Depending on your arrival time, the wait at immigration can be as little as 5 minutes.
May 3, 2018, 8:21 pm
#1451
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Couple of additional info points: used VoA at DAD - one in our group had ordered online visa in US passport, while other two had non-US passports and VoA was the only option for them.
At DAD - and I can tell at SGN snd HAN as well - it is a lottery how much VoA processing will take time. At DAD this time it was shortest - no one was waiting at the counter in line when we arrived and visas were ready in passports 5 min later. Situation did change 10 min later after arrival of three planes. There was at least 20 min wait for pax who had to stand in line. Yet it was way better than the very first experience with VoA at SGN 4 years ago when it took an hour to get visas in passports.
And then - there is separate wait in line for immigration control- it was 30 min wait and while there was separate booth for APEC cards, it was useless because they lined up all ordinary pax there.
At DAD - and I can tell at SGN snd HAN as well - it is a lottery how much VoA processing will take time. At DAD this time it was shortest - no one was waiting at the counter in line when we arrived and visas were ready in passports 5 min later. Situation did change 10 min later after arrival of three planes. There was at least 20 min wait for pax who had to stand in line. Yet it was way better than the very first experience with VoA at SGN 4 years ago when it took an hour to get visas in passports.
And then - there is separate wait in line for immigration control- it was 30 min wait and while there was separate booth for APEC cards, it was useless because they lined up all ordinary pax there.
May 3, 2018, 11:32 pm
#1452
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Isn't there some (small) uncertainty about the VN government extending the visa-free entry rules beyond some date in mid-June?
May 4, 2018, 6:30 am
#1453
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
seached and found something about this on the FCO advice page. End of June, not mid-June:
Until 30 June 2018 ‘British Citizen’ passport holders travelling for tourism or business can enter Vietnam for up to a maximum of 15 days (inclusive of dates of entry and exit) without a visa. Confirmation of whether the visa waiver will be extended beyond June 2018 is unlikely to be received until close to the time.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...y-requirements
Jun 21, 2018, 9:51 am
#1454
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 216
It looks like the UK exemption has been extended until 2021, is that right?
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...y-requirements
Two of us (not me!) are British, so that looks to be easy. I'm trying to sort out what I need to do. Are the eVisa and VoA the same cost? From one of the links, it looks like the eVisa is $25 and can be done on line in 3 days. The VoA is also $25, requires a letter of invitation, and waiting in line on arrival. It sounds like a no-brainer to do the eVisa, which is why I'm worried that somewho I've missed something. We are traveling in August so I have a few weeks to sort it out, but I'd rest easier if I could get it done in advance. Thank for any help!
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...y-requirements
Two of us (not me!) are British, so that looks to be easy. I'm trying to sort out what I need to do. Are the eVisa and VoA the same cost? From one of the links, it looks like the eVisa is $25 and can be done on line in 3 days. The VoA is also $25, requires a letter of invitation, and waiting in line on arrival. It sounds like a no-brainer to do the eVisa, which is why I'm worried that somewho I've missed something. We are traveling in August so I have a few weeks to sort it out, but I'd rest easier if I could get it done in advance. Thank for any help!
Jun 21, 2018, 5:09 pm
#1455
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,194
It looks like the UK exemption has been extended until 2021, is that right?
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...y-requirements
Two of us (not me!) are British, so that looks to be easy. I'm trying to sort out what I need to do. Are the eVisa and VoA the same cost? From one of the links, it looks like the eVisa is $25 and can be done on line in 3 days. The VoA is also $25, requires a letter of invitation, and waiting in line on arrival. It sounds like a no-brainer to do the eVisa, which is why I'm worried that somewho I've missed something. We are traveling in August so I have a few weeks to sort it out, but I'd rest easier if I could get it done in advance. Thank for any help!
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...y-requirements
Two of us (not me!) are British, so that looks to be easy. I'm trying to sort out what I need to do. Are the eVisa and VoA the same cost? From one of the links, it looks like the eVisa is $25 and can be done on line in 3 days. The VoA is also $25, requires a letter of invitation, and waiting in line on arrival. It sounds like a no-brainer to do the eVisa, which is why I'm worried that somewho I've missed something. We are traveling in August so I have a few weeks to sort it out, but I'd rest easier if I could get it done in advance. Thank for any help!
eVisa is $25, all-in. You'll have it 48-72 hours after you apply online.