In order to enter Vietnam, you must have a valid US passport, which has a validity of six months further to the date of your arrival in Vietnam. In addition, you will need a Vietnamese Visa, a visa approval letter and Visa exemption letter. The Visa exemption letter can be obtained from the Vietnamese embassy before your date of travel to Vietnam. In order to get the approval letter or Visa on Arrival, you must get in touch with a travel agent who can help you with all the formalities.
It is to be noted that the absence of these mandatory documentation can lead to immediate deportation of a traveller. Also, it is important that you specify the period and purpose of your visit, while applying for Visa on Arrival. Usually, the visa on arrival issued by Vietnam is for single entry. Unless you apply for a multiple entry Visa, you will be issued a single entry Visa. Multiple entry Visa can be obtained by putting in a request and paying extra fees. Even if you wish to re-enter Vietnam from a different country, you will have to obtain a multiple entry Visa.
While obtaining the Visa, you will be required to pay two fees – one the Visa fee and second the Visa processing fees. The amount deducted as fees may vary basis your duration of stay and the kind of Visa obtained. In case of Visa on Arrival, you can make the payment to your travel agent via online transfer.
It is to be noted that the Vietnamese immigration officials are strict about travellers adhering to the activities mentioned while obtaining Visa. If you wish to undertake volunteer activities or similar activities while in Vietnam, make sure you mention the right category while applying for Visa. In case, you change the purpose of your visit after you have taken the Visa, you will have to take a new Visa outside Vietnam.
If you are travelling to Vietnam for work purpose, you will have to first obtain a work permit, before applying for work Visa. It is also to be noted that the Visa on Arrival is applicable only for those travellers who are arriving in Vietnam by air. In case, you wish to travel to Vietnam by land, you will have to get a fully stamped Visa prior to your departure and fix it to your passport. In case you are travelling by a cruise ship, you can get in touch with the cruise ship authorities for information on Visa on Arrival.
How to get Vietnam visa in America?
There are 2 ways for you to get a Vietnam visa:
1. Apply for your Vietnam visa in a Vietnam Embassy / Consulate:
You can come in person to the Vietnam embassy in your country and you will be instructed step by step on how to apply for a Vietnam visa there. By this way, you have to come directly to the Vietnam embassy at least two times. The first time you come there is to submit required documents and the second one coming there is to get your Vietnam visa.
For your convenience, we would like to give you the contact information of the Vietnam embassy in America as below:
Embassy of Vietnam in United States of America (USA)
Address: 1233 20th St NW, Suite 400 - Washington, DC 20036, United States of America (USA)
Telephone: 202.861.0737
Hotline for Consular Affairs: 202.716.8666 or 202.739.1666
Fax: 202.861.0917
Email : info@vietnamembassy.us (for general information)or vnconsular@vietnamembassy.us (for consular affairs)
Website : www.vietnamembassy-usa.org
Consulate General of Vietnam in Houston, Texas, USA
5251 Westheimer Rd, Suite 1100, Houston, Texas 77056, United States of America
Tel: 713-850-1233 | 713-840-0096
Fax: 713-840-0159 | 713-871-0312
Website : www.vietnamconsulateinhouston.org
Consulate General of Viet Nam in San Francisco, USA
1700 California Street, Suite 430, San Francisco, CA 94109, California, USA
Tel: 415-922-1707 ext. 115
Fax: 415-922-1848; 415-922-0307
Website address: www.vietnamconsulate-sf.org
2. Apply online to obtain an approval letter to pick up your Vietnam visa at Vietnam international airports (in case you travel by air to Vietnam)
Please click here for Vietnam visa inquiry.
