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Visa on arrival for Vietnam multiple entry U.S. citizens


patrinka
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We will be flying into Hanoi and spending 3 days there. Flying to Siem Reap, Cambodia for 3 days and then boarding a river cruise. We will then re-enter Vietnam via Tan Chau (on the river cruise).

 

I believe that we can do a Visa on Arrival Multiple Entry since we enter Vietnam via Hanoi Airport and then re-enter via a port.

Anyone have recent experience with this? If so what agency did you use for the VOA online application and letter? There are a lot that do this service and it is way less expensive than a Visa Service in the US.

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You are correct that e-visas are only for airport landing.

However, from what I have read there is a visa on arrival that you can get the approval letter in advance and then pick up the visa at the airport. As long as you arrive by air then you can do a multiple visa and go in and out of Vietnam anywhere. This is what I have read and trying to determine that it is correct.

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Yes, we used Visa on Arrival for a multi-entry visa to Vietnam, which allows you in the country via riverboat.

We used: http://www.vietnamvisa.govt.vn

 

Dont bother with the fast track processing. We flew into Ho Chi Minh City arriving at 1:10 AM and there was barely a line. We only waited about 10 minutes for processing and were almost done by the time the rep found us. we did use them for airport transfer to hotel which was substantially cheaper than the cruise line was charging as we came in a day early.

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The e visa via the San Francisco Consulate website was the easiest. Follow the instructions to email the documents and pay their fee and the fee to fedex the paper visa back and your done. We received our multi entry Visa back within a week and just attach them to your passport. When we got to Hanoi the lines were very long for customs and the voa and we were thankful we were in possession of the documents after such a long flight.

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The e visa via the San Francisco Consulate website was the easiest. Follow the instructions to email the documents and pay their fee and the fee to fedex the paper visa back and your done. We received our multi entry Visa back within a week and just attach them to your passport. When we got to Hanoi the lines were very long for customs and the voa and we were thankful we were in possession of the documents after such a long flight.

 

 

 

You shouldn’t call that an eVisa. You get an actual paper visa. (That sounds like the process that I used to get my Visa from the Vietnamese embassy in Ottawa.)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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From what the cruise line has told me we can not use an e-visa for entering vietnam by cruise ship. We first enter via airport and then re enter via cruise ship.

I was told a Visa on Arrival with multiple entry is the way to go.

Hope this information is accurate!

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From what the cruise line has told me we can not use an e-visa for entering vietnam by cruise ship. We first enter via airport and then re enter via cruise ship.

I was told a Visa on Arrival with multiple entry is the way to go.

Hope this information is accurate!

You can re-enter Vietnam via the river cruise with a multi-entry paper Visa that is attached to your passport having used the method I describe above. We did it in 2/18. It is applied for electronically and received physically. As I mentioned, the lines were long in Hanoi airport and why risk not having something right when you’re at the border. The Cambodian visa is even easier to get online.

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We will be flying into Hanoi and spending 3 days there. Flying to Siem Reap, Cambodia for 3 days and then boarding a river cruise. We will then re-enter Vietnam via Tan Chau (on the river cruise).

 

I believe that we can do a Visa on Arrival Multiple Entry since we enter Vietnam via Hanoi Airport and then re-enter via a port.

Anyone have recent experience with this? If so what agency did you use for the VOA online application and letter? There are a lot that do this service and it is way less expensive than a Visa Service in the US.

 

Hello patrinka,

 

It sounds like we did what you are going to do, but the reverse. We got back May 1 from Siem Reap after touring Vietnam & river cruising from My Tho to Siem Reap. You are correct respecting the multiple entry "VOA". We are Canadians & bought our visa for Vietnam ($100 CDN) in Vancouver, because I checked with & was advised by Cathay Pacific they would not allow us to board the plane without it. Anyhow, so be it.

 

When we arrived at Hanoi Airport around noon, we went directly into a line up to clear immigration/customs as we had the Vietnamese visa in-hand. There were about 15 - 20 people at the "VOA" pick-up area, just behind where we were lining up. To make a long story short, we were in a VERY slow line & a lot of those people picking up the "VOA" got through immigration/customs before us AND saved money to boot.

 

FYI, we bought & paid $40 USD for our Cambodian visa on the river boat.

 

Enjoy your trip.

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From what I have been advised the approval letter is all we need to depart from the U.S.

Once we enter the airport in Hanoi we take the approval letter with photo's to the VOA counter and then get the actual Visa.

I certainly hope this is accurate. I have read a number of reviews and this is what people have done.

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From what I have been advised the approval letter is all we need to depart from the U.S.

Once we enter the airport in Hanoi we take the approval letter with photo's to the VOA counter and then get the actual Visa.

I certainly hope this is accurate. I have read a number of reviews and this is what people have done.

 

You are probably are correct.

 

Remember, I'm saying the airline (Cathay Pacific) rep that I'd spoke to on the phone, told me that we couldn't board their flight in Canada for Vietnam with a "VOA", but only with the actual visa on hand. She continued to say that it was their policy, as such we bought our visa before going to Vietnam.

 

However, I spoke to a friend who advised they went to Vietnam with a "VOA" with no problem, albeit they did not fly Cathay Pacific.

 

As such, to be safe, I would check with your airline, however, if you're not flying Cathay Pacific, you're very likely to be ok with the "VOA".

 

Enjoy your trip.

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The e visa via the San Francisco Consulate website was the easiest. Follow the instructions to email the documents and pay their fee and the fee to fedex the paper visa back and your done. We received our multi entry Visa back within a week and just attach them to your passport. When we got to Hanoi the lines were very long for customs and the voa and we were thankful we were in possession of the documents after such a long flight.

 

 

Good morning,

 

I have a couple questions if you don't mind.

 

- How much was a visa and the processing fees total per person?

- How did you email the photo? Did it have to be a certain size in the email?

- Did it matter how long before departure you applied as long as you have your arrival date?

 

Thank you

 

Reb

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My wife and I did it on-line and it was quite easy. https://visa.mofa.gov.vn/_layouts/registration/ApplicationForm.aspx . The photo was shot with an iphone and attached. For some reason they don't quote the price anywhere on the website. I was contacted by email a few days later for payment and paid online $145/person for a multiple entry. We had the paper visa back in approximately 10 days from beginning the process.

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My wife and I did it on-line and it was quite easy. https://visa.mofa.gov.vn/_layouts/registration/ApplicationForm.aspx . The photo was shot with an iphone and attached. For some reason they don't quote the price anywhere on the website. I was contacted by email a few days later for payment and paid online $145/person for a multiple entry. We had the paper visa back in approximately 10 days from beginning the process.

 

 

Thank you.

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Actually, our flights from the U.S. are to Bangkok. We are staying there a few days and do not need a Visa to arrive in Thailand. We then booked air separately from Bangkok to Vietnam so this is where we need the Visa to enter. From everything I have read we can use the Visa on Arrival multiple entry - cost is $50. plus $20. fee per person.

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