VIET NAM VISA

Unless you are from the countries which have signed bilateral or unilateral visa exemption agreement with Vietnam, including South Korea, Japan, Scandinavians and most Asean countries, you need a passport (valid for at least six months) and an tourist visa in order to visit Vietnam. You can obtain the visa yourself by applying to a Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in your country. If not any or you find it rather difficult to deal with paper work yourself, online service is at your hand. Most Vietnam travel agencies can easily get you a “ visa upon arrival”. The service is definitely worth your money.

Check out www.vietnam-embassy.org for a list of Vietnam embassies. A few locations follow.

Australia (tel 02-6290-1549; www.au.vnembassy.org; 6 Timbarra Crescent, O’Maley, ACT 2606)

Canada (tel 613-236-0772; www.vietnamembassy-canada.ca; 470 Wilbrod St, Ottawa)

UK (tel 171-937-1912; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; Victoria Rd 12-14, London W8 5RD)

USA (tel 202-861-0737; www.vietnamembassy-usa.org; 1233 20 St NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036)

Visa extension: Tourist visa is valid from 15 to 30 days and can be extended easily. See more at http://www.myvietnamvisa.com

VISA PROCEDURES

Tourist visa can only be obtained in Vietnamese embassies, consulates abroad. Otherwise, you can get a visa at the border gates if you are invitees of some Vietnamese competent organs or you are travelling on a package tour organized by Vietnamese travel companies. To apply for a visa, the requirements are as follows:

  • Entry permit form (which can vary from one Vietnamese embassies or consulate abroad to another) - There are two categories of this form: for foreigners and for Vietnamese overseas.
  • Two photos (4cmx6cm or 3cmx4cm)
  • Original passport
  • Visa fees

You should send your application and photos to a Vietnamese embassy or consulate abroad, which is most convenient to you. On your requirement, the reply will be returned by post (you must provide stamped envelopes with your name and address).
 It is easier to get your visa from a Vietnamese travel agency. The necessary information to the travel agency includes:

- Full name:
- Birthday and place of birth:
- Nationality:
- Job:
- Number of your passport:
- Entry and exit dates:
- Country you plan to receive your entry visa from the Vietnamese embassies or consulates:
- Vietnamese overseas are required to provide more information:
- Year and reason to leave Vietnam:
- Leave Vietnam by means:
- Full names and addresses of relations in Vietnam:

CUSTOMS

Vietnam entry declaration procedure is recently quite simple due to implementation of single-window or one-stop customs policy. Unless you carry banned goods or your luggage exceeds duty-free quota, it takes you just a couple of minutes. For more information on luggage concessions and prohibited goods, visit http://www.customs.gov.vn/Default.aspx?tabid=839.

To enter and exit Vietnam, visitors are required to fulfill the arrival - departure declaration

1.- Passengers  are given duty free allowance for not more than 1.5 liters of liquor with above 22 degrees of concentration of alcohol and 2 liters of liquor below 22 degrees of concentration of alcohol; 400 cigarettes; 100 cigars; 500 gram of raw tobacco.

- Other items which are allowed in accompanying baggage are duty free with value not over VND 5,000,000.

- Passengers bringing goods exceeding the amount as above stated are required to fill in the declaration form No.HQ/2002-PMD and pay duty (ies) according to Vietnamese laws.

2. Passengers who goods are not subject to customs declaration on page 4, 5 (For customs declaration) do not have to declare.