You can apply for a visa at an embassy, or commission a travel agency to arrange it beforehand, so that the visa can be issued at the airport on your arrival.

Tourist visas:

They are valid up to a 30 days. The application process takes approximately four to five working days. It is also possible to request an express visa, for which an additional fee will be charged.

If you plan to stay longer and travel in and out of Vietnam during that time, apply for a three-month multiple entry visa. You can ask any travel agent in a Vietnamese city to do the paper work for you in a few days.

Business visas:

They are valid either for three or for six months and allow several entries, as well as the right to work and study in Vietnam. To get a business visa, the traveler has to ask his Vietnamese partner to apply for an entry clearance at the responsible authority in Vietnam. In case of a permission the authority will inform the Vietnamese representative, who accordingly will fax the traveling person a reference number for the leave to enter. Subsequently, he may send it to the embassy along with the application.

For current visa charges, please contact the corresponding embassy.

The Vietnamese Embassy in the United States is located in Washington. D.C.:

Embassy of Vietnam
1233 20th St NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036

Phone: 202.861.0737
Fax: 202.861.0917
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.vietnamembassy-usa.org

In Germany, visas can be issued at the embassy in Berlin:

Botschaft Vietnam
Elsenstraße 3
12435 Berlin

Phone: +49 (0) 30 536 30-102
Fax: +49 (0) 30 536 30-200
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.vietnambotschaft.org

Visa upon arrival:

In case you are on a multi-destination trip and decide spontaneously to enter Vietnam, you can obtain a visa at the moment of your arrival. This type of visa is only available at the immigration office of international airports. Within 24 hours, you can receive a quite cheap tourist visa, which is is valid for up to 30 days and can be extended easily. You can either settle the stamp fee (US$ 25) at the immigration office, or pay a travel agent in advance. He can also organize the Approval Letter from the Viet Nam Immigration Department in Hanoi. After three to four working days you will receive a copy by fax or email.