Vietnam Visa on Arrival Vs Vietnam E-visa

If you are planning a visit to Vietnam, you will likely need to apply for an official visa; otherwise you will be stopped from entering the country. The quickest and easiest way to organize the cheapest Vietnam visa is to use one of the online methods: Visa on Arrival (VOA) or E-visa.

However, the country's visa exemption scheme does permit citizens from 23 countries to entry Vietnam visa-free for a short period of time. So, if you are on the list of countries that enjoy the short-term exemption, you may find the process to travel to Vietnam for the short stay is a very straightforward process.

But, for the majority of travellers to Vietnam, let's take a look at the Vietnam visa options that can be organized on the internet:

1) Visa on Arrival
The Vietnam visa on arrival is appreciated for its fast-processing, low-cost and all-around convenience. This type of visa is applied for via a certified travel agent or tour operator located in Vietnam.

You simply need to complete the online application form with your personal and travel information and pay the applicable fee. After a wait of two or three days, you will receive an “approval letter” via email. This letter is an official document and must be printed out and taken on the flight to Vietnam.

The visa procedure is only a viable option for travellers that plan to enter the country by plane and land at one of the major international airports, including Danang, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. However, if you plan to enter Vietnam using an alternative route, such as a seaport or land-border crossing, you will need to organise a visa via an embassy or use the e-visa option.

Also, the visa on arrival gives the option to apply for a multiple-entry visa (not available with the e-visa) which is perfect for travellers planning the Indochina tour, as well as the more extensive travel period of 30 or 90 days.

2) E-visa
The e-visa was introduced by the Vietnam government in February 2017 and relatively quick and easy to organise by simply visiting the official webpage (https://immigration.gov.vn) and completing the application form. The validity period of the e-visa is 30 days with the option to use as a single-entry visa only.

Visitors arriving in the country with the e-visa have the option to enter via one of seven designated seaports located across the country, one of 13 international border gates, or one of the eight international airports, which includes Hanoi in the north, Danang in the central regions and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

The Vietnam e-visa currently allows citizens from up to 46 countries to use this type of visa. The full list includes:

Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Australia, Chile, Hungary, Bruney, Bulgaria, Canada, Ireland, Colombia, , Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Denmark, Greece, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, France, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Netherland, Cuba, New Zealand, Norway, United States of America, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Azerbaijan, China, Russia, Uruguay, Poland, Romania, Myanmar, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Timor Leste, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela