Visa for Vietnam

[Hanoi bound]

Hi there

I'm going Hanoi for a holiday soon and have a few questions re: getting a visa:

1) How long is the wait at the embassy?  Or is it relatively fast and efficient
2) Aside from passport and 2 photos, anything else I should bring?
3) How long does the visa take to process?

Before I get flamed, I tried calling the embassy several times but no answer hence my post here.

Also, any tips as to where to go and stay in and around Hanoi?

Much appreciated!

[sigh]

Visa requirements will depend on where you are from, so might be an idea to start with that information

Lots of info can be found online.  If you are from the UK, the FCO website is a great resource, and i'm sure other countries have similar

[Hanoi bound]

Thanks for your reply, "sigh".  Yes, I do need a visa.  You're right that there's plenty of info online re: getting a visa for Vietnam (especially visas online) however, I would prefer to get it from the Vietnam Embassy in Singapore itself thus wanted to know other people's experience of such. 

[sigh again]

Thanks for your reply, "sigh".  Yes, I do need a visa.  You're right that there's plenty of info online re: getting a visa for Vietnam (especially visas online) however, I would prefer to get it from the Vietnam Embassy in Singapore itself thus wanted to know other people's experience of such. 

It would help to get an appropriate reply if you said your nationality

[clearly]

I guess the OP is from lala land.

[In the pink]

The process is a subtle mixture of ruthless communist 'efficiency' and indochinese savoir faire. Take a book...and cigarettes.

[jalanperak]

The process is a subtle mixture of ruthless communist 'efficiency' and indochinese savoir faire. Take a book...and cigarettes.

 

[Online]

You can apply online, get emailed a letter then pick up the visa as you land at the airport.

About 25USD on top of visa cost but you save your time and hassle of going to Embassy twice

[2 Pronged]

First, go down there with the form (can be downloaded from the Viet Embassy in SG website) filled out in duplicate, 2 recent photos and cash. Then, return at the appointed time to collect. Not cheap. Think I paid $350 for a 3 month visa last time, but I get so many visas from different countries that it is all a blur.

[Travel Agents]

many travel agents have visa services.  It would cost a bit more but they know what they are doing (and possibly whose palm to grease) so it is done more quickly and efficiently.

[Really?]

I've been twice and each time it was just 5-min to drop off the application and have it checked and 10-min picking it back up.

It's hardly a difficulty in comparison to, let's say, a China visa.

[Hanoi bound]

A big "thank you" to those who gave constructive responses!

[GGirl]

   Hi, we've just returned from Danang and applied for Vietnam visas ourselves at the embassey in Holland Village.

Encountered the same problems as you with getting through on the phone and getting onto the right page of their website for the visa form.  To apply, you must go in the morning but the queue is not long.

Beware that although the form asks if you have any accompanying children travelling with you, they will still insist on a separate visa application for each child.  I think they must mean any accompanying children on your passport.  Fee for a 4 day hol was a steep SGD85 per person. Collection also quick - less than 20 mins each visit.

It took 2 weeks until collection.

Good luck, have fun