Vietnam Visa Question - Single/Multiple Entry

[albatross710]

Hi,

We will be heading to Vietnam soon and being a short visit I obtained a single entry Vietnam Visa. Now, with more reading I can see the attractiveness of a side trip to Angkor Wat.

Does anyone have any experience on the likelihood of being able to use the Visa to reenter from Cambodia. I'm wondering if they have any special arrangement as we would be reentering within two days.

Alby

 

[2muchplastic]

I believe that there is a "re-entry" endorsement available for a single entry visa, if re-entering from one of the neighbouring countries, China/Laos/Cambodia. As with everything in Vietnam, anything official costs - in this case about US$25.

The advice I have seen is to arrange through a travel agent once in Vietnam

 

[samh004]

I can't tell you about the visas but Angkor Wat was great when I visited it a couple years ago. Make sure you wake up as early as you can to get there at sunrise, it's amazing.

Photos from my trip.

 

[Ric]

When I was stationed there at the end of the 90s, they started a "visa issued upon arrival " sysytem.

Don't know whether it is still being used now.

Ric

 

[albatross710]

Thanks guys. I will ask about the re-entry visa when on the ground in VN.

 

[WA flyer]

When I was stationed there at the end of the 90s, they started a "visa issued upon arrival " sysytem.

Don't know whether it is still being used now.

Ric

Yes it is. You book it online and receive an approval letter within 2 days which you produce to immigration on arrival along with 2 passport photos.

 

[auriga]

Yes it is. You book it online and receive an approval letter within 2 days which you produce to immigration on arrival along with 2 passport photos.

Is this where you pay an online agency to get the pre- approval letter?

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Hi,
This is the site Visa-Vietnam | Legitimated and Supported by the Vietnamese Immigration Department
that may be of help.

M.P.

 

[albatross710]

Hi,
This is the site Visa-Vietnam | Legitimated and Supported by the Vietnamese Immigration Department
that may be of help.

M.P.

It is easy to obtain the Visa direct from VN Embassy in Canberra without having to use an agent.

'Somehere' (AFF or Tripadvisor or Lonely Planet Forum) I read that the 'arrival visas' queue can be lengthy.

To obtain our original VN visa, I posted the passports on Tuesday in a Yellow Post bag, included a return yellow bag. The passports with visa were delivered back on Thursday.

The multi-entry visa was another tick box on the same form.

 

[soorox]

I remember last time I was in Vietnam (2 yrs ago), you can buy a visa while entering, but the line is long! Every passenger entering Vietnam is required to obtain a visa, even when transitting. But this will change once Vietnam Airlines enters SkyTeam when airlines can have seamless connection on Vietnam Airlines flights.

Sorry, abit of topic but which airline are you flying with?

 

[albatross710]

I picked up a JQ special deal back in January. $300 return DRWSGN. Using QFF points BNEDRW $43 return for taxes. So cash outlay of $343 for return flights BNE - SGN.

At 185cm tall I dont particularly look forward to the JQ flights, however I am prepared to do it to justify telling all of my staff at work that I will be a) out of mobile range, b) out of reliable internet, password security risk in internet cafes; and c) basically out of contact for 7 days.

I am leaving the iphone at home, leaving my internet banking token, leaving the company credit card. Did I mention leaving the kids at home as well?

PS: We are really looking forward to getting away!

​

 

[WA flyer]

I picked up a JQ special deal back in January. $300 return DRWSGN. Using QFF points BNEDRW $43 return for taxes. So cash outlay of $343 for return flights BNE - SGN.​

At 185cm tall I dont particularly look forward to the JQ flights, however I am prepared to do it to justify telling all of my staff at work that I will be a) out of mobile range, b) out of reliable internet, password security risk in internet cafes; and c) basically out of contact for 7 days.​

I am leaving the iphone at home, leaving my internet banking token, leaving the company credit card. Did I mention leaving the kids at home as well?​

PS: We are really looking forward to getting away!​

Same here we're leaving this thursday via Perth on the recently introduced DJ PER-DRW route.

 

[2muchplastic]

I hope you enjoy Ho Chi Minh City. I personally have a real soft spot for the place, having been there 4 or 5 times so far this year.

It's manic with thousands of motorbikes and scooters zipping around, and crossing a road is like nothing you'll have seen before. But the city itself, with all the old French style architecture, the green spaces and the friendly people, is very nice indeed. It is still very much a developing country, so you have to take this into account, but have a good time.

