Visa to Vietnam
A valid passport and a visa are required for all foreigners visiting Vietnam. Vietnam Visas are issued by Vietnamese embassies and consulates or Vietnam Department of Immigration. Some overseas offices of Vietnam Tourism and Vietnam Airlines are able to issue tourist visas.
In general, you will have to submit your
application, passport along with two standard passport
photos, and the required fee to apply for a visa. Different
embassies and consulates will have different procedures -
you can check what you need by visiting local Embassy
website.
Another option for those who are rushed for time or do not
want to send the passport away is to pre-arrange a visa on
arrival. This can be done online via a number of private
companies who have agreements with the Vietnamese government
to collect passport details and arrange for an "approval
letter". This letter allows you to board a flight into
Vietnam and you will receive the visa stamp upon entry to
Vietnam Airport.
These agencies charge a small fee for their service and in
most case, the total works out to be equal or less than the
amount charged by Vietnamese embassies and consulates. It
must also be noted that visa-on-arrival works only for
visitors arriving in Vietnam by air.
