Which airports can I get visa on arrival in Vietnam?

Where to apply for Vietnam visa on arrival?

Oh, Vietnam visa on arrival, you sly dog! So, you want to tango with bureaucracy upon landing, eh? Buckle up, buttercup.

• Airports galore (almost): Picture this. Noi Bai (Hanoi). Tan Son Nhat (Saigon, aka Ho Chi Minh City). Da Nang. Cam Ranh (Nha Trang). Phu Quoc (Island paradise!). It’s like a pick-your-own-adventure… if your adventure involves immigration.
• Visa approval letter: Think of this as your VIP pass to the party. You get it before you fly. Apply online via a reputable agency. There are sharks out there; choose wisely. I hear my friend’s cousin used [redacted] and lived to tell the tale.
• Requirements?: Passport (duh!), photos (passport-sized, no silly faces), cash (USD is king), and the aforementioned approval letter. Pro-tip: bring a pen. Seriously. I learned this the hard way when I forgot mine. I had to beg some random dude for a pen. It was mortifying!
• Is it worth it?: That is the million-dollar question. Depends. Are you a planner? Or a “wing it” kinda person? Visa on arrival is riskier. You are rolling the dice on potential queues and “surprises”. Me? I am too anxious for that. I’d rather get it sorted in advance.
• A word to the wise: Don’t wait till the last minute! Give yourself plenty of time to secure that approval letter. Things can and will go wrong (Murphy’s Law, baby!). Especially when you are stressed out and jet-lagged. Did I mention bring a pen?

Okay, now that we have navigated the visa jungle, let’s talk about something else. How about the best pho spot in Hanoi? Or the most comfortable shoes for temple-hopping in Angkor Wat? But, let’s save that for later. Enjoy Vietnam, or try to.

How much is a Vietnam visa on arrival?

Vietnam visa on arrival? Fees are, shall we say, tiered. It’s less a fixed cost, more an à la carte situation. Makes you wonder about the nature of borders, doesn’t it?

• Single-entry, one month: Expect to shell out about $18 for the service fee, a mere pittance. Next-day processing bumps that to $27. Time is money, as they say.

• Single-entry, three months: This bumps the cost. Service fee jumps to $28, or $37 for the express lane.

• Multi-entry, one month: You’re looking at $21 for the service fee, or $30 to jump the queue. I remember similar lines for concerts, good times.

• Multi-entry, three months: The big kahuna. $43 is the base, $52 if you’re impatient. Worth it if you’re in and out, though.

These amounts apply in 2025, based on current data. Remember that these are service fees. You’ll also be paying a stamping fee directly at the airport. Keep some USD handy.

Stamping fees vary based on the visa type. For single-entry visas, it’s $25. Multiple-entry visas cost $50. Note that only USD currency is accepted. I swear I saw someone try to pay with Euros once.

Always check the latest regulations just before you travel. Things change, you know? Best not to be caught out at the border.

Who can get Vietnam visa on arrival?

Okay, so Vietnam visa on arrival… hmm.

It was July 2024, scorching hot in Hanoi. We landed, sweat already dripping. I was there with my sister, Sarah, for her birthday.

The visa thing? Total zoo.

Only if you can’t get that shiny e-visa. Also, if you don’t qualify for visa exemption. Then, arrival is your best bet if you arrive by… uh… plane, obvs.

Remember, the e-visa is your friend! Unless you screw it up like I almost did.

The airport felt like a sauna, ugh.

To apply, you need:

• Approval letter (get it before you fly!). It’s basically pre-approval, kinda.
• Requirements that are the same as any standard visa. Passport, pictures, forms… the usual.

The approval letter, yeah, almost messed that up. I used an old passport scan. Almost didn’t get on the plane! Idiot!

Sarah was so mad.

Oh god, the chaos at the visa counter! So many tired, sweaty tourists, all clutching paperwork, waiting. It took forever but eventually, we were officially in Vietnam. And man, the food was worth it. Totally worth it.