Entering Vietnam without a Visa or Pre-Approval Letter

idonteven on 15/04/2017 - 09:38

So I'm in a predicament, I'm leaving for Malaysia tomorrow midday and going from Malaysia to Saigon, Vietnam on the 21st of April. I have no Visa or pre-approval letter for entering Vietnam. I don't travel much and it did not cross my mind at all that I'll need a Visa to enter Vietnam. I only realised this last night, I've tried all the travel agencies in Cabramatta but they are all closed due to the Easter longweekend, the Vietnamese Consulate is also closed.

Is there any way for me to get a Visa on Arrival without a pre-approval letter? My biggest worry now is that I'll be put back on the plane once they find out I have not prepared a Visa.

What are my options at this point?

So to sum it up:
Leaving Australia tomorrow (Sunday)
Entering Saigon airport in Vietnam on the 21st
No Visa, no pre-approval letter, only have my boarding pass and passport.

What do OzBargain??

I will definitely not be making this mistake again. Thanks.

Travel

Comments

  • Flying Ace on 15/04/2017 - 09:55

    You can get an urgent Visa approval letter from somewhere like Vietnamvisapro.net, they do urgent approvals - that would be your best way to get one.
    I'm not sure what the procedure is if you don't have one, but I'm sure in a country like Vietnam you'll probably just be sent back.

    • ronnknee on 15/04/2017 - 21:19
      +1

      Pretty sure they'll be denied at the check-in. Otherwise it'll be the airline's responsibility to return the passenger back to the originating city, if they arrive and they instantly get rejected.

  • rgr on 15/04/2017 - 09:58

    you wont make it past immigration without one so good luck.

  • CyberMurning on 15/04/2017 - 10:00
    +1

    Really strange country, they do visa on arrival but need pre approval letter? What the fudge….

  • MrHyde on 15/04/2017 - 10:01
    +1

    You have a week to get the invitation letter - loads of time. I was in a similar predicament just a few months ago. I was in Malaysia and the day before flying to Vietnam, I decided to double check the entry procedures. I had the visa form filled out and passport photos ready; but had missed the invitation letter requirement.

    Got online and ordered one from visacenter.vn and got one the next day. To be safe, I delayed my flight by a day so that I had the invitation letter prior to boarding the aircraft.

    They also have urgent - same day service as well, but you have 7 days, so loads of time to get one done.

  • retiredfeline on 15/04/2017 - 10:12
    +1

    You might not even be allowed to board the plane in Malaysia if they know about VN visa requirements. Do like the other posters say and ​get the letter online. You'll need to find a printer when you receive it. Also have one passport photo and 25USD cash. The money you pay online is for the agency.

  • Almost Banned on 15/04/2017 - 10:42
    +1

    Just FYI if anyone checks in here…
    The wife and I are going to Vietnam in August. I thought I'd do a quick check of Visa sites to see what the costs were.
    Using just the websites mentioned in this post I got the following results for our two visas.

    Vietnam-Visa.com = $36.5
    Visacenter.vn = $24
    Vietnamvisapro.vn = $12

    I suspect they are all in US$ and all exclude the stamp fee - but that's a fair difference.

    • Asian Boyfriend on 17/05/2017 - 12:22

      I've used Vietnamvistapro.vn before. Can totally vote for them. Cheap and efficient, usually takes just 1-2 business days.

  • dcuksuop on 15/04/2017 - 12:28
    +1

    I got mine last October from http://www.vietnamvisapro.net/
    It was 18USD for 2 people. Paid via paypal. Got the letter in 1-2 days.

  • MishyMoo on 21/04/2017 - 17:06

    I found this (below) on the Au Gov Smart Traveller website. Anyone know anything about this?
    The option of applying for a visa directly to the Vietnamese Consulate means sending one's passport (of course).

    There are continuing reports of public disclosure of personal information by private online visa services and applications through travel agents for ‘visa issued on arrival’ approval letters. We recommend you apply for your Vietnamese visa directly from the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam.

    • retiredfeline on 21/05/2017 - 21:46
      +1

      The disclosure of details refers to the fact that these agencies receive approvals​ in batches on the same letter from the VN authorities so other travelers might see your name, nationality, passport ID and date of entry. If this is of concern to you then pay extra and get the approval on a letter with only you on it.

      • MishyMoo on 21/05/2017 - 23:12

        Thanks Possum :)

      • SirFlibbled on 23/05/2017 - 09:54

        Anything which is openly providing your passport number to strangers SHOULD be a concern to everyone.

  • mattyw on 21/05/2017 - 21:38
    +1

    I can totally vouch for http://vietnamvisapro.net/

    I have used them to get something like 30 or 40 people into Vietnam - myself 3 or 4 times. (Today I have a special visa exemption)

    They are pretty good - always check the letter when it comes back to make sure it reads your full name exactly. Else you better get back onto them to get it fixed up.

    And I have showed it to Air Asia and Jetstar before flying in on multiple occasions and other people have flown in on other airlines successfully.

    You can only use it in the main arrival destinations ie Da Nang HCM and Hanoi (But there may be 2 or 3 more)

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