I simply did mine through a reputable travel agent rather than risk losing the passports in the mail, as the travel agent used a special courier service that specialised in handling passports. I paid about an extra @25 per visa, but had complete peace of mind.

But my experience was based on a friend who wanted to go to an obscure African country, and he was stupid enough to send his passsport to the country (they had no diplomatic representation in Australia). He never saw his passport again.

We've used PASSPORTS PLUS in the past for china visas and are going to use them for our Vietnam visas.

You can download an application on their website and send it in federal express.

We were very pleased with their service. Our China visas arrived in three days.

You can download the form at the VN embassy webpage and fill it out - type right into the form. Send it Express Mail with a return Express Mail envelope. It's really easy once you know the fee.

The package tracking showed that on Labor Day that at least the mailroom was working on that U.S. holiday. It was process in on that Monday and I had the pp back by the end of the week. No third party fee involved.

I'm a fan of vietnamstay.com for a Vietnam visa. In the followng thread I explained the process we used in Oct 2006. It was $50/person and we didn't have to send our passports anywhere.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34912456

vietnamstay.com = Aurora Travel Services. One in the same. Correct?

I just completed the visa process this past week through the embassy in Washington DC directly, and I can report that it was no problem at all.

Earlier, I did not want to deal with the embassy directly, and preferred to secure a visa through a travel agent. (I was also reluctant to part with my passport for awhile, even for official business.) Well, the first travel agent I contacted wanted to bundle the visa with some kind of travel package -- not at all unreasonable, but it was not what I was looking for.

So I e-mailed the Vietnamese embassy and asked for their service fees (they did not list prices on the embassy webpage). I was sent a form e-mail listing the amounts for regular ($65) and expedited ($85) service, and what was required in my package (passports, plus separate money orders for the visa fees and expedited processing fees, plus applications properly prepared). Once I got all the details squared away, I sent the package by Express Mail with an Express Mail return envelope included. I live in Los Angeles and sent it out a week ago today (Sat), and USPS told me my package should reach Washington on Tuesday. I felt assured I would have the visa with days to spare before my mid-July departure date.

On Wednesday, only four days after I sent it out, the passports arrived with visas included. I had expected to wait at least a calendar week, and instead it took only three business days. I am very pleasantly surprised.

I had also briefly considered going through the consulate in San Francisco, but I now believe it would have added at least an extra day or two, or more. So I would recommend going directly to the source, as long as you don't mind putting your passport in the mail. The expedited service was worth the extra money.

Just a little clarification on my post above -- the prices I mentioned were for single-entry, per person: regular ($65/per) and expedited ($85/per). For my application for two visas (expedited), the total came to $170.

Also, the embassy did not mention whether a multiple-entry visa could be secured through expedited service. A multi-entry visa is currently listed at $130 ($40 visa fee plus $90 processing fee).

this is how it worked for me 2 years running. Download the application, write at the top "/request a Looseleaf Visa", send a money order for $65.00 per person, send 2 (two) pictures and a copy of your passport (no need to send the passport itself) and a return express mail envelope with stamp. It takes about 1 to 2 weeks and was accepted without difficulty in Vietnam last year and I called D.C. this year and they told me it is ok to still do it.

good luck

I called the embassy in DC to get the fee. The phone rang for a while, but the woman who answered quoted me $65 fro single entry and that it woudl take 10 days. It actually took less than a week for me to get it back. Not a problem at all. I used teh infromation and form off of teh web adn included a pre-paid USPS overnight envelope to send back. The process was really easy.

Can you include a Priority Mail envelope and send it Priority Mail instead of Express? I don't really understand the requirement of overnight rush mail if you're applying for a visa that you don't need until 4 months from now.

Has anyone taken their passports to the SF office in person? I'm considering having my friend drop it off and pick it up since she lives in SF and is also getting one herself.

Sure, you can use priority mail. Do make sure you don't get your visa too early. You do have to specify your date of entry into VN and under no circumstances can you enter earlier. I believe you cannot get the visa more than 90 days in advance of your entry, but do check the website.

I'll say it again....I don't know why anyone would risk putting their passport in the mail when you can get a preapproved visa on arrival thru a service such as Vietnamstay.
If the USPS or other carrier loses your passport, you are totally $crewed and may have to cancel your trip, given the current backlogs in passport processing.

