A Complete Guide on Getting Vietnam Visa on Arrival for Indian citizens [2020]

• What should I pay attention to when applying for visas to Vietnam?
• The validity of the Vietnam tourist visa

I am Akriti, an Indian citizen who is passionate about traveling the world. Presently, I am on a quest to travel the entire Asian continent. After travelling to Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, and Bali, I was looking forward to the next destination on my list – Vietnam. The culture and natural beauty of this country has always intrigued me and now I had the perfect opportunity to travel to this mesmerizing city.

Like you, I had no clue about where to start my journey. I did my research online and found that this place offer visa on arrival, which made my whole journey even more comfortable. If you too are planning to visit Vietnam and have no clue where to get your visa application, then this guide will help you get all the answers to your questions.
Visa on arrival implies that you need to get in a queue at a visa counter and pay for a visa, which is attached to your passport on the spot. Not every country offers visa on arrival, luckily Vietnam does offer it.

Why Choose Visa on Arrival?

There are many reasons to choose Visa on Arrival as opposed to going to an embassy and getting your visa sanctioned. Following are some prominent reasons –

1. It is Convenient –

For travelers like me, who are constantly hopping from one place to another, visa on arrival renders a great convenience. With VOA, you don’t have to fill out any form and wait for days to obtain a separate via. If you are planning a short Vietnam trip, it is comfortable to just opt for a visa on arrival.

2. Streamlined Process –

The process of applying for visa on arrival at Vietnam is quite simple; all you have to do is submit relevant documents along with the visa processing fees, to get your visa stamped.

3. It Saves a Ton of Time –

As mentioned above, with visa on arrival you don’t have to wait for days to get your visa approval. By submitting relevant documents you can obtain your visa for Vietnam on the spot, thereby saving you a lot of time.

Eligibility for Visa on Arrival for Indian Citizen

In order to apply visa on arrival in Vietnam, an Indian citizen must adhere the following criteria –

• You must have a valid Indian passport. The passport must be issued to you 6 months prior to the date of your arrival.
• There must be 2 blank pages on your passport for your visa stamp.

How to Apply for Vietnam Visa on Arrival?

The process for visa on arrival in Vietnam is quite straightforward, granted that you are well aware of the norms associated with it. Following is the application process –

1. The first step is evidently applying for your visa, which you can do online. It would take 2 businesses days to get your approval letter in normal processing. In case, there is an urgency, the processing can be done in 8 hours or 4 hours .
2. Post you have received your approval letter, ensure to get a couple of hard copies of it. Keep passport sized photos (2-3) along with your passport.
3. Provide all the documents at the visa counter in order to get your visa stamped when you will arrive at the Vietnam international airport.
4. You have to pay a fee of USD 25 in case of single entry visa, whereas USD 50 for a couple entry visa for stamping in cash.
5. It is important to note that not all airports in Vietnam offer visa on arrival. You can get VOA at Phu Quoc International Airport in Phu Quoc Island, Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong city, Cam Ranh International Airport near Nha Trang city, Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang city, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh city, Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi city and Lien Khuong International Airport in Da Lat city.

Things to Consider While Applying for Visa on Arrival in Vietnam

It is always better to do thorough research before visiting any country.  And below I am sharing some important pointers that you should be aware of while applying for visa on application in Vietnam –

1. Typically in a majority of countries, you can get visa at border gates after landing. However, in order to get visa on arrival in Vietnam you have to get a pre-approved visa letter via a Vietnamese agency. Without the approval letters you cannot pick-up visa stamp upon your arrival at the country.
2. If you directly reach Phu Quoc airport and stay in the island for just 30 days, you would not require entry visa
3. It is important to note that, you can only apply for visa on arrival if you are coming to the country by air. If you reach Vietnam through any other medium, you must acquire full visa prior to your arrival.
4. If your kids posses their passports, then they are required to same fees that adults are paying.
5. Stamping fees for visa is only taken in cash; credit cards will not be accepted at the counter.

There you have it, everything you need to know about applying visa on arrival in Vietnam. Hopefully, this guide answers all your questions and will make your travel convenient.