Visa For Vietnam
 

As one who feels like most countries travel visa process is in a pain in the …. I was pleasantly surprised by the ease and efficiency of the Vietnam Visa On Arrival program. From online I selected a Vietnam Visa service (Google MyVietnamVisa), paid about a US$40 fee and in a few days received my visa approval letter by email.

Upon arrival in Hanoi it was about a twenty minute process time to get my single entry up to 30 day stay visa for US$25. You'll need a passport type photo but if you don't have one they will take your picture for an extra US$2. Visa payment must be made in cash but the whole process sure beats standing in line at an embassy.

Maybe other countries should take notice of how Vietnam makes the visa process so easy.

I'm glad you had a good experience with the VN pre-arranged visa, which is available from many, many travel agents in VN. Even simpler are the countries that have a genuine visa on arrival. That means you just show up, fill out some forms, pay your money and supply a photo (like Cambodia and Laos). Some countries even have a visa-free arrival (like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore). What you are eligible for, of course, depends on the country of your passport.

Most people don't stand in line at an embassy to get a visa, most people apply by mail before they leave home. It's a simple process, and typically costs less than a pre-arranged visa.

Kathie,

Applying by mail is a nice option but online or just getting a genuine visa on arrival.. IMO is the way to go.

It would surprise you that there are still a lot of people that stand in line for visas.. like at the Chinese Consulate in Houston.

For some of us it is not easy to let go of a passport even if it is done by FedX. Besides, some of the mail in companies fees are way too expensive.

I was quoted almost U$400 for a Chinese visa unless I wanted to give up my passport for 10 days. Personally, I would rather spend a few hours standing in line and save about US$200!

If you get visas directly from the appropriate embassy in your own country, there are no extra fees (except mailing). The Chinese visa is a special case.

No question, a visa on arrival is the most convenient, but some countries do not offer that option. As with VN, since there is no visa on arrival, the pre-arranged visa is very convenient. And the pre-arranged prices have come down to be closer to what you pay by getting it from the embassy.

While it is always a bit scary to mail your passport, I've done it many times and never had a mishap.

If they want more people to visit the country and spend money, they should just stop requiring visas for passport holders.

rkkwan,

Agreed. However, many of these fees (for US passport holders) are due to fees US charges these countries citizens.

On my current trip I initially intended to visit China but was discouraged because of the expensive visa process. I have been there for business but the same visa does not work for tourist visits, kind of silly :(