HOW TO APPLY FOR A VISA TO VIETNAM? I/ A VISA to Vietnam can be applied for by mail or in person at the Embassy of Vietnam as early as six months prior to the date of travel. The applicant must submit: 1. Original PASSPORT (which requires at least 01 month validity prior the date of exit from Vietnam). In urgent cases, a loose-leaf-visa can be requested, then a copy of passport (photo and personal detail pages) may be submitted instead of the original passport. 2. Application form  (PDF Form/Word Form)The form must be completed, signed and attached with  with 01 original photo (2x 2in) . In case of a loose-leaf-visa request, 01 additional photo must be stapled to the form. 3. A visa approval obtained through the applicant’s host or sponsor in Vietnam. If the applicant does not have visa approval, he/she may contact any Travel Agencies or the Embassy by email or by telephone ( 202 861 0737  202 861 0737 ext. 221, 222, or 236) for assistance to apply for it. Additional processing fees for visa approval may be required. 4. Visa fees must be in the form of MONEY ORDER, or CASHIER’S CHECK, or CERTIFIED CHECK payable to “THE EMBASSY OF VIETNAM.” Applicants applying together may submit combined payment in one money order”. For those who have already got visa approval, please check Consular fees here. 5. A prepaid return envelope, if the applicant requests the visa be returned by mail. Please use USPS Express Mail or USPS Certified Mail (www.usps.com) or Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. Please do not use UPS or DHL. Applicants applying together may provide one envelope for visas to be returned to the same address. Diplomatic and official visas will be granted GRATIS unless otherwise agreed upon between Vietnam and the applicant’s country. In addition to the documents specified in (I), the applicant must submit a note verbal or an official letter from the relevant agencies of the US Government, Embassies or Consulates accredited to the United States, and international organizations. II/ Processing Time: Five business days are required to process visa applications with approval. Expedited processing requires one to two business days after the Embassy has received the application (additional fee required). Note: Please keep the tracking numbers of the envelopes to and from the Embassy. When the above deadlines have passed, use the tracking number to check with the mailing service first. Please do not make telephone inquires on the status of your application (make sure that you keep your passport number for this request) until after the 3rd business day for an expedited case and the 7th business day for a regular case. The Embassy will be closed on Saturday, Sunday, Vietnamese and US holidays 2008. Please take account of the observed holidays in planning for your visa application and travel. For further information, please contact the Visa Section of the Embassy: Opening hours: 9:30 – 12:30 Monday through Friday. Phone: (202) 861- 2293, (202) 861- 0694 and (202) 861- 0737 ext. 221, 222, 236 during 10:00 – 12:00 AM and 2:30 – 5:30 PM Monday through Friday Fax: (202) 861- 1297 and (202) 861- 0917 Email: consular@vietnamembassy.us PROCEDURES ON ENTERING AND LEAVING VIETNAM Entry visa, which is obtainable at Vietnamese embassies with assistance of a travel agency in Vietnam, is requested for all visitors irrespective of nationalities. Please allow 06 days of processing. The entry visa is good for travel throughout the country, except to such restricted areas as bordering provinces, military bases, islands, etc … where a special travel permit is needed. Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese who want to come to Vietnam as tourists must fill 03 applications for entry and exit visas on printed forms, enclosed with 2 photos (4cm x 6cm), half length, bared headed, eyes looking straight (taken not more than one year before application) and send them to the diplomatic or consular mission of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the country where he or she will find to the most convenient. To help speed the procedures, tourist must send in advance to Kim travel, by email or facsimile, the following data: - Surname and name – Date and place of birth – Nationality (original and present) – Present place of residence – Profession (in details) – Time and point of exit and entry – Besides above-mentioned data, overseas Vietnamese who want to come to Vietnam both as tourist and as visitor of their native places and relatives must specify. – The date and registration number of permit to leave (if any) or the time, reason and