Vietnam visa: Buy airline ticket before getting visa, should or should not?

If you want to enter Vietnam, we highly recommend you to apply for Vietnam visa first and buy your airline ticket later since it will be safer.

However, when you apply for visa for certain countries, the embassy of these countries in your country may require you to make a flight reservation. In this case, you just need to call the booking-office and book your flight to get visa. You do not need to pay the ticket but if you are sure that you can get visa and you have an urgent task, it is impossible to receive immediately the ticket.

In contrast, if you cannot be 100% sure about getting visa, paying airline ticket can cause many damages. After the confirmation of the embassy about your visa, you should ask for your ticket in order to get visa because if you do not have airline ticket or your airline ticket is different from ticket booked, you will not get visa at the embassy.

What will I do if I lose my airline ticket?

If you lose your ticket, you need to contact immediately airline and fill out a lost ticket application by giving your personal information (full name, flight date, booking day, telephone number). The airline will check your information and issue a replacement ticket. You usually have to pay some money for service charge or penalty.

Vietnam visa: Buy airline ticket before getting visa, should or should not?

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Vietnam visa: Difference between visa and passport

If you have a travel to Vietnam, Vietnam visa and passport are a critical part. Certain people think that they can enter the country with only the passport but in fact, it is almost impossible (exempt some cases). If you do not know the difference between two documents, this article will be a great help.

Passport is a form of identification issued by a national government and used for abroad travels. Its purpose is to certify the nationality and the identity of its owner.

Nowadays, Vietnam passports can be divided into 3 types:

- Popular passport: Popular passport is granted to all Vietnamese citizens who have permanent residence, identity card and full of citizenship rights.

- Official passport: Official passport is issued to the government employees who traveling abroad for works related to government.

- Diplomatic passport: Diplomatic passport is issued to the diplomats or to the consuls for their work related travels.

Visa is an official document that allows a citizen enters a country. It is an endorsement, granted by a government official and stamped or pasted into a passport.

In Vietnam, there are different types of Vietnam visas for foreigners:

- Tourist visa: Vietnam tourist visa is issued to visitors who want to enter a country with the purpose of tourist travels.

- Business visa: Business visa is issued to businessmen who travel to a country for commercial activities.

- Temporary residence card: Temporary residence card is issued to foreigners who work or invest permanently in a country.

Vietnam visa: Difference between visa and passport

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Vietnam visa: Throw a sprat to catch a herring!

In recent years, number of international tourists arriving to Vietnam increases constantly due to a series of effective measures, including visa exemption for visitors from certain key markets of Vietnam tourism. However, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently said that Vietnam have lost about 50 million each year when visitors from these markets are exempt from Vietnam visa. Thus, what is the truth?

Vietnam visa exemption policy is available for visitors from Japan, South Korea, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. However, according to the latest news, the Vietnam government could abolish the visa exemption policy. In the eyes of tourism experts, the abolition of visa exemption for 7 countries will harm the tourism industry of country and reduce its competitiveness. The visa policy change could immediately decrease at least 50% of tourists from these countries.

Meanwhile, according to statistics given by the General Department of Tourism, the number of international visitors to Vietnam in 3 first months of 2013 reduced to 6.2 % from last year’s same period. The abrupt reduction of number of international visitors arriving to Vietnam in the early months of 2013 is not a good signal for tourism.

In fact, the government could loss several tens of millions of dollar, but in turn could earn billions of dollar from international visitors. The Vietnam government should review its new intention.

The big worry of the majority of visitors is cost and time spent on visa. Thus, visa exemption policy is one of effective solutions to attract international tourists. They do not have to apply for Vietnam tourist visa and can save money with this policy because the visa application procedures in Vietnam are not quick and easy.

Vietnam visa: Throw a sprat to catch a herring!

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Vietnam tourist visa – one of indispensible things to take on holiday in Vietnam

Personal papers, cash, bank card and personal hygiene objects are things you cannot go without, especially when you go to a foreign land.

Personal papers

Identity card, Vietnam tourist visa and passport are important papers you need to take on vacation in Vietnam. In addition, you also need to remember to bring your airline ticket, personal papers for hotel and service registry… Here are first items on the list of indispensable things when you prepare your luggage.

