Prior to 2022: Visa / VOA Info for Vietnam
Hi all,
I am flying CX from HKG to SGN on May 19, in order to connect to SQ SGN-SIN-NRT for the A380 Inaugural. I have never been to Vietnam and wonder if I need a transit visa. I assume there is a transit desk for passengers connecting to other airlines, but will appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Carfield |
What is your citizenship?
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Dual
I have both HK SAR passports and US passport.
Dual citizens sort of: HK and US Thanks, Carfield |
I didn't need a visa for int->int transit at SGN last year. However do have plenty of time to spare if you don't intend clearing immigration. There are no check in facilities at the transfer desk so someone has to go landside to check you in.
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Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
(Post 9453992)
I didn't need a visa for int->int transit at SGN last year. However do have plenty of time to spare if you don't intend clearing immigration. There are no check in facilities at the transfer desk so someone has to go landside to check you in.
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I think the same process since last year on what Kiwi did.
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Myvietnamvisa.com legit?
I need a visa for Vietnam, and dug up this website: http://www.myvietnamvisa.com/
I never heard of it before, and haven't seen it referenced on FT. Is it legit? Has anyone used it, and do you recommend it? Thanks! |
Why not just fill out the form available on the website of the Vietnam embassy, mail it to them with the fee, including a return addressed fedex envelope?
No need to pay someone else to do it for you IMHO. I did this about a month back, had everything in hand within a week. |
gleff--Myvietnamvisa promise a visa on arrival (or better: pre-arranged visa to be stamped in the passport at the airport), which we would prefer to sending our passports away to the consulate. I found some reviews on Lonely Planet and other sites, and they generally seem to be positive (if all written by newcomers).
fly888-Thank you for the information, and welcome to Flyertalk! |
We arranged visas on arrival (not through this company - ours didn't have an online service so we had to arrange a bank draft) and it worked perfectly.
Also be aware that flights on Vietnam Air are much cheaper if paid for in Vietnam - again we did this through our travel agent. In our case the flights for 2 of us paid for in Vietnam were just under £200 whereas booking them through a travel company here in the UK they would have been £775!! |
I used
http://visa-vietnam.org/ recently (12/08 for entry 1/09) without any problem. Their price may be a little less than the site you mention (for more than 1 person), and at the time I was doing this, the site you mention did not accept credit cards. This site also will give you link to .pdf of a form that you will need to have filled out to get the VOA. So, you can print it out and fill it out in advance. Otherwise, you will fill it out at arrival which will delay processing. Also, make sure to have 2 passport-size photos ready (although they only took 1), and NICE CLEAN NEW CRISP MONEY US$. They will NOT accept bills that are torn, marked, wrinkled, etc. I would also give them EXACT CHANGE. You will get an unfavorable rate of exchange if you pay the stamp fee in anything but US$. The advantages of using service like this include lower cost compared to sending your passport to Vietnamese Embassy in US, you never part with your passport, and it's very fast to get your approval letter. The disadvantage may be that, depending upon your arrival point, time and location, it may take a little longer (I arrived SGN on an AirAsia flight shortly after an incoming from AUstralia and it took 10-20min (estimate) to get the Visa at the VoA window, then another 10-20min to clear immigration. A friend arrived HAN on AirAsia and experienced no waiting.) |
I've used Visa on Arrival twice with good results. I have not used that travel agent. My friend in Hanoi, Mr. Diep, does this service and allows payment in person after arrival, and he only charges $16. for the service. This service is only for an Approval Letter which is stamped by Immigration - once you arrive in country you get the hard copy visa for an additional $25. Diep is the owner of Adventure Indochina in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Diep gives such unique, personalized service - he's a real character too (get his recommendations for real Hanoi street food).
www.adventureindochina.com |
Visa / VOA Info for Vietnam (consolidated)
Hello,
I am travelling to Vietnam and have a single entry visa. I am an american citizen. I am landing and taking off from Saigon. I wanted to add Thailand to my trip. Is it possible to land in Saigon, spend time in Vietnam, fly to Thailand and then fly back to USA via Saigon on my way back? I do not plan to go out of the airport on my way back. Thanks in advance for all the help, KD |
Technically...yes you can transit without a Visa.
However, if traveling on 2 separate tickets you could run into troubles with through checking your luggage, or getting your boarding pass in Saigon. / 01MAY09 / 1956 UTC National U.S.A. (US) /Embarkation Thailand (TH) Transit Vietnam (VN) /Destination U.S.A. (US) Visited Thailand (TH) ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW Vietnam (VN) TWOV (Transit Without Visa): Visa required, except for Those continuing their journey on the same day and provided holding confirmed return or onward tickets. Leaving the airport transit area is not allowed(SEE NOTE 26798). NOTE 26798: Certain international flights operated by Vietnam Airlines For details, click here Visa Issuance: - On arrival: if required, a transit visa when arriving by Vietnam Airlines only, provided holding a letter from Vietnamese Immigration confirming that a visa will be issued on arrival. Fee: USD 25.-. Additional Information: - All visitors must hold: a. documents required for next destination; and b. sufficient funds for the duration of their stay; and c. return/onward ticket, when not requiring a visa to enter Vietnam. |
Are you flying to Saigon from USA on the UA flight? If so, you might consider flying Saigon-Bangkok and back on TG--as they are both Star Alliance, it should be no problem on the return journey to check your stuff in BKK all the way back to USA. You'd just have to show both BKK-SGN and SGN-USA tickets and get them to manually put it into the system. Not sure if they can give you boarding pass in BKK for SGN-USA flight, but you could deal with that if you had to in SGN. Flying Vietnam Airlines to SGN-BKK and back might present more of a problem, as they don't yet connect into the interlining system too well (if any) and you'd probably have to find a way to reclaim your bags and then recheck. However, they might be able to either give you escort or provide a transit visa to get you back around to transit side.
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