At the embassy, you will have to fill up the Visa application form. The form is to be filled in English and you will have to mention the place of collection and submission of the Visa as Vietnam. Along with the form, you will have to submit one recent passport sized photograph, one self-addressed envelope and your original passport. It is mandatory for any person who wishes to apply for Visa through the embassy to hold a valid and original passport. Besides submitting these documents, you will have to pay the Visa fees. The amount can be paid in favor of the Embassy of Vietnam by way of money order or cashier’s check.
The embassy will take at least five days to process your documents. Once your documents are processed, you will be issued a fully stamped Visa. One of the biggest benefits of applying through the embassy is that you can get hold of a fully stamped Visa before your departure to Vietnam. However, this process is time consuming and expensive.
In case you decide to apply for Visa through correspondence, you will have to send across all your documents, including your passport through postal mail. This is highly risky as you stand to lose your documents if your package is misplaced or lost in transit.
A more convenient and easier process is the Visa on Arrival. In order to apply for Visa on Arrival, you will have to get in touch with a travel agent based in Vietnam. You can fill the Visa application form online on the agent’s website. You will have to fill in details such as your name, occupation, purpose of visit and duration of stay in the form.
The form will be processed in two or three days, after which you will be issued a letter of approval. Your travel agent can collect this letter of approval on your behalf. On reaching Vietnam, you will have to submit this letter of approval at the Visa on Arrival counter of the airport you arrive in. Along with the letter, you will have to submit the Visa stamping fees.
It is to be noted that the Visa on Arrival facility is available only to those who arrive in Vietnam by air.