best way to get visa to vietnam - and how to get there
Discussion
so weve booked a nice long holiday (for us) in November. going to bangkok for 4 days then onto krabi for another 3 or 4 days, then onto vietnam for 8 days.
The flights to bangkok and krabi are sorted. But I didnt realise until last night that we need a visa to go to vietnam. there appear to be websites that charge you a fee to obtain a visa letter or something similar that you pick up from the airport but is there a more straightforward way of sorting it out before we go?
I've never had to get a visa before (as far as I can remember).
finally, we will need to fly back to london from krabi, so need to get from krabi to vietnam. the flights look very expensive from krabi as you have to go via bangkok. my mate told me about this overnight coach (gulp) which will take you from krabi to bangkok overnight (and from there you can get a flight to vietnam for 100 quid or so). on the coach you apparently get a bed and a reasonable bit of sleep for 20 or 30quid. this sounds alright. but I dont want to end up on the thai version of megabus for 10 hours - has anyone here used it?
The flights to bangkok and krabi are sorted. But I didnt realise until last night that we need a visa to go to vietnam. there appear to be websites that charge you a fee to obtain a visa letter or something similar that you pick up from the airport but is there a more straightforward way of sorting it out before we go?
I've never had to get a visa before (as far as I can remember).
finally, we will need to fly back to london from krabi, so need to get from krabi to vietnam. the flights look very expensive from krabi as you have to go via bangkok. my mate told me about this overnight coach (gulp) which will take you from krabi to bangkok overnight (and from there you can get a flight to vietnam for 100 quid or so). on the coach you apparently get a bed and a reasonable bit of sleep for 20 or 30quid. this sounds alright. but I dont want to end up on the thai version of megabus for 10 hours - has anyone here used it?
Edited by princeperch on Sunday 26th August 15:43
I've been to Vietnam a couple of time to visit my sister who's a teacher there.
Both times I arranged my visa through the Vietnamese embassy by post. Very straight forward thing to do.
Go to http://www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/#VISA and do it from there.
It's a great place to stay. Enjoy!
Both times I arranged my visa through the Vietnamese embassy by post. Very straight forward thing to do.
Go to http://www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/#VISA and do it from there.
It's a great place to stay. Enjoy!
Most people these days use a visa agency (I can't think of the names to save my life, but googling "Vietnam visa UK" should do the trick) to get a pre-approved visa. "Visa on Arrival". On arrival you go to a certain counter and pay the fee, very easy and straightforward.
As for travel between Krabi and BKK, which flight search engines are you trying? Sometimes Expedia and the like ignore local airlines and just concentrate on the big players like Thai, which tend to be very expensive for short hops.
Last time I went we flew to Krabi, the internal flights with Nok Air/Bangkok Airways don't tend to be more than £50.
Buses? I'm not a fan, myself. Don't count on sleeping!
As for travel between Krabi and BKK, which flight search engines are you trying? Sometimes Expedia and the like ignore local airlines and just concentrate on the big players like Thai, which tend to be very expensive for short hops.
Last time I went we flew to Krabi, the internal flights with Nok Air/Bangkok Airways don't tend to be more than £50.
Buses? I'm not a fan, myself. Don't count on sleeping!
I've not seen a bed on one of the buses. Just reclining chairs.
You can get a bed on the night train, which is quite a nice way to travel IMO. (Not luxurious by any means).
TBH, your holiday is surely more valuable than the extra flight-money? Just save the time and hassle and fly. That's certainly my opinion, although I don't know your means.
You can get a bed on the night train, which is quite a nice way to travel IMO. (Not luxurious by any means).
TBH, your holiday is surely more valuable than the extra flight-money? Just save the time and hassle and fly. That's certainly my opinion, although I don't know your means.
Hi.
Coaches will almost certainly not be sleepers, however they are a cheap way of getting from a-b. Trust in Budda, after all that's what the coach drivers do!
Perhaps there is another airport between Krabi and BKK that is a shorter coach trip?
Unless it is an arranged tour check with the driver exactly where the coach is going, some are direct others are perhaps less direct. Do not put anything of value out of sight during the trip.
