Jun 02 2011
Getting a Vietnamese visa in Bangkok
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Ignore all of the touts in Khao San Road and don’t worry about finding a travel agent to process your visa to Vietnam — it’s insanely easy to get by yourself (and cheaper). You will need: two passport photos (available on the way to the embassy), the visa form itself (available here, or at the embassy), your passport, and a pen. Pen optional as you can probably borrow one from the embassy.
BYOB.
The Vietnamese Embassy has a helpful website but they haven’t updated their fee schedule, so make sure you bring the amount cash you need for the visa you want (see below).
The Embassy’s visa section is located on Wireless Road, directly south of the Phloen Chit BTS Station. From the station, take Exit 2. If you need photos, make a U-turn at the bottom of the steps and walk 50 metres to the Mahatun Plaza Building and find Closeup Photoshop (1st floor). They’ll take a set of visa photos for you for 150 baht. If you already have photos in hand, proceed straight forward to the corner of Wireless and Ploen Chit Roads and turn left. Walk down Wireless about five minutes, passing the Hotel Athenee, and the visa section entrance will be on your left.
Into the abyss. Hope they have snacks.
Single entry visas cost 1,800 baht for four-day processing (hand your passport in on day 1, and it will be ready first thing day 5), 2,300 baht for next day processing, or 2,800 baht for same day processing (must be requested before 11:30). The embassy wouldn’t confirm over the phone what multiple entry visas cost (because it is clearly a state secret), but reports from other travellers indicate it costs around 1,000 baht more.
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Consular Section
83/1 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
T: (02) 650 8979
Open Mon-Fri, 08:30-11:30, 13:30-16:30
http://www.vietnamembassy-thailand.org/en/
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Tags: embassies, Vietnam, visas
If you are a UK passport holder planning to visit Vietnam and are currently in the UK, you can now get a visa on arrival for £20 if you fill in the appropriate forms before you leave.However take note its only if you FLY into and out of Vietnam – not if you are planning to go in over the border.
Thank for the good news – I hope they expand this program to anyone travelling to Vietnam.
Can I leave Bangkok and come back to pick this Visa a week or two later?
Thanks for this guide, it was extremely helpful now a year and a half later, especially the bit about the photo place (which is still there).
Bit of an update for you though, I just went in today for next-day processing, and that is now 2500 baht. I didn’t ask about the others.
Hey guys,
has anybody got an idea how to pre-book a visa if we are planning on crossing Laos-Vietnamese border around mid March? What are our options? I think our bus will go through Nam Kan.
Thank you,
Angie
Hi Angie,
You can’t get visa on arrival at any land border with Vietnam so you’ll have to get a visa beforehand at a Vietnamese embassy — Vientiane would be a good option if you are passing through there.
Cheers
Thanks for the info the websites so helpful. Just been to get my visa though and as in the comment above its now 2500 baht and you only need one visa photo so we bought more that we didn’t need as already had one. Just to let others know! It’s a simple process otherwise and completely as described in the article.
They asked 2700 Baht for same day processing this morning. As Elisabeth said, only 1 photo was required.
2013 Traveler
I recently went to the embassy (April 2013) to get my visa. Prices have changed a little. To get a tourist visa the same day, the price is 2700 Baht. To get it the next day, it is 2500 Baht, and to get it anytime after that it is 2000 Baht.
Just a few tips. There are three windows in the office where you can line up. If you are dropping off an application or picking up your visa, you need to go in the tourist visa line. Seems rather intuitive, but I made the mistake of lining up at the “Approved Visa” section for my pickup. I waited a while there before the agent told me I was in the wrong line. Don’t repeat my mistake, especially if you are in a rush.
Also, when they put the visa sticker in my passport (it takes up one page), they put it on a page where I had other visa stamps. It was a little sad since I liked to display my old visas to remember where I have traveled to. So, if you too like seeing your old visa stamps, tell them to put the visa on a new page.
The service is not very friendly, so you might need an extra dose of patience. But as foreigners of whatever country we are, let’s represent our nation well and show respect : ]
Happy travels!
Thanks for the tips and update Naomi!
Hey, just a question.. I’m going to be heading to Bangkok tomorrow (its a Sunday), will the embassy be open? Also, can I get two visas at the same time? I’ll be re-entering Thailand at a later date, after Vietnam, and I don’t think the standard 16 day land border crossing visa will be enough. Any suggestions? thanks!
Sorry for the late response… but embassies are generally closed weekends.