Happytrvlr, lots of changes over the last 5 years. And hopefully many more to come soon reverting this detrimental visa policy.

I agree with you. This new policy will make the American tourist travelling to Vietnam decrease. Hope to can hear other good news.

This issue can be resolved if people direct their concerns to the right people. The link below is a petition letter to communicate with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi about the issue:

https://www.change.org/p/ambassador-...-tourist-visas

Apparently, the U.S. worked with the Vietnamese government on behalf of U.S. businesses to offer a one-year, multi-entry visa, and that was the entire scope of the visa conversation. When the Vietnamese added the longer-term visa, but simultaneously removed the 30 and 90-day, single-entry options, the second part came as a surprise to the U.S., since that was not within the scope of what was negotiated.

Thank you. I signed it and hope many do the same.

I called every number the embassy and SF consulate had today with no response. I then emailed every email address I could find. I got one email back suggesting I call the embassy again. They provided different extensions however.

202-861-0737 ext 1, 116, 118, 121 or 122.

I finally got someone on the phone. I was told that the visa fee is $135 by the Washington State Office with no "stamping fee" at arrival. Just wanted to add my data point.

Your post is a bit confusing, lovetosing, You mention a Washington State office, but there is no office in Washington State, and the phone numbers you give are Washington DC numbers.

If there is no stamping fee, then they are giving you the price for the visa being put into your passport. $135 for a 1 year multi-entry visa is a good price, especially given the prices being quoted above. "Ginger50" above, on Sept. 6, quotes a price of $220 from the Washington, DC office.

Anyone who actually gets a VN visa, please post what kind of visa you received (was it placed in your passport or is it a visa approval letter, if a visa approval later, what stamping fee do you have to pay?) so we will have more data.

Thanks for reporting.

So about that Kathie. I meant the Washington D.C. office. He said the price for a 30 day, multiple entry was $135 which is the same as what the SF office said but the DC office didnt tell me there were other options. I only added the stamping fee statement because $135 is the cost of the stamping fee so I wanted to clarify I wasn't confusing the two. I clearly did the opposite. Whoops!

I got an email back this morning from SF. I put the prices they quoted below. I plan is to send my passport off to SF. I'll report back when/if I get a visa in my passport.

Visa fee:
$80 for 1 months/single entry visa;
$110 for 3 months/single entry visa;
$135 for 1 month/multiple entries visa;
$160 for 3 months/multiple entries visa.
$215 for 1 year/multiple entries visa (US passport holders only)

I JUST got our Visas ahead of our trip to Vietnam in December.

It cost total of $220 per person, per visa. Yikes.

We requested single entry, 30 day visas but since those don't seem to be available, what we received back were 1-year, multiple-entry visas.

After we filled out the online Visa application forms, we were told to email the D.C. Consulate for cost information and when I did, this was the first part of the reply:

<i>Thank you for writing to the Embassy of Vietnam in Washington DC.

First of all, the Embassy of Vietnam strongly recommends you to have the visa before you depart for Vietnam.

I. Total visa fee: On the basis of reciprocity, the Government of Vietnam will only issue 1 year multiple entry visas for US citizens with the total fee being $220 per person.</i>

schlegal, is there an additional stamping fee upon arrival.

Kureiff, if you get the visa itself from the embassy or consulate, there is no stamping fee, just the visa fee. Confusing enough? It is only if you opt for a pre-arranged visa that there is a stamping fee. (The VN websites call it a visa on arrival, but it is not - it is a pre-arranged visa) In that case, you pay for the visa approval letter and for the $135 stamping fee when you arrive at the airport in VN. Note that you cannot use a visa approval letter to enter VN overland.

And my understanding is that they discontinued all single entry visas and now offer only one year multi-entry visas for US passport holders. So schlegel, your visas at $220 per person is in line with previous info on the new visa fees.

lovetosing, I'm surprised they gave you fees for 1 and three month visas, as my understanding is that these have been discontinued. The price quote in your second post of $215 for a 1 year multi-entry visa is consistent with schegal's recent experience. If you do get a visa, please let us know which one you got and the final price.

What Kathie said about the stamp fee.

Yup, the visa cost ate up absolutely all my savings of finding a fantastic airfare. But I am sooooo looking forward to the trip because I have heard Vietnam is gorgeous and friendly!

Thanks Kathie and schlegal!

schlegal1. We had a cruise stop in two ports in Nam last March. I loved Saigon and what you had to bust the budget with for the visa should be made up for once you are there because it dollar friendly. Do be aware of the exchange rate if you are not. Its weird, 1 USD = about 22,400 dong. If you are not good at math you'll need a calculator. :D.

Our tour guide took us to nice hotel called the Rex. I saw a sign advertising a buffet lunch for about $10.00.

We stopped for lunch at some noodle place and ate for about $4.00 including a beer. Our tour guide arranged 11 of us from the ship for a tour on a nice bus, AC. It was for about 6-7 hrs. and we paid about $110.00 for the two of us. So once you are there its pretty budget friendly.

Thanks for confirming what I have heard about budget friendliness, jacketwatch!

No problem. :).

Anyone know if this year, long multi-entry visa is available for nationalities other than US? I can't seem to find an answer online.

Crellston. I don't think so, it never existed until its recent creation, and seems to be bracketed for US Passport Holders only.

As a British passport holder I'd just refer to the FCO website Entry Requirements page...

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...y-requirements

...and the link on that page to the Vietnam Embassy in London.

And like you I wouldn't waste money and lose sight of my passport by getting my visa from the Embassy/Consulate. Using an online agency is so simple and safe.

Assuming, for US Passport Holders, the new US$135 stamping fee is under discussion at high level, I think if I was a US Passport holder I wouldn't apply to a Consulate for my visa too far in advance of travel as the fee could be decreased just as quick as it was increased. And once the fee has been paid I doubt that there'll be a refund. Far better, I reckon, to hang on until 3 or 4 weeks before travel with fingers crossed, and apply online for the Visa Approval Letter. As well as hopefully saving on the difference between the fee, it'll save the Embassy Admin Fee, the cost of postage, and the slight possibility of the passport going AWOL as it passes through the postal system or between desks.

Thanks LL. I think you are probably correct. We are contemplating spending a fair amount of time in the country next year and it just seemed like the US visa may be a cheaper alternative to two 3 month visas.

it is being reported that Americans can now get a one month visa for $80 through an embassy or consulate. You have to do it in person or mail it in. At this point the Vietnam gov't has not rolled back the stamping fee for a one month visa to $25 which is what it was before. That may be coming soon with the rescinding of this ill conceived change to visas. Looks like it backfired on them and tourism numbers from US visitors immediately were dropping

And now the VN immigration have dumped a new entry/exit form that applies to all people getting a VOA. This just happened on Oct. 21. Here is the new form to fill out ahead of time so you won't have to do it at the airport:

http://www.e-vietnamvisa.com/general...-form-na1.html

I wonder how many more changes to the visas there will be before my trip in February? Sigh.