Get a return visa before you leave the UK and ensure you get passport stamps with every entry and exit, Allow for "entry tax's" everywhere and maybe a long wait while they check your visa's, or another day you can just sail through, depends on how Budda feels I suppose.
If there is loads of time it is a nice way to travel, however if you have a plane to catch...
J
Coaches will almost certainly not be sleepers, however they are a cheap way of getting from a-b. Trust in Budda, after all that's what the coach drivers do!
Perhaps there is another airport between Krabi and BKK that is a shorter coach trip?
Unless it is an arranged tour check with the driver exactly where the coach is going, some are direct others are perhaps less direct. Do not put anything of value out of sight during the trip.
Get a return visa before you leave the UK and ensure you get passport stamps with every entry and exit, Allow for "entry tax's" everywhere and maybe a long wait while they check your visa's, or another day you can just sail through, depends on how Budda feels I suppose.
If there is loads of time it is a nice way to travel, however if you have a plane to catch...
J
The overnight train from Bangkok is hilarious. And the bunks are actually quite comfortable.
I had every intention of a good night's sleep on mine, however before I went to bed I thought I'd have a wander up the train and came across the buffet car. A full-on disco carriage with rock music and flashing lights. A very entertaining ex-pat guy and a ladyboy sitting on the lap of a random drunken (uniformed) railway Policeman.
I think it was 4am before I turned in. The ferry over to Koh Samui the next day wasn't fun.
The trouble with Krabi is that it isn't on a direct railway route from BKK.
Seriously, fly.
I had every intention of a good night's sleep on mine, however before I went to bed I thought I'd have a wander up the train and came across the buffet car. A full-on disco carriage with rock music and flashing lights. A very entertaining ex-pat guy and a ladyboy sitting on the lap of a random drunken (uniformed) railway Policeman.
I think it was 4am before I turned in. The ferry over to Koh Samui the next day wasn't fun.
The trouble with Krabi is that it isn't on a direct railway route from BKK.
Seriously, fly.
so I've now been told that its 50 quid each for a visa to go to vietnam - which seems a bit steep to allow me to go into the country and spend my money there but there is no getting around it..
I've also booked the flights from bangkok to vietnam with air asia - came in at a veyr reasonable 230 quid return for both of us all in. I'm now going to book our flights from krabi to bangkok (the connecting flights for our flight to vietnam) today, and that should come in at 60 quid each give or take return.
seems that air travel out there is very cheap!
I've also booked the flights from bangkok to vietnam with air asia - came in at a veyr reasonable 230 quid return for both of us all in. I'm now going to book our flights from krabi to bangkok (the connecting flights for our flight to vietnam) today, and that should come in at 60 quid each give or take return.
seems that air travel out there is very cheap!
Well that took a bit of digging but finally found it
http://www.vietnam-immigration.org/
We used them when we went in 2011. Looking at the emails it appears we paid $18(US) per person to get in the country.
Hope that helps.
http://www.vietnam-immigration.org/
We used them when we went in 2011. Looking at the emails it appears we paid $18(US) per person to get in the country.
Hope that helps.
Just use this place, can fully recommend them. Loads of people I know with my company and also customers have used them (working in Singapore)
http://www.myvietnamvisa.com/
Who told you 50 pounds? The above site will do 2 people for $40. Can't be any simpler - fill in the online form, you get sent a scanned letter which you just need to print out and bring to a window at the Vietnamese airport with an application form to get a visa in your passport. Literally 5 minutes of work.
You'll get a letter like the following and your name & details on the attached sheets :
http://www.myvietnamvisa.com/
Who told you 50 pounds? The above site will do 2 people for $40. Can't be any simpler - fill in the online form, you get sent a scanned letter which you just need to print out and bring to a window at the Vietnamese airport with an application form to get a visa in your passport. Literally 5 minutes of work.
