A search shows that HCMC, Da Nang and Hanoi airports offer Visa on Arrival (prepaid online), and this is much cheaper and less hassle than getting one from a consulate. Anybody have experience with this; does this work as advertised? Looking at a jaunt with Airasia next year.
Vietnam Visa on Arrival, Does This Work?
retiredfeline on 09/11/2016 - 10:48
Last edited 09/11/2016 - 12:04
Last edited 09/11/2016 - 12:04
Comments
I visited Vietnam in 2011 and got my Visa done online at MyVietnamVisa.com It was $25 at the time.
The entire process was pretty easy. There was a bit of a queue at HCMC airport and we actually found that if you were the FIRST to arrive at the Visa check in process, you were the LAST to leave (since they just stack the Visas on top of each other as they receive them and then go through the pile from top to bottom…)
Depending on when you're travelling. Vietnam's rolling out e-visa program starting 1 Jan 2017.
http://www.vir.com.vn/vietnam-to-issue-e-visas-for-foreign-v…
Worked well for us a couple of months ago
Ordered a letter of introduction from these people: Vietnam Visa Center
They were very fast. all comms by email
Present the letters, your passport and USD cash at the airport - fast and straightforward.
All seemed a bit pointless - Singapore for example simply stamps your passport on arrival - but the country is a bit backward so visa process all seems to be about catching a few more dollars from each tourist
Much easier than the local consulate which requires you to post your original passport to them (and hope it comes back!)
but the country is a bit backward so visa process all seems to be about catching a few more dollars from each tourist
many countries do this. Australia is also one of them…
and Murica
Singapore also charge for tourist VISAs too. Australia is exempt.
i went to vietnam last year and being the organised person i am i got mine from the consulate here in aust. upon arrival late at night i was happy to see pretty much all of the people on my flight lining up for a visa, i was the only one walking straight through. Got to customs showed my visa they said no and cancelled it. i was then led to join the rest of the herd, didnt have to pay for another, apparently the wrong one was issued.
I guess the official got wind of your OzB handle. :(
if if go back there again, i'll just grab one from the airport, wasn't a hassle at all.
In Vietnam now. Excellent service with tuntravel.com once again. Third time using Tun for letter of permission to enter. Asked for, and received, a discount as I had used their service twice before. Ms Vivian dealt with my issues, and various emails, expeditiously and with aplomb. As only my name appeared on the document, and as my departure was imminent, I firmly believe I was fast tracked without paying a fast track fee. Absolutely outstanding service.
I agree. Have used Tun a few times. No problems. VOA is a great system compared to the alternative.
Agreed. I was surprised by immigration as online their has been many complaints about rorting/bribes but…in handing over USD50 for one person the change came back in U.S. without asking. Other immigration may have reached for the calculator to convert U.S. to VND etc..
Probably because they are used to handling USD for all arrivals so faster not to convert. When I went to Hainan Island which also offers Visa On Arrival, they were peeved when I paid in RMB instead of USD because they had to rustle up change in RMB.
VND is pegged to $US. They do this because otherwise it would be worth ziltch. Yep $US is what VOA deals in.
If you don't want to die YOUNG.Avoid travel to Vietnam.
Too late, I'm already old so no way I'll die young. :P
you are exception.lol…
Do you have any personal experience of dying young to share so that I know what to avoid?
@greenpossum:
Eating in Vietnam is extremely dangerous: chemicals are used to serve animals with disease, there is bad hygiene, and there have been lots of reports of cancer as a result of this hazardous consumption. In the past year, approximately 75% of cancer cases were resulted from the food in Vietnam.@Brucet: They have a high cancer rate relating to smoking too. Re food, I eat a lot of stir frys when there.
@greenpossum: I had been there twice and I seen it.I had all these information from Vietnamese local residents , local news.Also its on VN Television.
Next time you back there just do some research .
I had a great time in Vietnam, and so did my family. I'll go back when I have more time and fewer other destinations to visit.
I guess I may still die youngish, but I'm not sure how that trip will have contributed. Maybe I brought home a cursed tiki souvenir or something?I've been there about 25 times, and still alive. However I am the most sensible person that I know ! :))
Good luck to you.
It works, but there will be a queue, you need to have USD to pay and a passport photo.
You also need a letter/invite to access it.
It is the best option, but is a bit of a hassle.
EDIT: sorry, didn't see the bit about prepaid online. I don't know about this service, it wasn't available a couple of years ago when we went.