Get your Vietnam Visa Before you Leave Home

[vivian]

Make sure you get your visa before your arrival to Vietnam. Despite the nightmare stories in the guidebooks, Visas for Vietnam are quick and easy to obtain through the Vietnamese embassy so there is no need to pay the extra charge to use a Visa Services. We overnighted our passports and forms with a self address overnight envelop and had them back within days. Some guidebooks mention getting a letter beforehand and then a Visa at the Airport. Do NOT try this. We ran into several people who tried this and were not allowed into Vietnam. They were put on the next plane out of the country and it took them 3 days to get everything straighten out and back into Vietnam! If your thinking of making a side trip to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat make sure you obtain a double entry Visa before you leave for Vietnam. Once again we ran into people who only got a single entry Visa and it is quite a hassle to get back into Vietnam (we also heard of people who did this and didn’t have a problem but why take the chance)

INFO FROM VIETNAM EMBASSY What to submit to the Visa office - Passport - Application form () - 1 passport-size picture (2x2) - Fee (MONEY ORDER or CERTIFIED CHECK), payable to "EMBASSY OF VIETNAM." Applicants applying together may submit the fee in one money order - Self-addressed, pre-paid return envelope. FedEx is recommended Applicants applying together may provide one envelope for the passports and visas to be returned to the same address. How to fill-out the application? - All items must be filled-out completely in UPPER CASE letters. - Do not use PO Box addresses. - Item 11 (name, address of your contact in Vietnam) is required for "BUSINESS TRIPS" only. - Put your town/city on the line "Place" at the end of the form.

What is the fee? Without prior authorizations, -Single entry, one-month: - $65.00 (regular service - 5 business days). - $85.00 (rush service - 2 business days). - Single entry, three-month: - $110 (regular service - 5 business day). - Multiple entry: - 1 month: $130.00 (2 business day). - 3 month: $150.00 (5 business day). - 6 month: $200.00 (5 business day). Note: - All passports without proper return envelope will be sent back via FEDEX "collect" service. - Please put your name and address must be in the "From" section on the label/airbill/envelope for safety and security of your package. Where to submit? Consular Section Embassy of Vietnam 1233 20th Street, NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036