I just got my visa in the San Francisco consulate.

I can confirm:

A. 30 days, single entry: $80 per person
B. 30 days, multiple entry: $135 per person

I paid with a credit card and it takes 3 business days.

I am hoping I don't need to pay any more fees coming in since I have a visa. Does anyone have recent experience with this? Thanks.

A year ago, I too got my visa from the VN Consulate in SF. I paid more than you--$100 !

There were no additional fees due on arrival into VN.

True, this was before the recent increase, now decrease. But I think once you have your visa in your passport, you --as I did--just go through the foreign entry line, face a serious-looking official (-: and you're done!!!

Hi all - I am traveling to Vietnam from Los Angeles in early December. What are my options for obtaining my visa if I'm uncomfortable with mailing my passport to the consulate/embassy? A colleague mentioned being able to get her visa without having to do take this step... something about an option on the online visa application.

Thanks!

Two ways to do it:

1. You can apply through a consulate or an embassy here in the US, filling out all of the forms, furnishing photos, etc and request a "Loose leaf visa." You will have a visa returned to you the has a sticky back and can be placed in your passport.

2. You can request a visa in advance on the internet (I know the VN websites call it a visa on arrival, but it is not). You will receive a visa approval letter (electronically) which you must print and take with you. When you arrive at HCMC or Hanoi, you will go to a desk and pay $135 "stamping fee" and the official will place the visa in your passport. If you go this route, be aware that there have been problems with websites that take your money but do not provide a valid letter. So research this in advance. You will have to present this letter to be allowed to board your flight to VN. Note that this type of visa is not yet valid at land borders.

Note that the changes in VN visas are recent and that each consulate or embassy has different prices, different rules. The person above from San Francisco is the first person to confirm that some embassies/consulates are offering visas other than the one year multiple entry visa that costs about US$215

Happy travels!

Please do come back and tell us what you did and how it worked out for you.

So I just called a consulate official today in SF, you can't reach anyone via phone at the consulate office at all. Email doesn't work either, it kept sending my email back to me. Anyway the consulate official I spoke with said it there were 1-month visas and that it was $80. I am hoping that it is true because I only have 1 month before I fly out.

sfgirl415, can you please let us know if there were any other fees on arrival to vietnam?? Very useful information!

I have been in Japan for the last 5 weeks and am weighing between 2 weeks visit to Hokkaido and visiting Vietnam. I got to this forum to ask if it is doable to conduct do-it-yourself tour of Vietnam without speaking Vietnamese, but after finding the visa alone costs $255, that's the end of it. I will not go.
If it costs $80 I might consider, but I may not have time to apply it it takes three days as someone reported.

tom, if you can go to a VN embassy or consulate in Japan, they may be able to give you a 30 day visa. Above, someone found they could get that in San Francisco. No idea whether you could get one in Japan. For most countries, what they offer at one embassy or consulate, they offer at all. Not true of VN.

As to your question about traveling independently without speaking Vietnamese, I think most of the people here have done that. So yes, doable and easy.

Kathie,
Thank you for your input. Do you know what visa on arrival is? Undoubtedly I will arrive either Hanoi or Ho Chi Min City. I wonder if I can just show up at the airport and expect enter the country. I read somewhere I can be denied of entry.
There are so many outfits offering visa processing services on line, and I am wondering if they are legitimate and/or necessary.

Tom, VN does not (and has never) offered a Visa on Arrival. They call their pre-arranged visa a visa on arrival, but it is not. If you do not have either a visa in your passport or a visa approval letter, you will not be allowed on a plane to VN.

"There are so many outfits offering visa processing services on line, and I am wondering if they are legitimate and/or necessary." Your question about legitimacy is a good one - even the VN government has warned people about fake websites offering visa approval letters.

See if you can find an on-line agency offering a 30 day visa rather than the one-year multi-entry visa that is so expensive. And be aware that any visa approval letter you get will still involve a "stamping fee" when you arrive in Hanoi or HCMC. Given all of the changes, I cannot predict what the stamping fee will be for such a visa - probably something in the range of $45 - the old fee. And you will pay for the visa approval letter.

Thank you for your input, Kathie.

The stamping fee for the VOA for Americans is currently $135. IF you go that route there is no way to get around that. According to posters on TA there is no lower priced VOA for Americans. You didn't say what passport you hold. If you are not American it is a whole different situation.

Tom, the majority of visa processing companies are fine and provide and excellent service. I have used http://www.instantvietnamvisa.com/fees/ three times last year and the visa approval letters were with me within 24-48 hours. The costs, including those for US passport holders are clearly set out in the link above - $30 application fee and $135 stamping fee on arrival. Clearly if you are not US citizen, then it is cheaper ($19/$25 - one month) but you dont have the option of a year multiple entry.

There are many providers out there, if you do plan on going use one recommened here or on tripadvisor.

Tom, I'd try to get to a VN embassy or consulate in Japan to get a visa. If you get the actual visa, then there is no stamping fee.

I don't know what draws you to VN, but I'd suggest that there are other fascinating countries in SE Asia that offer inexpensive visas on arrival.

Susiean, I'm sorry to hear that there is now one stamping fee $135 no matter which pre-approved visa one gets. Thanks for the clarification.

Just adding my experience. I live in Honolulu and found a travel agency that specializes in VN. My 30-day single-entry visa cost $80 (loose visa) and was ready in 4 business days. I picked it up today. I did not have to leave or mail in my passport.

FWIW, the travel agent told me that overseas Vietnamese (viet kieu) can get 5-year multiple entry visas for $100, also in about 4 business days.

Mari, thanks for that info. I know the various embassies and consulates do it differently, but it is good to hear your experience.

I am so frustrated with trying to get a Visa prior to my trip in January.

I have called both consulates in SF and Washington--and got different info from each. I would love to know if it is best to
1.mail in a money order for $135 and get a loose leaf stamped visa?
2. Or, pay a fee for the VOA and do the stamp visa upon arrival?

Please let me know which is the safest and fastest for arrival to HCM --We will need multiple entry as we are going to Cambodia for a few days and then back to Vietnam--will this make a difference to the loose leaf Visa? Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks

It's a no-brainer. Getting the Visa Approval Letter online.....you don't even have to leave your computer screen.

Do exactly what Crellston recommended 4 postings ago. Another site, which I've used is www.vietnamvisapro.net. Fast and efficient.

Since you need multi-entry visa, paying for the Visa letter and paying the $135 stamping fee is what makes sense for you.

If you did not need a multi-entry visa, then the loose-leaf visa directly from the embassy/consulate would cost you less, as there is no stamping fee if you get the actual visa (loose leaf or not) before going.

Stop in Bangkok get your visa done here.

Hanoi was nice city but, I have to say I did see many poor dogs in cages going to
Market.As well as on tables already dead. It spoiled my entire trip.
Not for animal lovers that's for sure.

I don't know how this won't cripple the tourism industry there. I've always wanted to go Vietnam to learn more about the people and history. When we just got transferred to Bangkok I thought, now is our chance. There is no way we can go with a price of $255. We are a family of 7. Everything has to be done on a strict budget. We just went to Laos where my eyes bulged out at paying $252 for visas on arrival for all of us. One Vietnam visa is more expensive than 7 in Laos. Crazy! I am sad that I will never get to visit, but more sad for the experience my children will miss. My husband and I have tried to do our best to teach our children about other cultures, religions, ethnicities, etc. but maybe we'll just have to look closer to home to learn about the Vietnamese people. :(