You'll get a letter like the following and your name & details on the attached sheets :
Edited by thehawk on Thursday 6th September 11:36
This is the email I got from the bloke at the embassy. I emailed consular@vietnamembassy.org.uk as per the official website, and got a reply from VIETNAM VISA [vietnamesevisa@yahoo.co.uk] ??
response said:
To apply for Visa, please summit the following documents: (1) an application form (available from our website) with a passport photo attached, (2) valid passport. (Other documents may be requested when necessary). You can apply for Visa in person or by post. A third party can submit relevant documents and collect visa on your behalf. Email or fax application is also possible if you use express visa service.
- PROCESSING TIME: Regular processing takes 5 working days. Using express service you can obtain a visa the next day or 2 days later.
- EMBASSY OPENING HOURS: 9:30-12:30 Monday to Friday (for visa application and collection in person). No appointment needed.
- EMAIL or FAX APPLICATION (express service only): application form and copy of your passport must be submitted before 12.30 p.m. of each working day. You can collect the Visa by visiting the embassy with your passport and pay the appropriate fee in cash.
- APPLYING BY POST: please provide a self-addressed envelop (not stamped) and POSTAGE CHARGE and Handling fee for returning your passports: £8 for one passport; between 2-3 passports: £6/each passport; between 4-7 passports: £5/each passport. Please note: if you send a prepaid envelop, there is still handling fee of £3/passport.
- CHILDREN with their own passports have to apply for Visa.
- You do not need a visa to enter/re-enter Vietnam if you do not cross immigration checkpoint when catching connecting flights.
- All fees must be paid in CASH if you apply in person at the Embassy. If application is made by post, please pay by postal order, cheque (write your name, telephone number, date of birth at the back), or bank draft payable to the Embassy of Vietnam, all in British pounds only.
- All fees can be paid by one cheque/postal order/bank draft (when applying by post).
VISA fees (not including postage charges) are as followed:
Tourist Visa:
- 30 days, single entry: £44 (regular process takes 5 working days). Express service: £59 (2 day service), £65 (next day service).
- 30 days, multiple entry: £75 (regular process takes 5 working days). Express service: £95 (2 day service), £105 (next day service)
Regards,
Member of Staff
response said:
To apply for Visa, please summit the following documents: (1) an application form (available from our website) with a passport photo attached, (2) valid passport. (Other documents may be requested when necessary). You can apply for Visa in person or by post. A third party can submit relevant documents and collect visa on your behalf. Email or fax application is also possible if you use express visa service.
- PROCESSING TIME: Regular processing takes 5 working days. Using express service you can obtain a visa the next day or 2 days later.
- EMBASSY OPENING HOURS: 9:30-12:30 Monday to Friday (for visa application and collection in person). No appointment needed.
- EMAIL or FAX APPLICATION (express service only): application form and copy of your passport must be submitted before 12.30 p.m. of each working day. You can collect the Visa by visiting the embassy with your passport and pay the appropriate fee in cash.
- APPLYING BY POST: please provide a self-addressed envelop (not stamped) and POSTAGE CHARGE and Handling fee for returning your passports: £8 for one passport; between 2-3 passports: £6/each passport; between 4-7 passports: £5/each passport. Please note: if you send a prepaid envelop, there is still handling fee of £3/passport.
- CHILDREN with their own passports have to apply for Visa.
- You do not need a visa to enter/re-enter Vietnam if you do not cross immigration checkpoint when catching connecting flights.
- All fees must be paid in CASH if you apply in person at the Embassy. If application is made by post, please pay by postal order, cheque (write your name, telephone number, date of birth at the back), or bank draft payable to the Embassy of Vietnam, all in British pounds only.
- All fees can be paid by one cheque/postal order/bank draft (when applying by post).
VISA fees (not including postage charges) are as followed:
Tourist Visa:
- 30 days, single entry: £44 (regular process takes 5 working days). Express service: £59 (2 day service), £65 (next day service).
- 30 days, multiple entry: £75 (regular process takes 5 working days). Express service: £95 (2 day service), £105 (next day service)
Regards,
Member of Staff
carreauchompeur said:
Plus, and I might be alone here, but I find it incredibly worrying entrusting my passport to the vagaries of the postal system... Had to do it for my India visa and the couple of days it was stuck in the ether I was deeply concerned!
agreed, especially when the bloke instructing me to do so corresponds from a yahoo email address..Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff