We are US citizens, planning to visit Vietnam and Cambodia in December/January. We will be flying into Vietnam, arriving at Da Nang, and after a couple weeks in country we will be going to Siem Reap, and then flying home from there with a connection in Hanoi.

Should we get a multiple-entry visa, since we will be passing through Hanoi (although not leaving the airport) on our way home?

Any advice or information as to the most efficient way to obtain the visa is also much appreciated. We have had to get visas in the past (India, Brazil, Tanzania) and it always seems there's some sort of complication or odd requirement along the way.

How early should we apply for the visa? Is it easy to do on the official website, or is it better to use a second party? How long does it generally take to receive the visa? From what I can figure out we won't have to surrender our passports (good), but there seems to be the possibility of rejection for the slightest deviation in the application process (not good) - any tips or advice?

I'm likely over thinking this, but I just got all the air flights and hotels figured out, so I guess maybe I just need something to stress about ...

I have lost count of the number of times I have applied for a Vietnam visa! Fortunately, as a UK citizen , I no longer have to for visits of less than 45 days.

There is no need to use a third party site to apply for a visa. The official site is :

https://www.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/...trang-chu-ttdt

Before the Vietnamese eased their immigration policies, I used that site several times without any problems. It is import to follow the instructions carefully , especially re the photographs. Also, make sure to get the correct entry and exit points and the correct dates (especially if flights are around midnight) It is important to note that it is not an automated process and that at the other end, it is just a office worker pulling stuff of a computer and processing the application manually and mistakes can and do happen.

IME visas are generally approved very quickly - 48 to 72 hours. I have applied for mine an my wife visas within minutes of one another but occasionally there would be a day or two between them being approved (again the manual process!)

One tip that was given to me on TA was to take note of the time and day when submitting applications , avoid weekends and try to submit at the beginning of the working day . I always applied on a Tuesday.

I would apply now rather than leave it to the last minute.

Single v multiple. If you have a connecting flight on the same ticket you shouldn't have to go through immigration and therefore shouldn't need a multiple entry visa. I would double check with the airline concerned as you dont want to be arguing the point when checking in at Siem Reap. Get an email confirmation if you can and print it off. Cambodian officials are notoriously corrupt and may need convincing - I have had something similar happen to me in Phnom Penh airport.

"I guess maybe I just need something to stress about ..." Just like me! We are off to Mexico next week and flying via Madrid and just had a panic as I vaguely recalled that UK citizens now had to pay and fill in a form to get into the EU. Apparently not yet!

You get the visa through a Vietnamese consulate. Ask them how much it takes to get it.

At Hanoi Airport, you will go to the transit room

North of Vietnam can be cold late December, bring some warm clothes

I forgot to tell you that I live in Hanoi since end of 2011 and knows the country upside down, as well as Cambodia, where I have been 6 times 2 weeks. I have very detailed travel notes on both countries, including 110 pages on Vietnam. Files too big to put here. I send them to you if you give me your email address (do not forget to ask for "Cambodia and Vietnam"

Well, we applied online for the visas last week - and both have been returned for resubmission. It says because of the address where we will be in Vietnam. I copied the Hoi An hotel's address exactly from the confirmation I received, but I think maybe the ward was left off, or is incorrect in order. Tried again and resubmitted - waiting ...

Anyone have any idea how many times will they kick it back to us before denying it and keeping our fees?

You were unlucky for it to be kicked out for a slightly wrong address. I have never been asked to resubmit even though I never paid too much attention to the actual address of the hotel. I just put in the basics in visa apps e.g. xyz hotel , abc street , Saigon, in the past so I am surprised. On the TA forum , most seem to get kicked out for the wrong sized photo .

Interesting. Hope your second submission goes through. We just submitted our visa applications yesterday and crossing fingers that there are no issues - but probably won't know for a few days.

I promise this will be my last visa question - I received an email this morning with approval for the visa - and a link to download it. The document that I downloaded is basically a single page with the heading "ELECTRONIC VISA" - no photo or image of my passport. There is a small QR code on the bottom that doesn't work. I've printed the page - is this it? It's not like any visa I have received from another country, but I haven't even been to Vietnam, nor have I done an E-visa anywhere else.

Is this page all I will need when I board my flight?