 

[Evan]

HCMC.... Safe, nice people, millions of scooters, just walk across roads slowish by confident, rather an open city, i guess you could say green space, polluted (lots of 2 stroke smoke), saying it is developing is an understatement ! i am i would say rather in-different about it, if you in a nice hotel enjoy it but hotels are top $$. Everybody has there opinions i guess, for me it just did not do it for me, the country side is nice though, city :-|

 

[ethernet]

Look, The Canberra price for a Vietnam Visa from their Embassy in Canberra is
$75 single entry, multiple is $120 odd from memory.
It occupies a whole page of your Aussie passport -worth $4.
Hidden in the airfare is at least a USD $30 Airport slug.
Laos and Cambodia have steep visa's too - for Aussies, but not ASEAN.

Therefore the economics are clear, Vietnam does not want tourists, and you get better value by going elsewhere - Thailand and Malaysia - unless you do it for a month or so or have Vn contacts. Vn hotel prices are also dearer, and of a lower quality, relative. I hear .Vn numbers and more importantly foreign dollars are way down. The Western style shopping plazas in Vn are also more expensive than Australia.

If going to Vn, be sure to stock up on anti-diarrhea tablets. Vn food is better in Footscray Melbourne.

 

[soorox]

^^ Footscray food is generally nice!

Vietnam does want tourists and have been promoting everywhere! well mostly europe but has increased flights to MEL! 3 to 4! a week! apparently there was a Vietnam roadshow at crown. They just need to lesser their visa requirements especially transit passengers.
Nha Trang is a nice place! 5 stars! especially Sofitel VinPearl resort & spa getting there by plane is generally 20 bucks! (45 in biz) fr SGN!

 

[dajop]

Hidden in the airfare is at least a USD $30 Airport slug.

And what's hidden in the airfare for the departure from Australia?

Vn hotel prices are also dearer, and of a lower quality, relative. I hear .Vn numbers and more importantly foreign dollars are way down. The Western style shopping plazas in Vn are also more expensive than Australia.

If going to Vn, be sure to stock up on anti-diarrhea tablets. Vn food is better in Footscray Melbourne.

1) VN chain hotel prices are ridiculously overpriced relatived to equivalent Thai and Malaysia hotel counterparts, especially given facilities. But local hotels (and with the internet it is easy to research which are good and which are not) can be reasonably, if not attractively priced relative to equivalent hotels elsewhere.
2) Why go to VN for western shopping? Stay at home.
3) VN food is variable, sure, but so it is in Footscray. And if one is sensible about what and where one eats and what one drinks (ie go to the place with queues out the front - not the one with the empty tables) that goes a long way to avoiding any diarrhea.

HCMC is a challenge to the senses, especially if you've never been to a less developed country before. But it does really expose you to how others live. But get outside the city, and it can be a fantastic experience.

Some of my most vivid travelling memories are from a 3 week trip I did in Vietnam in 1999. Watching the sun rise over rice paddies and tea plantations after a night on the bus, helping a teenage t-shirt vendor practice english on the beach in nha-trang, minding another souvernir seller's stuff whilst they take a swim. Taking a wild party boat trip (mama hanh) also at nha trang. Cycling around tombs and the river at Hue. Enjoying an 8 course meal of really fresh and delicious food in Hoi an by the river for about $6. Spending a day on a motorcycle tour with a delicious bowl of Pho Bo at a streetside stall for lunch, and then being sent the back way into a temple along a windy lakeside path to avoid paying a $1 entry fee!

Unfortunately the place has lost is innocence since then, but nevertheless still a great experience.

 

[sadlier]

To the OP - if you arrrange your AW trip with a travel agent they will arrange the visas including the re-entry visa for you. Like everything in Vietnam what you pay depends on how hard you can negotiate!

For regular travellers to VN on AU passports the best bet is an APEC travel card.

To all the posters taking a shot at VN/HCMC - you stay away whilst I enjoy!

Cheers

 

[2muchplastic]

....To all the posters taking a shot at VN/HCMC - you stay away whilst I enjoy!

Cheers

+1. It's developing, but not a tourist trap like Thailand. I like it, and anyone who doesn't - well as the saying goes diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

 

[albatross710]

Thanks everyone for the trip tips.

Is there any preferred currency?

I'm thinking take some smaller USD denominations, small AUD notes, exchange some AUD for VND on arrival and have backup ATM access.