Every US citizen must apply for a Vietnam visa when visiting this interesting country in Southeast Asia. Therefore, before you make your reservations and pack your bags, you need to make sure you have this all-important travel document.
Who needs a visa: All American citizens wishing to visit Vietnam for tourist or business purposes must apply for a visa before entering the country. There are generally two types of visas for these purposes: the tourist visa, and the business visa. They are largely similar in terms of application procedure, with only minor differences.
Procedure: To apply for a visa, you must first fill in the application form located at the Vietnam Embassy website. A passport photograph, as well as a business letter must accompany the completed application form if you are entering for business purposes. You must also prepare a check or money order for the processing costs payable to "THE EMBASSY OF VIETNAM". If you want your visa mailed back to you through the post, you must also include a prepaid return envelope by USPS or FedEx. It is best to include tracking for security purposes.
You can also complete a Vietnam visa application in person at the Vietnam Embassy in Washington D.C. If you don't live near the city, you can also send your application through the mail.
Cost: The cost of applying for a visa is US$65 for a single-entry visa, and US$150 for a multiple-entry visa.
Validity and processing times: Short-term visas are valid for 30 days. It takes 5-7 business days to process a visa and it can be done within 3-4 days for additional costs, but allow for any delays and apply early. Apply for a visa for Vietnam up to 6 months before your departure date. It is important to check the start date of your visa! While it is a relatively rare problem, visa begin running out from the date it is issued, do check and ensure your visa will still be valid throughout your stay in the country.
Get a visa for Vietnam the quick and easy way.
Extending your stay: Once you arrive in Vietnam, you can extend your stay by applying for an extension. Vietnam will extend your visa up to three times before requiring you to leave and obtain a new visa. Generally, visas can be extended for a month at a time. While this is a relatively straightforward and simple process, there are a few things to note. There are costs involved in extending the visa, dependent on for how long you have it extended. It also takes about 3 days to confirm the visa extension, but in order to prevent delays from hampering your stay, be sure to apply for your extension at least a week before your visa to Vietnam expires.
Once a war-torn state, now a thriving economy - Vietnam possesses charm and allure in its own little way. While it is truly a land worth visiting, do make visa application early in order to make your Vietnam vacation an absolute perfect memory!
Visit often to learn more information from our updated Vietnam Visa.