Cash and bank card

Before each trip, you should plan a certain amount of money which will be spent on shopping. Do not take too much money with you, the bank card (ATM card) is better for your safe. You need to exchange your money into Vietnam dongs and get information about the price of merchandises in Vietnam.

Personal items

Personal items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, facial cleanser… should be put in a small bag. In particular, you had better buy shower gel pouch or shampoo pouch or put them into small bottle. Although every hotel prepares face towel and bath towel for client, you should bring your own towel to assure cleanliness and hygiene.

In addition, body lotion and sunscreen are also indispensable if you arrive to Vietnam in the summer. Do not make your skin weak after just a short trip.

Camera and battery charger

To keep the memories of the trip, camera is very necessary in your backpack. Many people will use the camera on smart phone. Whatever you use to take photo, do not forget battery charger and extra battery and make sure that your machines work well.

Flats and strap sandals

Vacation is time for you to visit and discover nature, you will walk a lot. Thus, buy a pair of shoes, soft sole slippers which make you feel comfortable to travel or to climb.

Medicines and first aid kit

You cannot know when influenza or sudden accident attack you or members in your trip. A small bag with medicines such as cold medicine, motion sickness medicine, anti insect medicine… and some quick first aid supplies such as cotton, bandages, antiseptic… is always useful.

Vietnam tourist visa – one of indispensible things to take on holiday in Vietnam

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Common ASEAN visa

Member countries of ASEAN establish mechanism for common ASEAN visa implementation.

ASEAN visa system is similar to that in EU, in which citizens from countries outside the bloc, after getting ASEAN visa would be able to visit all member countries of the bloc. For example, instead of using Vietnam tourist visa to visit Vietnam, tourist can arrive to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia… with only common visa.

This mechanism is expected to be concretized in 2015 with special efforts because each country has its own visa mechanism. ASEAN members need a long time to adjust their visa grant process before the common visa system is realized.

Common visa policy could be divided into different stages. For example, at the first stage, visa will only be granted to diplomats and for the next stage, it will be issued to citizens of certain countries such as Japan, Korean and China since many visitors from these countries come to ASEAN member countries.

However, before adopting the common visa system for visitors from countries outside ASEAN, the bloc must agree on common visa for citizens of ASEAN countries.

To achieve the objectives of “ASEAN Tourism Strategy Plan (ATSP) 2011-2015” adopted in ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting held on 17 January 2011 in Phnom Penh, ASEAN members have agreed to present actively tourism destinations to habitants in the bloc. The ATSP will contribute to the overall goals of ASEAN Community in 2015. ASEAN, with a population of approximately 600 million people (about 8, 5% of the world population) and with high economic growth of member countries, is potential for intra-regional tourism.

Nowadays, ASEAN includes Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

Common ASEAN visa

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Vietnam visa on arrival for tourist

You are foreigner and want to get visa to enter Vietnam? You can get visa on arrival (receive your visa at Vietnam International Airports) or visa approval code (receive your visa at the Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam in your country). 

In recent years, it is easy for tourist to enter Vietnam. Instead of getting visa stamped at Vietnam Embassy, visitor can also get it at Vietnam International Airports. We highly recommend you to choose Vietnam visa on arrival since this type of visa is quite simple and there is no additional cost and no error.

We present to you process of Vietnam visa requirement with these following steps:

Firstly, fill the form of visa application. You go to the website http://visavietnam.asia/formula/ and enter your exact personal information.

Secondly, check carefully all information and ask for payment. Please consult the page http://visavietnam.asia/tariffs/ to get necessary information about the tariff.

Thirdly, receive Approval letter and instruction to get visa. Normally, you will get the letter, immigration form and important instructions by email in 2-3 working days. If there is no mistake in the letter, print it out, you need it to get your official visa at Vietnam International Airports.

Finally, get visa stamped into your passport on arrival. Please show your passport, visa approval letter, immigration form, two pieces of picture 4×6 and some cash to the police at Vietnam International Airports. Do attention that your passport needs at least six months validity and all information is correct.

