Hi,
Planning on a trip to SE Asia, and would like to go to vietnam during but would like flexibility on what days. I am from the US, does anyone know the procedure on gettinga visa and if i need to give specific dates? Any info would be appreciated, thank you

You don't need to have your exact dates to get your VN visa. You CANNOT enter VN before the date you specify, but you can enter VN after. You'll have 30 days once you enter VN. So specify the earliest date you might enter. By the way, I got my VN visa via mail from the San Francisco consulate. The service was quick and efficient.

Ditto.

Last year, we also sent away to the consulate and got our passports back (with visa) very quickly and easily.

Don't worry, you shouldn't have any problems.

Thought this link might help:
http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/co.../visainfo.php3

i sent my passport to washington to the embassy for the visa....i think you must use it (begin your trip) within 90 days of its issue, but that may have changed...

If you are in a hurry to get your visa, there are expediting services that can do the work for you. If you have the time, just follow the procedures of the Consulate of Vietnam (find it with a Google search). Either way, it's a snap. Have fun in Vietnam; if you haven't been, it's a trip like no other you've experienced.

Thank you all for your responses. after posting this question i called the embassy and found out the details and i am going to send them my application and passport. I think this site is wonderfula nd the help that people give you is great. thank you, Paul