VOA
 

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for your helpful responses to my questions about luggage packing. I didn't expect to draw so much of your attention to that matter. To be honest, I never intend to bombard this forum :)

Now it comes to visa on arrival. As far as I know, you need to present you photos upon arrival in every country. However, I've read somewhere that Vietnam requires 2 passport sized photos while Cambodia needs one only. Do I get it right? What about Laos?

Thanks again

There is no true visa on arrival for Vietnam. You need to either get your visa in advance, or 'pre-arrange' a viss to be waiting for you. Either way, it takes two pictures.

Cambodia visa on arrival requires only one picture. Laos wants two, if I remember correctly.

When traveling in this part of the world, it's always good to have several visa/passport sized photos with you. Bring extras just in case.

Actually, with VOA for Vietnam, only 1 picture is required. I just returned a few days ago, and have used VOA for the last 3 trips. I've used VOA for entry in both Hanoi and HCMC, and only the single picture is req. (I realize all the documentation says 2 pics!)

Technically you require 2 passport photos for Laos, though usually you will only be asked for one. The cost for a visa on arrival is $35.00 USD for US citizens. You can pay in Baht, but it is a bit more expensive on current exchange rates - 1500 Baht.

Thank you very much for your useful info. Appreciate it!

Hi there everyone. I am just curious . . . I just went to the Vietnam Embassy and started the process for a multi-entry 30 day visa to Vietnam. The cost was $120. Meanwhile, my friend is doing a visa on arrival through a travel agency who is charging $20 for the service and a $50 stamping fee. Does anyone understand the discrepancy? I asked the travel agency a couple of times and of course, they ignored the question. (I have been planning our trip for several months and I must confess, the experience has been really awful. I have never goten such confused, inaccurate, and conflicting information from vendors in my life . . . And I've used reputable tour companies that have gotten high ratings from people on this site and in the guide books! Perhaps I pay too much attention to detail, but it's a good thing because the agencies clearly don't. At this point, I am just hoping for the best and pray that everyone shows up as promised and that my reservations are all in order.

Is your friend getting a multi entry or single visa?

To the best of my knowledge, a 30 day single entry visa costs 25$ stamping fee only.

Sueblue - I can't address the discrepancy in costs, but can tell you that the visa on arrival does typically have an upfront charge payable to the entity that is arranging for the visa on arrival. In my case, I paid a $22 processing charge to Vietnamstay. Upon arrival in Vietnam I paid an additional charge of $25 - the "stamping" fee. I gather that it is quite common for folks who have a visa on arrival to arrive in Vietnam and be surprised that they have to pay the stamping fee in addition to a processing fee that they've already paid.

My fees were for a 30 day single entry visa. The fees for a 30 day multiple entry visa were 26 in processing and 50 for the stamping fee. Their webpage does note that if you process through an embassy, the stamping fees vary from embassy to embassy.

Sue, may I know when you're traveling? Very interested to know how the trip goes since we're not leaving home until Feb.

If you get your single or multi-entry visa from the VN embassy or consulate there is no stamping fee. You have paid the entire visa fee up front. If you get a pre-arranged visa (through a travel agency) you will pay a stamping fee each time you re-enter VN (in addition to the fee you paid the travel agency). So if you enter twice on a multi-entry pre-arranged visa, you'll pay a total of $50 in stamping fees.

Do note that if you are getting a pre-arranged visa, you MUST have your email confirmation with you or you will not be allowed on the plane to VN.