Vietnam visa on arrival for tourist

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Vietnam visa on arrival: The most common mistakes

You are student who wants to study in Vietnam? You are businessman and arrive to Vietnam for work? Or you are tourist and want to discover this country? Whoever you are (excluding a number of cases), and you will fly into the country, you always need a visa. However, everything is not always in the black since you can make mistakes that delay your journey, waste your time and your money.

Here is a list of the most common mistakes that you can make. We hope that it can help you to avoid the same things in visa application for Vietnam.

• 
  Dictation errors: Full name on passport, passport number, date of birth, passport expiration date are the details which you should do attention while filling the Application form. Normally, this may not be a big problem but in some cases, you will be refused by airlines at the departure airport by reason of wrong information. Therefore, make sure that you have filled correctly and carefully the form before you submit it.


• 
  Not applying for Vietnam visa on arrival online: Many foreigners think that there are some types of visa (Vietnam Urgent Visa for example) that they can get directly at Vietnam airport. That a big mistake! Your trip could be canceled! Thus, you need apply for Vietnam visa on arrival online and expect to pick up your visa at the Vietnam airport.


• 
  Visa for overland crossing? No. There is no visa for foreigners arriving to Vietnam through sea route. The visa is only valid for air travel. If you do not enter Vietnam by plane, you should apply for visa at Vietnam Embassies or Vietnam Consulates in your country.


• 
  Misunderstanding about visa validity: Some people think believe that the validity period begins from the date they enter country. However, it is not right. The visa validity begins from the date of entry provided in your visa, so a clear plan of enter Vietnam is indispensable.


• 
  Misunderstanding about the process of visa extension: It is not easy to extend a visa as people think. In fact, that need some time. Thus, make necessary procedure in advance if you can.

Vietnam visa on arrival: The most common mistakes

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Visa vietnamien à l’arrivée : Conditions pour obtenir le visa long-terme

Des étrangers arrivant au Vietnam pour faire des investissements, pour travailler, pour faire des études ou pour vivre aiment toujours demander le visa long-terme qui les aide à économiser de l’argent et à voyager facilement. Cependant, seuls certains cas peuvent obtenir ce type de visa.



Selon la loi du Vietnam, le visa d’un an est le visa vietnamien dont le terme est le plus long. Ce type de visa est fourni aux étrangers qui ont le but de long-terme résidence légal. Ces personnes comprennent :

• Des investisseurs qui font des investissements au Vietnam. Leur nom doit être montré sur le Certificat d’Investissement ou sur le Certificat d’enregistrement des entreprises vietnamiennes. Ces étrangers recevront le Visa B2.


• Des travailleurs qui ont obtenu le Permis de travail au Vietnam recevront le Visa B3.


• Des étrangers qui ont des relations familiales avec des personnes de nationalité vietnamienne et qui sont garantis par ces personnes. Le visa pour eux sera le Visa C1.


• De plus, des étrangers arrivant au Vietnam pour travailler mais ils sont exempts de Permis de travail obtiendront le visa de long-terme correspondant à leur travail.

Le visa vietnamien de long-terme est fourni par le Département de l’Immigration du Vietnam et par les Bureaux de l’Immigration du Vietnam.


Visa vietnamien à l’arrivée : Conditions pour obtenir le visa long-terme

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Vietnam visa on arrival: Conditions to get long-term visa

Vietnam visa on arrival: Conditions to get long-term visa

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Japan: Visa exemption for a number of ASEAN countries

The Japanese government has exempted citizens of some Southeast Asian countries to help develop the nation’s tourism industry and to strengthen the relationship with ASEAN countries.

According to Japanese Foreign Ministry’s declaration, this new visa policy has been effective after July 1. The Ministry of the Land of the Rising Sun underlined that this decision was adopted to celebrate “40^th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation”. It noted that the visa exemption is only valid for short-term tourists (less than 15 days), if they want to stay longer, they still need a visa.

However, only citizens of Thailand and Malaysia are officially exempted from visa after July 1. The citizens of other ASEAN countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Philippines will obtain the Issuance of Multiple Entry Visas (for short time visit no longer than 15 days).

