On Arrival Vietnam visas?

[denniseff]

Have seen websites purporting to provide on-arrival Vietnam visas - is this legitimate? Planning a cruise on Celebrity Millennium to several cities in Vietnam. Thanks!

[Scrapnana]

Unless you are flying into Vietnam, Celebrity should get your Vietnamese visa upon arrival there and charge it to your onboard account.

[Keith1010]

Have seen websites purporting to provide on-arrival Vietnam visas - is this legitimate? Planning a cruise on Celebrity Millennium to several cities in Vietnam. Thanks!

 

Don't do that.

 

If you can't get a visa from the cruise line then you should apply for a traditional visa but hopefully the cruise line will arrange this for you as long as your cruise does not begin in Vietnam.

 

Keith

[boogs]

Celebrity will arrange your visas for Vietnam. There are two different visas which are both obtainable on board. If you are just doing day trips then you get a landing card which you show immigration at every port in Vietnam. This costs $35 US.

 

If you are spending the night in Hanoi (the drive to Hanoi is about 2-3 hours), then you need to get a different visa. This will cost $50 US. Remember to take two passport photos with you if you are doing this.

 

These charges will be added to your on board account.

Edited November 5, 2013 by boogs

[Shorex]

For anyone who is flying into Vietnam, the VOA (visa on arrival) is widely used and accepted at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) airports. One of the websites that we have used is myvietnamvisa.com. The VOA for Vietnam does require advance paperwork, but it is much less expensive than a traditional visa or using a traditional visa service.

 

Two important points:

 

1. VOA for Vietnam is ONLY available for flying into Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh airports -- NOT for arriving by cruise ship. The service we used is legitimate, and very convenient for those doing a Mekong river cruise starting in Vietnam, but not at all useful for those doing a traditional cruise that merely ports in Vietnam.

 

2. Here is the link to the visa service that Celebrity has a business relationship with:

 

CIBT visa services for Celebrity

 

This CIBT page confirms that Celebrity will obtain the necessary Vietnam visa for you and charge your shipboard account. You are good to go!

 

"Celebrity Cruises is pleased to offer its customers the expertise and experience of VisaCentral. Please see below for important information that may relate to your tour.

Visas on arrival: For U.S Citizens, it is not necessary to complete visa applications through VisaCentral for the following destinations as the cruise line will be obtaining these visas on your behalf: Indonesia, UAE, Turkey, Bahrain, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia, Jordan, Oman, Papua New Guinea. If a fee is required to obtain these visas, it will be charged to your onboard account."

[paul929207]

We just got off the Ocean Princess. We stopped in HCM City about 2 weeks ago. Princess handled the visa and charged our onboard account the cost of the visa. I think it was about $30

[denniseff]

Thank you all. Your responses were very helpful!