That’s it. Not a lot for all that effort and waiting! I am not sure why the term it an eVisa sad it doesn’t tie in with any computer system at immigration.

Thanks! (Hope you're having a great trip in Mexico!)

Scdreamer, what's your final itinerary? I saw some of your other threads and had some similar questions regarding how to plan (on my own or with professional guidance). We are also similar age/active/planners and thinking of doing Vietnam (don't have enough time to combine it with anywhere else). I always plan my own trips, but know little about Vietnam. Much more comfortable with Europe trips, but also planned trips to South America and Japan on my own. I book everything myself, including some walking tours and excursions. Only time I used a private guide for an entire trip was a family trip to Israel years ago (2 families, 8 people).

We're thinking of a trip in 2026 (maybe March), so lots of time to figure things out. Right now I'm just contemplating a DIY trip (my usual approach) or using a professional to plan (since I know so little about Vietnam).

@MFNYC March to April/ May is a good time for traveling to Vietnam (South to North).

We are much like you - have only taken one organized tour years ago (Baltic States and Russia), and are very experienced travelers (Europe, UK, India, Thailand, Peru, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Brazil, etc) . We're leaving for this trip in late December, and will return to the US January 21. We decided to take advantage of a two-week long Road Scholar cultural tour ("The People of the Mekong: Vietnam, Cambodia and Angkor Wat") - but we are going to travel on our own before meeting the tour group in Hanoi. We will arrive in Da Nang - stay in Hoi An and Hue, then head north to Hanoi. Although it doesn't appear difficult to make one's own arrangements in Vietnam, neither my husband nor I are well-versed in the history and culture of Vietnam or Cambodia, and this tour will offer lectures on both, as well as some cultural opportunities. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about being on a tour, but this was a relatively recent decision to travel to Vietnam, and this particular tour is intriguing to us.

Another reason for our decision to join this tour is that we recently returned from a month in Europe, and will be heading to Mexico in February for another month. I was just a little too weary of making travel plans to add another to our schedule! I am hoping we will like the RS tour - small group and plenty of free time to get out on our own. The itinerary includes Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, HCMC, Mekong Delta, Cambodia, including Angkor Wat.

Thanks Scdreamer. I know several people who have gone on Road Scholar tours, also OAT, and have been pleased. It sounds like a great trip. We have pets, so don't like to be gone for more than 2 weeks total, which limits us.

I have applied on the official vietnamese e-visa site, I received an email response giving me my registration number and a message said :" Pay for this visa to receive it", so I tried paying 4 times with an american credit card and it failed 4 times. So I agreed to pay $25 cash on arrivel at the airport to receive my visa and that too was refused 4 times. How do you get a payment link that works?? Thank you for helping me.

Are you using the correct portal? As part of its efforts to boost tourism, starting Nov. 11, international travelers to Vietnam will be able to apply for electronic visas (e-visas) through a new web portal http://thithucdientu.gov.vn

Are you sure you need to apply for a visa? Many nationalities can get 45 days entry, visa free on arrival.

Other wise, try clearing your browser cache or using an alternative web browser. Many US credit cards seem to get declined on international sites , I think because they are using old technology. Try an alternative card.

>> There is a small QR code on the bottom that doesn't work.
How did you determine that it didn't work?

I tried to access it with my phone. It doesn't do anything - at least not with my phone ap that works with other QR codes.

With effect from Nov. 112024, in an attempt to boost the numbers of international travelers to Vietnam, the authorities have launched a new Visa portal where those who need visas will be able to apply for electronic visas (e-visas) http://thithucdientu.gov.vn . My understanding is that the old website no longer accepts applications.

With my iphone I point the camera at the QR code. Then phone draws a box around the code and displays a link. I tap the link and stuff happens.

You didn't see the box or the link?

Was wondering if that code would only be readable by a device/software used by vn immigration. If it was a valid code, then I would expect iphone to lock on to it, draw that box, but then tell me that it doesn't know what to do with it. Or the phone recognizes the code, determines the link is broken or info is bad, and does nothing. Same as if the code was actually defective enough not to be recognized as a qr code (which is probably what happened). That is, I don't think the phone is smart enough to determine "that's a valid code but I don't know what to do with it (or the link is bad) so I will do nothing (no box, no link, no error message)"

I should go back to the veritasium youtube channel episode about QR codes for remedial viewing.