World Bulletin Newspaper said that the political tensions related to Senkaku/Diaoyu islands lowered the number of Chinese travelers to Japan. This severely affects his tourism industry, especially when Chinese tourists boycott the tour to Japan. In that situation, Tokyo decided to turn its eyes to lucrative Southeast Asian market with the goal of attracting 1 million tourists from the region this year, and 2 million in 2006.

Japan: Visa exemption for a number of ASEAN countries

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Vietnam visa on arrival – Experiences to apply

Vietnam tourist visa is the most popular type of visa for Vietnam. It is normally valid for 15-30 days and can be extended once for 30 days after your arrival in Vietnam. This type of visa is good for only tourism purposes.

And how to get a Vietnam visa on arrival? It is not easy. Therefore, you should consult some following advices given by travelers:

1. Psychological preparation
Psychological preparation is the first step in the process of visa interview. Calming your psychology calm when entering in the interviewing room helps you to stay friendly and to not to be embarrassed. With this step, you can answer well all the questions given.

2. Faithful answers

Many people think that, to make a good impression with the interviewer at the embassy, they can “zoom” their capabilities and experiences, especially their financial competence. This is a big mistake because in fact, that information is already showed in your record, with the identification papers. The lies will be offensive to the interviewer who is full of experiences.

3. Arriving time choice
Arriving late is unacceptable in this interview or any important interviews because it causes a bad impression right from the start of the interview. This reduces the chance of getting visa. But do not arrive too early! It creates an awkward situation for the interviewer who feels responsible for your comfort during the waiting time. And consequently, you maybe failed.

4. Previewing some answers
The most popular questions asked when applying for a visa are about name, age, hobbies, family, profession and financial competence of you and your family. Questions related to your finance situation and t your intention of returning to Vietnam are extremely important. You should practice with a friend or relative before the interview to have the best answers.

Vietnam visa on arrival – Experiences to apply

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Deputy Director General of VNAT Nguyen Quoc Hung receives the representative of Aviareps Group

(TITC) – On July 26th 2013, in Ha Noi, Deputy Director General of VNAT Nguyen Quoc Hung had a meeting with Mr. Harry Betist, General Manager Tourism of the Netherlands Office of Aviareps in Amsterdam.
Aviareps was founded in Germany in 1994 with the aim of meeting the growing demands of the aviation and tourism representation market. Today, the Aviareps Group is the world’s leading tourism and airline sales and marketing company with more 40 offices in 30 nations around the world. In addition, the Aviareps Group has a rapidly growing trade & retail promotion division and commercial activities worldwide.

At the meeting, Mr. Harry Betist highly valued the development of Viet Nam tourism and expected that in the coming time Aviareps would have a chance to cooperate with the VNAT in tourism promotion on the world; and help private business sector of Viet Nam in cooperation with the private business sector abroad.

Deputy Director General Nguyen Quoc Hung welcomed Mr. Harry Betist’s visit to Viet Nam. He said VNAT always pay attention to tourism promotion in the region and around the world, especially in the source markets such as Germany, France, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Australia…Every year, VNAT often attends the tourism fairs, exhibitions such as ITB in Germany, MITT in Russia; organizes roadshows to promote Viet Nam tourism; invites famtrips, presstrips to Viet Nam…

Deputy Director General Nguyen Quoc Hung directed the functional Departments of VNAT continue to work with representative of Aviareps Group in detail and hoped that in the coming time VNAT and Aviareps Group will have a chance to cooperate in pushing Vietnam tourism promotion.

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Golden Week attracting tourists to Hue

(TITC) - Responding to Tourism Stimulus Program 2013 of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC) in cooperation with Thua Thien Hue Tourism Association will continue to organize the second turn of “Golden Week of Tourism” 2013 from 2nd September to 8th September 2013 and the third turn from 24th December to 30th December 2013. Previously, the first turn of the Golden Week took place from 21st April to 27th April with many positive results.

