Vietnam visa question

[willtup5]

Will be crossing from Cambodia to Vietnam on a Mekong river cruise. Will be doing voa when arriving in siem reap. I need info on the type of visa and where to apply for it. Lots of confusion out there on trip advisor about which way to go. Sounds like evisa is better?

Thanks for your replies

[Shorex]

Do you need just single entry visas for both Cambodia and Vietnam? If you are arriving and departing Cambodia from Siem Reap airport, use the evisa. Here is the informative website. Follow the directions exactly.

 

For the single entry Vietnam visa we have used http://www.vietnam-evisa.org/

Once again, read the directions and follow them exactly. Clarification on how to fill out questions that might be confusing:

 

1. Question 6: Kind of passport - please fill in with your type of passport (regular or diplomatic)?

2. Question 10: Name, address of the contact. relation, relatives to visit in Vietnam - if you stay at a hotel, please write the name of your hotel and its address.

3. Question 13: Done at (completed at) - Where did you fill out this form?

 

For our Mekong cruise a few years ago, we needed double entry visas for Vietnam because the itinerary was Vietnam (Hanoi)-Cambodia-Vietnam (border crossing on the river.)

 

What is most important is that you do the advance work correctly to get the "on arrival" visa. Be prepared to show proof of voa when you board in the US for the flight to Siem Reap. Also it never hurts to have a couple extra visa photos along. The Vietnam voa also required new US dollars, this may or may not be an issue with your itinerary. But have them anyway.

 

We've visited both Cambodia and Vietnam several times, and the evisa works well when you follow all the detailed instructions.

Edited July 5, 2016 by Shorex

[willtup5]

Do you need just single entry visas for both Cambodia and Vietnam? If you are arriving and departing Cambodia from Siem Reap airport, use the evisa. Here is the informative website. Follow the directions exactly.

 

For the single entry Vietnam visa we have used http://www.vietnam-evisa.org/

Once again, read the directions and follow them exactly. Clarification on how to fill out questions that might be confusing:

 

1. Question 6: Kind of passport - please fill in with your type of passport (regular or diplomatic)?

2. Question 10: Name, address of the contact. relation, relatives to visit in Vietnam - if you stay at a hotel, please write the name of your hotel and its address.

3. Question 13: Done at (completed at) - Where did you fill out this form?

 

For our Mekong cruise a few years ago, we needed double entry visas for Vietnam because the itinerary was Vietnam (Hanoi)-Cambodia-Vietnam (border crossing on the river.)

 

What is most important is that you do the advance work correctly to get the "on arrival" visa. Be prepared to show proof of voa when you board in the US for the flight to Siem Reap. Also it never hurts to have a couple extra visa photos along. The Vietnam voa also required new US dollars, this may or may not be an issue with your itinerary. But have them anyway.

 

We've visited both Cambodia and Vietnam several times, and the evisa works well when you follow all the detailed instructions.

 

Thanks so much for the info. Most helpful

[deec]

Vantage requests that we have our multi- entry Visa with us when we arrive. Cambodian can be obtained once we arrive.

 

They suggest we use http://genvisaonline.com/ . Seems expensive but I am nervous to send passports directly to the embassy in Washington, DC.

 

We used the company for expedited service when we planned a last minute trip to the Irrawaddy and they were quick and accurate.

[Shorex]

Yes, it is critical to know whether a single- or multi- entry visa is required for any particular itinerary. Our cruise company, AmaWaterways, obtained the Cambodia visa for us while we were at Hanoi airport waiting for a flight to Siem Reap. We provided US cash, visa photo and passports to the cruise representative who expedited the process.

 

However, if the trip itinerary commences with a flight from US to Cambodia, one must obtain the Cambodia visa personally -- the devil is in the details of the itinerary. For a later, independent trip to Cambodia we obtained our own voa.

 

For anyone who is flying into Hanoi, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) or Da Nang airports, a voa is simpler, faster and less expensive than a professional Visa Service - and there is no need to mail your passport anywhere. However, if your first entry into Vietnam is at a border crossing (land or river), voa may not be possible. In that case, a more traditional visa is necessary.

 

There are numerous visa services in the states. We have used CIBT, Briggs, and TDS. All were reliable, quick and pricey.

 

We loved our Vietnam/Cambodia experience with AMAWaterways so much that we have returned to Cambodia and Vietnam on our own to explore and learn more. Siem Reap is one of our favorite cities in the world. There are amazing restaurants, best duck ever at Nest Angkor. If you have a chance, stop by the Phare Circus. Or have a romantic dining experience for two with Beyond Unique Escapes. Enjoy.

[deec]

Shorex thanks for the dining suggestions.

 

My understanding is that we can not use the easy visa on entry if we need the multi entry.

[Shorex]

One thing I've learned about visas over the past years is that requirements can change in a flash. We never assume that what was true last year or last month or last week is still true. Just read about the confusion over China visas for cruise passengers.

 

Our most recent trip to Vietnam was about a year ago - I went online to get our voa's and noticed that only single entry voa's were possible. Oh, I thought, that's new - good thing we only need a single this time. But now - it seems that once again multiple entry voa's are offered.

 

If I needed a multiple entry voa now I would call the evisa company directly to ask. Here is what the website says in the FAQ:

"1. How many types of Vietnam visa on arrival are there?

 

Vietnam visa on arrival types are granted according to the length of staying, number of entries and visiting purpose.

* 1 month single entry visa

* 1 month multiple entries visa

* 3 months single entry visa

* 3 months multiple entries visa

* 6 months multiple entries visa"

 

 

Can I promise this is correct? Nope. But IMO it's worth a few phone calls to find out.

[iancal]

We spent spent two weeks in Cambodia and a month in Vietnam this past winter.

 

As always, visas are sometimes a function of the passport that you are travelling on. This is especially true for Vietnam, not sure about Cambodia. We travel on a Canadian passport.

 

We arrived in Siem Reap by air from Thailand. We simply got our Cambodian visa at the airport when we arrived. It took about 15 minutes.

 

We entered Vietnam by land and were not able to do the visa on arrival routine. We needed a single entry visa for 30 days. We went to a travel agency in Siem Reap who took care of the Vietnam visa for us. We completed the form and paid. The agency sent our passports and visa application to the consulate in Battambang. We returned 48 hours later and picked it up. We crossed the border near Kep on our way to Phu Quok. No issue with Vietnam officials. The reviewed our passports, visa, and waved us through.

 

On reflection, the entire process in Cambodia and Vietnam was very straightforward. No issues whatsoever.