Wait time for Vietnam visa on arrival
 

Based on what I've read here I decided that VOA was the way to go. We are using Tonkin Travel for our Vietnam arrangements (incredibly responsive) so I asked them about doing the paperwork for VOA. Today I received an email warning me that if other international flights arrive at the same time the wait can be very long. Since we don't have a consulate nearby I'm debating sending the passports to DC, even though we are leaving in a month. The embassy website mentions something called a "loose paper visa" which doesn't require sending the actual passport, just a copy. An unanticipated difficulty is that the website does not give the fees. (The state dept. warns that the fees are variable and not stated.) Anybody tried the loose paper visa? I hate the thought of standing in a long line with a hungry impatient husband. And I don't want to even consider the possibility of having to replace passports during the holidays.

i had to wait quite a while because they move slowly.. but in the scope of things the wait was not long.. small staff in small area.. be pushy like everyone else!!

Filmwill, I believe, did the loose-leaf visa. You'll have to call the closest consulate to ask about fees. When I did it oh, so many years ago the charge was $65 for a single entry visa.

PS. I know I'm really picky about this, but be aware that while VN calls it a VOA (Visa on Arrival), a true visa on arrival means you can just show up, fill out forms, pay your money and get a visa. Cambodia and Laos both have a true VOA. What VN has is a pre-arrpoved visa. You will not be allowed on the plane to VN unless you have a visa in your passport or a pre-arrnaged visa approval letter.

I don't remember if VN requires 2 empty facing pages like Cambodia.

We got a loose paper visa because I did not want to send my passport through the mail. 3 years ago the cost was $65. I called the Embassy in DC to find out the cost. I considered the VOA, and if I returned to Vietnam I think I would take a chance and do it. When we arrived in VN at 11 PM, there were fewer than 10 people on line for the VOA and the line moved very quickly.

Of course hard to know how many planes will be arriving, but we also arrived later in the evening to HCMC, around 11pm, and it was not too busy. The main thing is be sure you have all your paperwork filled out before hand and have your pictures already taken and with you. We found that the biggest time saver. As soon as we got off we were able to drop off our stuff and waited for them to call us with our prepared visas - about 10-15 min. Others who who still had to comple their paperwork or had to have their pictures taken (they will do that for you there), had to get all that done and THEN turn in their stuff - by then the wait was much longer.

If the airports at HCMC or Hanoi are busy, the baggage handlers will be just as slow as the visa booth. You can sit and wait for the visa, or stand and wait for your bags. Distract yourself by counting the money you have saved by not dealing with a Vietnamese embassy, which won't operate at the speed of light either. Just be sure to have the $25 cash "stamping" fee ready in US$.

jgg-- Could you please clarify the paperwork to be filled out before hand? Thanks.

I sent out for "real" visas today. The cost is now $90 per person for single entry plus the mailing costs.

Hope the VOA line is <b>really</b> long so that the hassle and extra cost of applying in advance was worthwhile!

Wow! $90. Thanks for the update.

You did the right thing mailing them in even though the wait for luggage at Hanoi's airport was the longest I've ever experienced.
We were lucky to be able to go to the Vietnamese consulate in NYC to get them, took a week, no lines dropping off or picking them up. We paid $100. in person for multiple entry visas.
Have a wonderful trip with lots of delicious meals.

just last week paid US$42 for single entry VN visa direct into my passport. In Hong Kong, USA passport.

$23.99 visa fee paid to the agency, plus $50 stamping fee for a 1 month multi entry visa is the norm now ($25 for single entry).

This is for the pre-arranged visa.

There was a paper we needed to have filled out, plus a copy for each of us. Just name, address, passport info, dates we would be there, etc. as I recall.

Thanks, jgg.

We did the VOA in October. Our flight arrived late in the evening and a second flight came in after us. If you have your paperwork completed and are ready you walk up to the counter, hand it to them, walk past the window to the other side and now you wait. They will "process" all the paperwork and then call out the names - not necessarily in the order received. Then walk up with your US dollars and pay for your visas and you are out the door. It is very easy. Wait time, yeah but not extreme. I would do VOA again.

Our loose leaf visas arrived today, one week after I sent in the paperwork. Used FedEx 3 day delivery there and back, so the turn around was very quick.

The wait for a pre-arranged Visa in Saigon this past Saturday was 10 minutes.