Like as the first turn, tourists visiting Hue in the second turn of “Golden Week of Tourism” will be received many incentives and promotions such as: free of charge for electric bus from Hue Imperial City (Dai Noi) to Hue Royal Antiquities Museum; offered half admission for court music performance in Duyet Thi Duong Theatre; while paying admission to visit sites of Hue Imperial City, Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, Khai Dinh Tomb and Minh Mang Tomb, tourists will be free of charge to visit more sites including Tu Duc Tomb, Thieu Tri Tomb, Hon Chen Temple; free of charge for tour guide service in Hue Imperial City for groups of 15 persons and over; free of charge for Hue chamber music performance in Truong Sinh Palace and great music performance in The Mieu Temple – Hue Imperial City…

Beside the above promotions, in the third turn of the Golden Week, tourists to Hue also have opportunities to receive other valuable prizes such as: a special gift for the 2,000,000th tourist to Hue monuments, gifts for the 1,999,999th and 2,000,001st tourists, souvenir gift for the tourist group of the 2,000,000th tourist; free admission to visit Hue Imperial City; 20% discount of ticket for “Royal Night” program… In addition, HMCC gives gifts for three travel agencies with the most tourist’s number coming to Hue monuments in 2013.

According to HMCC, until 19th July, the centre has welcomed nearly 1.143 million tourist arrivals visiting Hue monuments, including 541,768 international arrivals; turnover from selling tickets reached over VND 74 billions (70.73% of the year’s plan).

“Golden Week of Tourism” 2013 is an opportunity to introduce tourism services in the tourist attractions of Hue Ancient Capital and also promote tourist products and the unique and prestigious tourism brand of Thua Thien – Hue Province

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Cultural festival highlights Mu Cang Chai terraced fields

The northern mountainous province of Yen Bai will hold a culture, sports and tourism week highlighting terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai district from September 26-29 to mark 55 years since President Ho Chi Minh visited the province.

The event offers a chance for ethnic groups in Mu Cang Chai in particular and Yen Bai province in general to look back on their revolutionary tradition and heroic spirit during struggles against the French colonists and American imperialists.

It also aims to promote Mu Cang Chai terraced field, recognised as a national scenic site, as well as the unique cultural identities of the Mong ethnic group to both domestic and foreign tourists.

A string of activities will be held, including a sport festival, a photo exhibition themed “Mu Cang Chai – golden stairs”, a mountainous market, and contests of making Day cake (round cake from glutinous rice) and rice field ploughing. Tours to the district’s communes will be offered during the event.

Terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai are beautiful all the year round. Visitors in March are treated to the sight of glittering ponds. Locals transplant rice seedlings from April to May. After that, all hills are covered by an everlasting green. The fields start to turn yellow with ripe rice from early September.

The fields are visible from virtually everywhere in the district as they expand over 2,200ha, including around 500ha in Che Cu Nha, La Pan Tan and De Xu Phinh communes. The terraced fields in these villages were recognised as a national heritage in 2007 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Rice fields are not only a source of food and income for the Mong; they are an intrinsic part of their culture and of Mu Cang Chai, which is itself a quiet district on the bank of the Nam River.

In addition to terraced fields, Mu Cang Chai was blessed with beautiful flora and fauna and outstanding geographic features, including vast mountain ranges with high peaks which have protected the people for ages.

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Hanoi’s move to support tourists

Hanoi officially launched a tourist support division on August 1 to solve as quickly as possible incidents reported by tourists, and provide them with necessary information about the capital city.

The move comes as the municipal tourism sector discovered that tourists have been the target of theft, fraud and overcharging, especially in Dong Da, Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts, which has tarnished the image of the capital city in the eyes of foreigners.
Visitors now can directly call the division’s two hotlines, including 04.39261515 and 0946791955, which are available all the day.
The municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism then will coordinate with those of the police of the city and districts, the municipal transport department and the Hanoi Taxi Association to deal with any violations, especially those related to transport, service quality and taxi fares.
In the time to come, the department will continue opening new information kiosks to promote Hanoi’s tourism as well as provide tourists with necessary information.
Hanoi welcomed 1.2 million international arrivals and 9 million domestic tourists in the first half of this, representing year-on-year increases of 15 percent and 8 percent respectively.

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