A one-month tourist visa is usually sufficient for most visitors though it is possible to arrange 3-month and 6-month multiple entry visas for regular visitors. All visitors must obtain visa approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department before a visa is issued. Tourist visa can only be obtained in Vietnamese embassies, consulates abroad. Otherwise, you can get a visa at the border gates (Visa on arrival) if you are invitees of some Vietnamese competent organs or you are traveling on a package tour organized by Vietnamese travel companies. To apply for a visa, the requirements are as follows:

• Entry permit form (which can vary from one Vietnamese embassies or consulate abroad to another) - There are two categories of this form: for foreigners and for Vietnamese overseas.

·         Two photos (4cmx6cm or 3cmx4cm)

·         Original passport

·         Visa fee.

You should send your application and photos to a Vietnamese embassy or consulate abroad, which is most convenient to you. On your requirement, the reply will be returned by post (you must provide stamped envelopes with your name and address).

It is easier to get your visa from a Vietnamese travel agency. Lighthouse International Tours can arrange visas at reduced cost for visitors who book one of our tours. We can arrange a visa approval document that must be sent to the Vietnamese embassy or consulate where the visa is to be collected The necessary information and procedures are as follows:

Step 1: You must send us below information by email or fax not later than 14 days before your departure date to Vietnam.

• Your full name
• Sex
• Birthday and place of birth
• Nationality
• Job
• Number of your passport
• Entry and exit dates
• City and country you plan to receive your entry visa from the Vietnamese embassies or consulates

Step 2: Base on your details, Lighthouse International Tours submits a document to the Immigration Department for visa approval. A fee is payable to Lighthouse Internatinal Tours for the visa approval.

Step 3: The Immigration Department notifies Lighthouse International Tours of visa approval and sends a fax/telex approval to the Embassy or Consulate in the city of country where the visitor demand to apply and to collect the visa.

Step 4: Lighthouse International Tours sends a fax copy of the approval to the agent or individual concerned. After you have a advise of visa approval, you must complete two application forms and hand these in with two passport photos when collecting the visa in Vietnam Embassy or Consulate. You need to pay a visa issue fee to the embassy or consulate for the visa stamping.

Visa exemption:

- Not more than 30 days: for citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos.

- Not more than 15 days: for citizens of Japan and South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland.

(Vietnamese diplomatic and official passport holders are exempted from visa requirements to enter Japan).

- French citizens holding valid diplomatic passports are exempt from visa requirements when visiting Vietnam and are allowed to stay for up 3 months at one time or on several visits within six months since their first immigration dates. Vietnamese citizens holding valid diplomatic passports also enjoy similar privileges.

- Citizens of Chile and Vietnam holding valid diplomatic or official passports from one of the two countries are exempt from needing entry, exit and transit visas in the other's territory and are allowed to stay for up 60 days on each visit.

Note: Visitors can obtain a visa on arrival in Vietnam. In situations where it is more convenient Lighthouse International Tours is also able to pre-arrange visas on arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Ha Noi, Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang and Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to the cost of visa approval a fee is payable on arrival at the airport for visa stamping. The same approval procedure and a minimum of 5 working days notice is required. In urgent cases Lighthouse International Tours can arrange a visa on arrival if notice of 2 working days is given. There are additional charges for this service. On entering Vietnam all visitors must complete a entry/exit form including a customs declaration (white/yellow paper). It is important that the bottom copy (yellow sheet) of this form is kept safe with your passport while in Vietnam and is presented to the customs and immigration officials on departure.

Visa Extensions

You are permitted one visa extension for a maximum of 30 days. You can go straight to immigration office or a travel agency to extend your visa. The procedure takes four or five working days. You are able to extend your visa in any provincial capital. You will be fined if your visa expires before you extend your visa.

Re-Entry Visa

It is possible to enter Cambodia, Laos or any other country from Vietnam and then re-enter on your original single entry Vietnamese tourist visa. However, you must apply for a re-entry visa before you leave Vietnam. You will be given a receipt and confirmation number to pick up the visa in the country you are headed to. Re-entry visas are easy enough to arrange in Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh City. If you already have a valid visa that allows you multiple entries for Vietnam, you do not need a re-entry visa.