I'm kind of surprised that my advise was ignored. It really works. the "looseleaf visa" as the embasssy calls it is a visa stamped on a piece of paper that you put with your passport. Once you get to vietnam they stamp and put it in your passport as if the visa was actually stamped in it. No problems, issues...it REALLY works...try it - you'll like it.

Kathy, by the way, I really thank you for all the advise I got from u on reading these posts, I would like more info on a free day I have in Hanoi. I was contemplating either a trip to the Purple Pagoda or to Tam Coc. You mentioned you enjoyed The Purple Pagoda but there were "issues" I would really like to hear your views on both and the issues.

I know you guys had a GTG in BKK last November and while I wasn't invited it would have been fun to meet you all including Bob. we'll be in S.E. Asia including China in late Oct and early Nov. Will you guys be meeting around then in that area. Anyway, thanks again for any info you can give.

ed

thanks ed. I definitely considered the looseleaf option. having a visa in the passport does give a peace of mind...so need to consider options...

gzzer, were you in Bangkok when we had a gtg? I thought it was well-advertised on the board. You certainly would have been welcome! I will be in Bangkok at the beginning and end of November. I know others will be there at various times, and a number of people are trying to see if their times overlap. As we get closer to the dates, we'll have to see if we can find a time when a number of people would be able to get together.

There is a thread where filmwell asked for info on Hanoi, and I made a number of suggestions. I haven't been to Tam Coc, so can't comment on that. I assume you are referring to the Perfume Pagoda, I don't know of the Purple Pagoda... You need a car and driver to get you there, it's a couple of hours as I remember and the roads are bad to very bad. When we were there our driver had to take a number of detours as roads and bridges were washed out. You hire someone to row you in a boat to the base of the mountain. There are also "guides" who attach themselves to you - these were the problem. I enjoyed the climb to the cave temple. But the guides are really hard-sell. The two women who attached themselves to us split us up for a while and tried to wheedle $100 each from us "for school." They also wanted money for taking photos of us that we hadn't requested, money for this and that and the other thing. They were persistent and annoying and it felt like a shakedown. This part of the experience left a bad taste in what was otherwise an interesting trip.

I have been using Generations Visa Service out of Washington, DC. Their service is outstanding and their fees are less than some of the other services. I send in the passport, etc. by certified mail and they return by FedEx. I just got my Vietnam visa yesterday and I sent it in July 18th. Their website is:
genvisa.com

I think I'll try gzzer's "loose-leaf" visa. Where did you hear about it, gzzer?

JaneB,
I was also reluctant to give up my passport so I called the D.C. office and told them I was a business person who traveled alot and needed the passport with me at all times. They told my not to worry and then told me about the "loosleaf" option. It worked twice!

Kathy,
thanks for getting back. I did mean the Perfume Pagoda...it was late! Were the roads dangerous like cliff roads or inconvenient wash outs that were a pain. I also went to the Marriott in Bkk in Nov but apparently missed the date because no one was there. I forgot which date. I'll keep an eye open for the next GTG date because I'll be in LP, Hanoi and China from about 27 Oct to 11 Nov. I also live in New Jersey so I'll see if you meet around here.

ed

Ed, the roads weren't dangerous cliff roads. The problems were wash-outs and bridges out. There were huge sink holes in some places that could swallow a vehicle. There were several places where people helped our driver get around obstacles like huge holes.

Watch this space for gtg announcements, as I'm sure there will be efforts to meet in Bangkok.

yeah, I don't know how you can get from outside of Vienam, but I have many customers asked for visa upon arrival.
You fill a form with your information, send it to a travel agent, they will work on it to send you a scan file of approval document, that you print it out, show it at the customs at the airport (20-25USD/document), then you need to pay another 25USD to the customs to get a stamp on your passport, this show the validity of your time in Vietnam. So, it should be 50USD together.
I've heard that people can get visa to vietnam with only 50USD all together - with 6 months visa, so I guess it might be cheaper if you arrange your visa while you are in BKK or Cambodia..
Anyway, feel free to contact me if you interest in visa upon arrival.