form of departure. – The surname, name and address of their relatives who are living in Vietnam. The tourist agency will notify the applicants of the results of the examination of their applications 03 days after reception for tourist transiting and visiting Vietnam, 05 days for those who only come as tourist, and 15 days for those who come to Vietnam both as tourist and visitor of their native places and relatives. The concerned people will contact the Vietnamese mission abroad to get their entry and exit visas. Visa on arrival in Hanoi or Ho chi minh Airport: 30USD/per pay to Kim Cafe Travel 25USD pay to Costumer Office.Total 55USD/per AIR ACCESS  Pacific Airlines , Air France, Aeroflot,Swiss Air,Laundia Air, Asiana Airlines, Air Cambodia, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Eva Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Lao Aviation, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airways System, Philippine Airlines, Thai Airways, Quantas Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines, etc For information and booking with Our Agency, we are sales Agent of these Airlines. CUSTOM PROCEDURES AT ENTRY AND EXIT Tourists arriving in Vietnam must declare and show their luggage for inspection when customs officers request. There is no tax for luggage, objects and goods carried by tourists in limited quantity for personal use only during their tour, and not on the list of non-commercial articles banned by the State.The tourist upon departure must bring luggage declared upon arrival (except things taken as gifts) . Tourist coming to Vietnam are allowed to carry an unlimited amount of foreign currencies (in case of more than US$ 3000 as well as gift and silvered objects provided) they declare them in full on the printed forms given them by the customs officers. VN CUSTOMS REGULATIONS ENTRY: Tourists are authorized to import the following duty free: Cigarettes: 400 – Cigars: 100 – Tobacco: 500 gram, Liquor over 22 degree: 1.5 liters, under 22 degree: 02 liter, Beer: 03 liter, Tea: 05 Kg, Coffee: 03 kg (not personal for people under 15 years old). Personal effects of a reasonable quantity. Small gift items valued at not more than US$300. In case of more than US$ 300, these item must be declared and be taxed by customs officers. Note: It is prohibited for any visitors to bring into Vietnam the following: - Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects. – Opium and other narcotics – Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society. EXIT: Goods of a commercial nature and articles of high value require export permits issued by the Customs Service. Export of antiques and some precious stones is forbidden. AIRPORT TAX: US$ 10 per person for departing International Flight USD 1.8 per person for departing domestic flights. $ CURRENCY (Dong) $1 U.S dollar ~15,000 to 16,000 Dong The currency in Vietnam is "Dong". Notes are in denominations of VND 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000. Foreign currencies should be converted at banks or at authorized exchange counters, but can not be reconverted. Tourist may encounter difficulties in exchanging other currencies than the USD, Travels' cheques and VISA, MASTER cards are accepted. LANGUAGES: Vietnamese, English, Chinese, French and Russian are spoken by hotel staff. Vietravel provides guides speaking English, French, Japanese, German, Chinese, Spanish and more HEALTH: No vaccination are presently required, click here ELECTRICITY: 220 volts (50 Hz) AC WATER: Bottled water and mineral water are available in most cities. In other areas, boiled water can be obtained. It is advisable to drink precooked drinks, to refrain from using ice. TEMPERATURE: The average temperature ranges from 160C in December to over 370C in April. The rainy season falls between mid of May and early December. OTHER USEFUL TIPS A taxi from Tan Son Nhat Airport to downtown Ho Chi Minh City should cost about USD 6-7. Fresh, unexposed films is widely available and at cheap price in Ho Chi Minh City,also for other electronic items. It is advisable to bring an umbrella and raincoat on visits between May and December. Shops operate 07 days per week. They open early and close late. Medicine is available in the many pharmaceutical outlets. Do not exchange money on the street. Check all valuables into hotel safes. Upon leaving Saigon or Hanoi, tourist should arrange to arrive at the airport about 2 hours before taking an International flight and an 1 hour before check-in a domestic flight. Download PDF form application Visa documentation to Vietnam and Cambodia and apply by yourself.