As I plan the trip to Vietnam in January I’ll be posting helpful tips here. This just in from the Vietnam Embassy regarding Visa requirements for Vietnam Travel:
——— From Vietnam Embassy Regarding Visa Requirements ———–
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN VISITING VIETNAM AND FOR WRITING TO THE EMBASSY.
PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ORGANIZED IN THE FORM OF Q&A’S.
1) DO I NEED A VISA?
- YES, YOU DO.
- TECHNICALLY, ANY HOLDER OF A VALID (6 MONTHS PRIOR TO EXPIRATION) PASSPORT OTHER THAN VIETNAMESE, NO MATTER WHAT CITIZENSHIP, NEEDS A VISA.
- THIS GENERAL RULE IS APPLICABLE TO US CITIZENS, CANADIAN CITIZENS, LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES, EU CITIZENS, AND JAPANESE CITIZENS.
- PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST VIETNAM EMBASSY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION IF YOU THINK YOUR COUNTRY AND VIETNAM HAVE A VISA-WAIVER AGREEMENT.
2) HOW EARLY AND HOW LATE CAN I APPLY FOR A VISA?
- YOU CAN APPLY FOR YOUR VISA AS EARLY AS SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PROPOSED DATE OF ENTRY.
- YOU CAN APPLY FOR A VISA AS LATE AS A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR DEPARTURE. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL THE EMBASSY TO CHECK YOUR OPTIONS FOR RUSH/EXPEDITED SERVICE.
3) HOW LONG WILL THE VISA BE GOOD FOR?
- THE VISA WILL BE ISSUED ON THE BASIS OF YOUR SPECIFIC PROPOSED DATES ON THE APPLICATION.
- THE APPLICANT CANNOT ENTER THE COUNTRY BEFORE THE DATE.
- IF YOU STAY IN VIETNAM LESS THAN ONE MONTH, CHECK THE “ONE MONTH” BOX.
- IF YOU STAY IN VIETNAM LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, CHECK THE “THREE MONTHS” BOX.
4) WHAT TO SUBMIT?
- PASSPORT (YOU CAN SEND A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT AND ASK FOR A LOOSE-LEAF VISA with 02 photos. For loose leaf visa, please be adviced that
you will not keep it any more when going out from Vietnam; the immigration department will collect it back AND IF YOU LOOSE THE VISA, YOU NEED TO REAPPLY FOR A NEW VISA AND HAVE TO PAY AGAIN FOR FULL FEE)
- APPLICATION FORM (<http://www.vietnamembassy.us/consular_services/visa_info/>).
- 1 PASSPORT-SIZE PICTURE (2X2).
- FEE (1 MONEY ORDERS PER APPLICATION PACKAGE), PAYABLE TO “EMBASSY OF VIETNAM.” APPLICANTS APPLYING TOGETHER MAY SUBMIT THE FEE IN ONE MONEY ORDER.
- A SELF-ADDRESSED POSTAGE-PAID RETURN ENVELOPE. FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR PASSPORT(S), PLEASE USE ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MAILING SERVICES WHICH PROVIDE TRACKING NUMBERS: OR US EXPRESS MAIL OR CERTIFIED MAIL WITH FULL LABEL. PLEASE DO NOT USE OTHER MAILING SERVICES. APPLICANTS APPLYING TOGETHER MAY PROVIDE ONE ENVELOPE FOR VISAS TO BE RETURNED TO THE SAME ADDRESS.
5) HOW TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION?
- ALL ITEMS MUST BE FILLED-OUT COMPLETELY IN UPPER CASE LETTERS.
- DO NOT USE PO BOX ADDRESSES.
- ITEM 10 (NAME, ADDRESS OF YOUR CONTACT IN VIETNAM) IS REQUIRED. MAKE SURE THAT YOU YOU PUT THE ADDRESS AS WELL THE PHONE NUMBER WHERE YOU WILL STAY IN VIETNAM (THE HOTEL …). IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS INFORMATION RIGHT NOW, YOU MAY LEAVE THAT BLANK.
- IF YOU DO NOT HAVE VISA APPROVAL NUMBER, JUST LEAVE IT BLANK. THE EMBASSY OF VIETNAM WILL TAKE CARE OF IT FOR YOU.
