When applying through the embassy, it is mandatory that you hold an original and valid Malian passport. You will have to fill the Visa application form in English and mention the place of collection and submission of Visa as Vietnam. Once you have filled the form, you will be required to submit it along with other documents such as your original passport, one recent passport sized photograph and a self-addressed envelope. You will also have to pay the Visa fees, which can be paid to the Embassy of Vietnam by way of money order or cashier’s cheque.
The embassy will take five working days to process your documents. After your documents are processed, you will be issued a fully stamped Visa. Usually, the Visa issued by the embassy is of single entry. If you want a multiple entry Visa, you will have to specify it in your application form and pay additional fees for it.
One of the biggest advantages of applying through the embassy is that you will have a fully stamped Visa in your hands before you leave for Vietnam. However, this procedure is expensive and time consuming. You will have to incur a lot of expenses on travel and stay in a foreign location. In case you are applying through correspondence, you will have to send in your application form and your original passport to the embassy by postal mail. Here, you stand to lose your passport if your package is lost in transit or is misplaced.
An easier and more convenient option is the Visa on Arrival facility. You can apply for Visa from any location and do not have to submit your original passport in this method. To apply for Visa on Arrival, you will have to get in touch with a travel agent based in Vietnam. You will be required to fill an online application form with your personal details and travel details. While filling your purpose of visit, you will have to choose from business, tourist and transit. A business Visa allows you a validity of one month, three months and six months. A tourist Visa allows you a validity of one month and a transit Visa allows you a validity of less than five days.
Once you have filled the form, submit it for processing. After the form is processed, you will be issued a letter of approval. This letter of approval has to be submitted at the Visa on Arrival counter at the Vietnamese airport along with the Visa stamping fees for Visa on Arrival.
It is to be noted that the Visa on Arrival facility is available only to those who arrive in Vietnam by air. For those taking land routes, it is mandatory that they carry their documents along with them while traveling.
