Visas on arrival Vietnam
Most nationalities have to endure the hassle of arranging a visa (or approval letter) to enter Vietnam. Entry and exit points include Hanoi, HCMC and Danang airports or any of Vietnam's plentiful land borders, shared with Cambodia, China and Laos.
Tourist visas are valid for a 30- or 90-day stay (and can be single or multiple entry). Online visa agents provide a more efficient, cheaper and quicker service than Vietnamese embassies for those flying into Vietnam.
In Asia the best place to pick up a Vietnamese visa is Cambodia, where it costs US$55 to US$60 and can be arranged the same day. Bangkok is also a popular place, as many agents offer cheap packages with an air ticket and visa thrown in.
If you plan to exit Vietnam and enter again from Cambodia or Laos, arrange a 90-day multiple-entry visa (around US$110). (We've also heard of occasional 180-day visas being issued in Cambodia, though nowhere else.)
In our experience, personal appearance influences the reception you’ll receive from airport immigration – if you wear shorts or scruffy clothing, or look dirty or unshaven, you can expect problems. Try your best to look ‘respectable’.
Visa on Arrival
Citizens of the following countries do not need to apply in advance for a Vietnam visa if arriving by air. Always double-check visa requirements before you travel as policies change regularly.
Country Days
Myanmar, Brunei 14
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia 30
Philippines 21
Japan, South Korea, Russia, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland 15
UK, Italy, Spain, France, Germany 15
Vietnam Visa: Getting an approval letter
If you’re flying into Vietnam it’s usually easiest and cheapest to get your visa approved through an online visa-service company. This system does not operate at land border crossings.
They will need passport details, and will email you an approval document two to three days later (one day for rush service), which you need to print and bring with you to the airport. On arrival, present the approval document and passport picture, then pay a stamping fee (US$25 for single-entry, US$50). Many travellers prefer this method since they don’t have to deal with bureaucratic hassles or give up their passport, and it's usually cheaper than using a Vietnamese embassy based in the West. Read more and apply for Vietnam visa approval letter
Business Visas
Business visas are usually valid for 90 days (180-day visas were once easily obtained but seem to only be available now in Cambodia) and allow both single and multiple entries as you wish. (Work permits are required in order to work legally in Vietnam.) Getting a business visa has now become cheap and easy, although more expensive than a tourist visa. Obtain these at Vietnamese embassies or online. Immigration policies change with the wind and could offer six-month visas again in the future.
Multiple-entry Visas
It’s possible to enter Cambodia or Laos from Vietnam and then re-enter without having to apply for another visa. However, you must hold a multiple-entry visa before you leave Vietnam.
If you arrived in Vietnam on a single-entry visa, multiple-entry visas are easiest to arrange in Hanoi or HCMC, but you will have to ask a visa or travel agent to do the paperwork for you. Agents charge about US$45 for the service and visa fees are charged on top of this – the procedure takes up to seven days.
Visa Extensions
If you’ve got the dollars, they’ve got the rubber stamp. Tourist visa extensions officially cost as little as US$10, and have to be organised via agents. The procedure can take seven days and you can only extend the visa for 30 or 90 days depending on the visa you hold.
You can extend your visa in any provincial capital, but if it's done in a different city from the one you arrived in (oh the joys of Vietnamese bureaucracy!) it'll cost you around US$30. In practice, extensions work most smoothly in major cities, such as HCMC, Hanoi, Danang and Hue.
Note: Prices for visa extensions are always vary. the recommended price are for the day of writing.
Customs Regulations
Enter Vietnam by air and the procedure usually takes a few minutes. If entering by land, expect to attract a bit more interest, particularly at remote borders. Duty limits:
400 cigarettes
1.5 litres of spirit
Large sums of foreign currency (US$7000 and greater) must be declared.