6) WHAT IS THE FEE?
IF YOU DON’T HAVE APPROVAL NUMBER, YOU MAY SEND THE REQUEST TO THE EMBASSY TO APPLY FOR VISA AND APPROVAL NUMBER AT THE SAME TIME. VISA FEE
WITHOUT AN APPROVAL. THE FOLLOWING FEE IS TOTAL FEE, COVERING FOR VISA STAMPING FEE, VISA APPROVAL ARRANGEMENT FEE AND PROCESSING FEE.
A. SINGLE ENTRY, ONE-MONTH:
+ $70.00/ EACH PERSON (WITH 3-4 BUSINESS DAY PROCESS).
+ $80.00/ EACH PERSON ( WITH EXPEDITE SERVICE – 01-2 BUSINESS DAYS).
B. SINGLE ENTRY, THREE-MONTH: $90.00/ EACH PERSON (2 BUSINESS DAYS).
C. MULTIPLE ENTRY ONE-MONTH: $120.00/ EACH PERSON (WITH SERVICE 2 BUSINESS DAYS).
D. MULTIPLE ENTRY THREE-MONTH: $150.00/ EACH PERSON (WITH SERVICE 2 BUSINESS DAYS).
* SINGLE ENTRY: IF YOU ENTER VIETNAM ONE TIME.
MULTIPLE ENTRIES: YOU ENTER VIETNAM MORE THAN ONE TIME (YOU ENTER VIETNAM, GO TO ANOTHER NEIGHBOURING COUNTRY AND GO BACK TO VIETNAM).
* AT PRESENT, THE EMBASSY OF VIETNAM CAN ARRANGE AN APPROVAL FOR A VISA GOOD FOR 3 MONTHS, MULTIPLE ENTRIES AS MAXIMUM.
A VISA GOOD FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS CAN ONLY BE ISSUED TO ANY APPLICANT WHO HAS OBTAINED A WORK PERMIT AND A VISA APPROVAL ALREADY.
7) HOW TO PAY THE FEE?
PLEASE PREPARE ONE MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO “THE EMBASSY OF VIETNAM”.
NOTE: ONE GROUP APPLYING TOGETHER CAN USE ONE MONEY ORDER FOR THE ENTIRE GROUP.
IF YOU GO IN PERSON, YOU CAN PAY IN CASH.
8 ) HOW TO SUBMIT?
- HOURS FOR DROP-OFF AND WALK-IN AT THE EMBASSY: 9:30-12:00 (MONDAY-FRIDAY)
- BY MAIL:
FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR PAPER(S), PLEASE ONLY USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MAILING SERVICES WHICH PROVIDE TRACKING NUMBERS:
- EXPRESS MAIL (WWW.USPS.COM <HTTP://WWW.USPS.COM>)
- FEDEX (WITH FULL LABEL) AT WWW.FEDEX.COM
PLEASE DO NOT USE OTHER MAILING SERVICES. APPLICANTS APPLYING TOGETHER MAY PROVIDE ONE ENVELOPE FOR VISAS TO BE RETURNED TO THE SAME ADDRESS.
PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR MAIL DELIVERY AT THE EMBASSY AFTER HOURS, DURING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.
BEFORE SENDING YOUR REQUEST TO THE EMBASSY, PLEASE CHECK OUR HOLIDAY CALENDAR AT OUR WEBSITE:
http://www.vietnamembassy.us/docs/Holiday2010.pdf
9) WHERE TO SUBMIT?
CONSULAR SECTION
EMBASSY OF VIETNAM
1233 20TH STREET, NW
SUITE 400
WASHINGTON, DC 20036
10) IMMUNIZATION?
- NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE NOW, AND IT IS NOT REQUIRED.
11) CAN I GET A VISA AT THE AIRPORT?
- WITHOUT A PROPER ENTRY VISA, AIRLINERS WILL NOT ALLOW THE PASSENGER TO BOARD.
- PLEASE USE THE 2-DAY PROCEDURE DESIGNED TO ASSIST APPLICANTS UNDER TIME PRESSURE.
WE HOPE ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
IF YOU STILL HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL TO THE EMBASSY AT CONSULAR@VIETNAMEMBASSY.US.
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Nov 2, 2010 
