Question 1:

Hello,

I am traveling around South East Asia and would like to visit Vietnam.

I have looked for information regarding visas and note that you can apply for a visa on arrival, the information then says that you collect the visa when you arrive at an airport.

Can you please advise how to apply for and collect a visa on arrival when traveling across a land boarder into Vietnam.

Mr K A Doherty

Anwers 1:

Dear Mr K A Doherty

Since you travel into Vietnam by land, you are required to obtain a visa prior to your trip. We suggest that you get your visa in SEA (South East Asia) countries to save your money since Vietnamese visa fees in UK is quite over-priced. Please check our websites below for information on how to get your visa in SEA countries:

Getting Vietnam visa in Cambodia

Visit Vietnamese embassy in Cambodia:

Embassy of Vietnam
436 Monivong Blvrd, Phnom Penh
Tel: +855-23 362741
Fax: +855-23 427 385, 362 314

Tips from other travelers

From many travelers’ experience, it is much more convenient to obtain your visa in Vietnamese consulate in Sihanoukville, because visa will be issued in Sihanoukville. The process takes only 5 minutes and costs around 30USD.

Address: 310 Ekreach- Khan Mittapheap – Sihanouk City
Phone : 349 33 669
Fax :349 33 669
Code : 00-8552.

Getting Vietnam visa in Thailand

From Thailand, visitors are able to get a visa to Vietnam either through Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok:

Address of Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok

83/1 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
+ Tel. 66 (0) 2 251 5836-8
+ Fax. 66 (0) 2 251 7203
Office hours: Monday – Friday: 08.00-11.30 Hrs. and 13.30-16.30 Hrs.

You are required to provide 1-2 passport size photos and the cost was about 1800 Baht (~60 USD). Normal process takes around 2-3 days, if you need an express one (1 working day), then you have to pay a little bit more.

Visit Vietnamese embassy in Vientiane, Laos

It is pretty easy to get a Vietnamese visa in Vientiane, Laos through Vietnamese embassy. As many comments from travelers, the Vietnam embassy in Vientiane is pretty good. The visa price is around USD 50 (~477,455 Lao Kip), and it may take 3 days to process.

Address: Thatluang Rd., Vientiane, LAO PDR
Phone: (856) 2141 3409; 2141 3409; 2141 4602;
Consular Section:2141 3400
+ Fax (856) 2141 3379; 2141 4601
+ Email dsqvn@laotel.com & lao.dsqvn@mofa.gov.vn

You can also get visa to Vietnam through travel agencies, and the price is much cheaper ranging from 25-65 USD.

Note: Currency exchange rate Monday, December 24, 2007: 1 US Dollar = 9,549.10 Lao Kip (LAK)

We hope that helps!