Vietnam Visa On Arrival And 4 Points To be Aware Of

Vietnam has long been attractive to millions of wanderlusts for its magnificent landscapes and impressive culture as well.

Vietnam also has long been popular among tourists thanks to its visa procedure simplification with introduction of Vietnam visa on arrival which allows travelers to apply online for visa approval letter and then pick up full visa at Vietnam airport.

But before you go ahead with a Vietnam Visa On Arrival, here are 4 important things you should be aware of:

1. It is for those traveling to Vietnam by air only

As this kind of visa is stamped at Vietnam airport only, there is no way for wanderlusts to Vietnam by bus, train or cruise ship to use it. 

So, remember, just apply for visa on arrival if you enter the country by air. Otherwise, use the traditional way of getting the visa at Vietnam embassy.

2. It requires travelers to obtain a visa approval letter beforehand

Unlike visa on arrival to Cambodia or other certain countries which may require no work in advance to get visa upon arrival in the country, those who wish to pick up visa upon arrival at Vietnam airport need to obtain a visa approval letter online before departure.

This is a very important document issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department via a local travel agent as official permission allowing its holder to get on board at departure airport and get visa stamped on arrival at the airport in Vietnam. Without it, the entry will be refused.

3. The application requires no document

Unlike applying for visa at Vietnam airport in which travelers will need to submit hard copy of application form (which must be the one regulated by the target embassy), original passport, photos and others, applying for visa on arrival is completely made online without submission of any documents.

Applicants in this way only need to provide very simple information including visa type, visa duration, full name, date of birth, nationality, gender, passport number and expiry date.

4. It requires 2 types of fee

Unlike visa obtained via the embassy for which travelers only need to pay the fee once, users of visa on arrival to Vietnam are required to pay two kinds of fees:

1. Service fee: the fee to be paid online to the travel agent to obtain the visa approval letter; and
2. Stamping fee: the fee to be paid in cash to the Immigration Officer at Vietnam airport to get visa stamped there.

While the service fee may vary by service provider, number of travelers in group and processing time, the stamping fee is fixed by the Vietnam Ministry of Finance for each type of visa. Sample details can be found here:

So, the question here is how does this kind of visa work?

Getting a Visa On Arrival is very simple and convenient. The procedure is summarized in the following 4 steps:

1. Go online to apply here and fill out the form with the required information;
2. Review the information and then pay the service fee;
3. Get the visa approval letter via email. You will also be emailed a guide to prepare you for the pick up of the visa on arrival in Vietnam;
4. Get the visa stamped upon arrival at Vietnam airport.

This is basic information regarding visa on arrival to Vietnam, including 4 things you should be aware of and how to obtain your Visa. Since the Visa On Arrival was introduced in 2004, this has been the preferred form of obtaining a visa before travelling to Vietnam.

Brought To You By Expat Choice