5 Common Mistakes People Make When Applying for a Visa on Arrival to Vietnam

We have listed the most frequent mistakes our customers have made when applying for a visa on arrival to Vietnam to help you avoid.

Many people were refused entry at Vietnam airport for not having a pre-approved visa letter!

You must apply online in advance

Many people think that they can get a visa directly at Vietnam airport without applying online (like other countries in Asia such as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos..ect). That is NOT true, you may end up having to delay/cancel your flights, or waiting at the airport until the visa is approved. You will need to apply online for an approval letter in order to pick up your visa at a Vietnam airport.

You can’t get a visa on arrival at the border

Visa on arrival works for air travel only, meaning there is NO on arrival visa for overland/border crossing or sea/water entry. So, in case you are NOT entering Vietnam by air, just make sure you have the visa in advance.

Spelling/typo mistakes

Many applicants fill in the application form with the WRONG details: incorrect spelling of full name on passport, passport number or date of birth. This will lead to declined entry at the departure airport, as the information on the ‘letter of approval’ does not match what’s in your passport. So, make sure that you enter everything correctly and carefully.

Arrival date

Many people think that the visa validity will start from the date they enter Vietnam, not from the date stated on the visa letter. This is not correct. The visa validity will commence from the date you provide in advance, not from the date you enter the country. So, just make sure that you make a clear plan of when to enter before ordering a visa to Vietnam. For example: the letter says you are allowed to enter and remain in the country for 1 month from September 25th 2018 - this means you must leave the country on or before October 25th 2018 no matter what day you enter the country.

Visa extension

Many people think that it is easy to extend a visa once they are in Vietnam. In reality, it’s not quite that simple. Extending a visa may be a costly and time-consuming process, so, if you know you may have to stay for longer, apply for a three month visa in advance instead of a one month in order to save money on visa extension

We strongly believe that what we have written here is not a complete list of mistakes. If you wish to share/add something, you are welcome to email us at editors@myvietnamvisa.com.

Questions and Answers (06)

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Q
Robert Armstrong
Canada

If my visa 15 day visa states I am to visit between the 19th and the 29th, but I'm actually going to arrive on the 20th and want to stay until the 30th. Will that be permitted, even though the exit date on the visa says the 29th?

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A Answered by Lan

@Robert Armstrong, the expiry date on your visa indicates the latest day you must exit Vietnam. Therefore, we recommend leaving on or before November 29 to avoid any issues.

2 people found this helpful
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Q
Oscar Wu
Hong Kong

If i am entering Vietnam from Nha Trang Cam Ranh Airport and also exiting Vietnam from Nha Trang Cam Ranh Airport. Can I take domestic flights to Ho Chi Minh City for a few days travel and then go back to Nha Trang and leave under a single time visa?

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A Answered by Lan

Yes, it is considered a single entry, as you do not visit other countries during your stay in Vietnam.

1 people found this helpful
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Q
Ben
Australia

Do I need a visa if I am just transiting through Vietnam?

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A Answered by Lan

@Ben, No, you do not need a visa if you do not exit the waiting area upon arriving in Vietnam.

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Q
Stéphane Hug
Thailand

Is there attention being paid to special characters like É, Ö or Ü. I tried to apply but the special characters were not accepted on the website.

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A Answered by Lina Tran

@Stéphane Hug, Please use English characters only such as E, O, and U.

5 people found this helpful
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Q
Sahil
India

Hi, I applied for 15days Vietnam visa and applications is granted successfully. Visa entry date is 30th July 2023 to 14 August 2023. My question is. Is this mandatory to enter on the mentioned date only or I can enter anytime during the visa period.

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A Answered by Lina Tran

@Sahil, You are able to enter Vietnam anytime between 30th July to 14th August; you do not need to enter on the exact date stated on the evisa.

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Q
Firuza Karimova
Uzbekistan

I am an Uzbek citizen living in Singapore. I see that I cannot apply for visa on arrival as I am not travelling through a local tour operator. What are my options? Can I apply for a visa through Vietnam comsulate in Singapore? Thanks

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A Answered by Lina Tran

@Firuza Karimova, Yes, you can visit the embassy of Vietnam in Singapore to obtain a visa prior to your trip. Below is the embassy's contact information:

  • Address: 10 Leedon Park, Singapore 267887
  • Phone: +65 6462 5994
5 people found this helpful
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Frequently asked questions

1. Can I fly and apply for a visa on arrival directly at Vietnam airport?

No, to obtain a visa on arrival for Vietnam, you will need to obtain an approval letter. Kindly be sure that you apply for one prior to your departure.

Contact sales if you have additional questions.

Contact support if you already submitted your visa application on our website.

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