Questions regarding Vietnam visa on arrival
 

Has anyone from the US gotten and used a pre approved VOA in 2010? Did it have other peoples names and info on a blanket letter sent to you? I am told that in 2010 that the Vietnam immegration Dept. is only issuing blanket letters and I am concerned about other people having my personal info in their letters. Also, if it was a blanket letter, did it go through smoothly at US airports when boarding the plane. I am concerned that it will not be accepted by United Airlines if it is a blanket letter. Am i worrying unnecessarily?

The pre-arranged visas do come with a blanket letter with other's peoples names and info on it. Lots of people have used it and it works, but I was more comfortable getting a visa in advance. The consulate in San Francisco was very quick with my visa.

I'm also getting mine at the consulate in San Francisco, as that's what we did when our son and his GF were going, and it was very simple.

shelly---our letter had several other people's names on it...as i remember there was not really important info...i was not the least bit concerned.

the hanoi airport is very inefficient as you probably read in our report...we did this on nov 1, 2010.

happy new year to you and jim!!

We traveled through Hanoi at the end of October with a "group" letter arranged through Tonkin Travel. No problems at all - very easy and I think cheaper than going through the consulate.

I am an Australian but on both recent trips I did a visa on arrival and the pre departure letter contained other peoples names as well. Nothing confidential, only a name and I am sure that there are many Mary Smiths in the world. Both times only waited about 10-15 minutes but they are getting a lot more popular so perhaps a pre arranged one might be the way to go.

Thanks everyone for your input. I think I am going to request a loose leaf visa from the embassy in Washington (I am on the east coast) which seems like a good compromise to me. I am willing to pay about $60 extra to be sure I do not have to wait on a long line for the visa at Saigon airport.

We also got a visa on arrival and it worked out great there were other names on the letter but no particular information regarding these people. When we arrived it took about 20 minutes to get the visa but I think this depends on when your plane arrives as I know rhkkmk had a much longer wait. Our problem was the luggage it took 90 minutes before it appeared on the carousel.

Shelly, what is this about $60 extra for the loose-leaf visa?

Can this simple thing possibly get more complicated?

Just click on to any one of the visa online sites, fill in the paperwork, pay the fee and <b>go</i>.

http://www.myvietnamvisa.com/
http://www.vietnam-visa.com/
http://vietnamevisa.org/

I've done this multiple times.

<i>Am i worrying unnecessarily?</i>

Yes, you are.

Sigh. One day I'll learn how to use the <b>bold</b> button.

Kathie- The preapproved VOA letter through Tonkin Travel is $15 plus a $25 stamping fee=$40 per visa or $80 for 2 visas. To go through the Washington DC Embassy, it costs $70 per visa or $140 for 2 visas. $140 minus $80 is $60. That is the $60 difference I was alluding to. When figuring the Fedex charges both ways there is actually about an $85 difference.
Much as I'd like to save the $85 (who doesn't like a bargain?) I don't want to chance that I might have to wait on line for an hour, after a 26 flight to Saigon from the east coast. Dogster, I understand your frustration with how I am making this decision. Overthinking things sometimes does complicate my life, but I've learned to live with that personality trait and fortunately so has my DH. lol

I see. Thanks, Shelly. The price for the pre-arranged visas has gone down since I went to VN, and the price for a visa through the embassy or consulate has gone up.

O.K. shelley... I'm on your side.

I'm struggling just a tiddle with quite how you've now arrived at a potential wait in line for an <i>hour</i> on arrival, but let's not let facts get in the way of a good anxiety.

Let me feed you some more, just to pass the time...

You <i>might</i> have to wait for 90 minutes to get your luggage. It <i>might</i> not arrive. Your blind taxi driver <i>might</i> drive you to your hotel via Cambodia. You <i> might</i> get to your hotel and find they have no record of your booking...

Or you might not.

The point being that, once on the road, you're in the grip of the Vietnamese Travel Gods, and <b>no</b> amount of pre-planning will change it. The sooner you embrace that fact, the better your trip will be. We'll all light a stick of incense and pray to the VTG's for a safe, hassle-free journey... which will actually be about as much use in solving any potential problems as this saga.

lol lol lol.

Thanks, dogster. I now have even more "mights" to worry about. I was doing fine til I rechecked this thread. I'll now have to rethink my decision again. lol