Vietnam Visa

[karmack5]

I am doing the Discovery Indochina tour April , I am from Canada. As such need a visa to get into Vietnam. Now the trip documents say to get the visa before you show up on tour, however this would require to send my passport via an intermediary and to Vietnam Embassy then get it back in mail. This is a costly option over $200 CDN. However for people arriving to Vietnam via air you can get a less costly option that basically is a letter via an intermediary and you present this with photos and your passport at the airport immigration total cost about $75 CDN. Now as it turns out, this trip I am doing is flying into Vietnam from Cambodia, no overland connection. So this could be an option for me. My question is I guess, will G adventures allow me to go the less costly option and get the visa at the airport on arrival, or do they actually require me to have the more costly visa already in my passport before I even show up in Bangkok for start of tour?

[kateyb]

I am from Canada as well and sent my passport straight to the Vietnamese embassy...It was nice having it and not having to worry about it later. It didn't cost me $200 though...can't quite remember the exact cost. Here's the link for the Vietnamese Embassy in Ottawa...http://www.vietem-ca.com/html/home.html

[onyx007]

Yeah, I strongly advice you to get your Visa in advance; as it is the suggestion of G-Adventures as well (I think it says so in the "Trip Notes"); I was on the "Indochina Encompassed" and we crossed the border per air from Laos and every one of us had the visa already in there passports.

I think it's your own decision, but your tourleader can not help you, if you get turned back at vietnamese immigration...I hate visa fees as well, but it saves you the hassle, if you get in at home.

[karmack5]

Well got my visa back today. Sent all application data in via mail last week thurs feb 28th and came back today mon mar 4th! That was quick! Cost for the whole thing was about $130 CDN, so for peace of mind of having visa so be it.