thegingerbird
motodop
Posts: 23

#1 Posted: 13/5/2008 - 23:16


Hi everyone

This site has helped me so much in planning my trip I wanted to post some info that I couldn’t find but I hope that others find useful. I am flying into HCMC from the UK on 3rd June.

I applied for a prearranged visa for Vietnam from www.guidevietnam.com. I filled out a form with basic personal info and travel dates and submitted it on the website. Within 24hrs I received an email asking me to confirm my details and also giving me information on how to pay.

The site does not except payment directly so it redirected me to www.xoom.com which I had to join. The service is free to join however they charge $3.99 to process the payment. The payment is actually collected by the visa company in Hanoi in person and therefore collector details need to be input onto the xoom site, these details are in the email from the evisa company. You also need to input a secret word. After you have completed the process on xoom you then need to email the visa company with the secret word. All of this is explained step by step on the sites. The actual payment is processed through paypal or credit/debit card.

I received a scanned copy of my visa approval letter within 48hrs. The evisa site explained that I would need to pay a further $25 when collecting my stamp on arrival at the airport.

I noticed that I had been put down as a Mrs and not a Miss and emailed them to query this and they replied that it is a default setting and all females are registered as Mrs.

Costs (based on single entry visa)

$28.99 – came out of my account as £15.24.

+ $25 on arrival (approx £12.50)

For travellers from the UK especially this will save you money.

Consulate supplied visa costs

£38 for the visa
£8 return postage
£? Postage to the consulate

And if you are like me the real dislike of being parted from my passport!! It also takes approx 5 days to process.

However I have not yet put the approval letter to the test so I will hopefully post again from HCMC around 3/4th June if they let me in!!!! to tell you all how it went.

TGB

packtoofull
flashpacker
Posts: 37

Located in:
Indonesia

#2 Posted: 15/5/2008 - 12:22


Thanks for the report- much appreciated!

thegingerbird
motodop
Posts: 23

#3 Posted: 3/6/2008 - 21:54


Well i'm here!!!!!!!

I filled out another form at the airport. Showed my approval letter. Paid $25 and hey presto.

Definately cheaper and easier then getting it from the consulate in the UK. Highly recommend it.

TGB

daawgon
tourist
Posts: 58

#4 Posted: 5/6/2008 - 14:07


I just wanted to point out that you could have done the Xoom transfer for a bit less too. The credit card payment is $3.99, but a direct debit from your checking account would have cost only $.99.

sunshine87
motodop
Posts: 23

#5 Posted: 11/7/2008 - 19:40


Is this definitely the recommended way then? As I just thought you pay $30 in Thailand to get one for Vietnam?

somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 2675

Located in:
Indonesia

#6 Posted: 12/7/2008 - 06:26


If you've got the time, I'd just get it in Bangkok -- the difference in cost is nominal and you're not needing to rely on a travel agent to sort everything out correctly for you.

sunshine87
motodop
Posts: 23

#7 Posted: 18/7/2008 - 14:12


Does anyone know for definate if you can get a visa for Vietnam in luang prabang? or can you buy it on arrival in Hanoi airport? Or from chang mail?
I leave for my travels in 10 days, should I just buy the Visa online?? Not sure what is best and easiest...Thanks!!