1. The difference between Passport and Visa

The first content you need to make sure about the difference between a passport and a visa. We have encountered many cases of first-time aboard visitors mistakenly with or without a passport or visa, in fact, both are required.

Passport is the recognition that you are a legal citizen of a country. It is the base for the country you want to enter that allows you to operate at a limited level, so Passport is an obligatory document when you want to enter or exit the border of other countries.

When going through a security checkpoint, the immigration officer will check your name, date of birth, portrait, nationality and check the number of blank pages to stamps. Your passport will usually be valid for 10 years. 

The original Visa is a rectangular sticker affixed to the blank page of the passport. It is another mandatory document that allows you to enter a country for how long, when and for what purpose. Most visas have limit duration, the period of stay of Vietnam visa for American citizens extends to 1 year. In addition to classifying by terms and numbers of entering Vietnam, we identify Visa Vietnam by applicant's purposes:

• Tourist visa (pleasure travel visas)
• Business or work visas (for working, which includes both non-immigrant and immigrant types)
• Student visas (for studying abroad)
• Immigration and naturalization visas (including marriage)

We just mention and provide visa services for 2 types of purposes: tourist and business.

2. How to obtain a Vietnam visa for US citizens 2020

Currently, US citizens and residents can choose one of three options for getting a visa to Vietnam. We will offer the advantages and disadvantages of each option and how to apply for a Vietnam visa for USA citizens in each way. Before obtaining an e-visa, the only way to obtain a Vietnam visa for Americans was to visit the Vietnam Embassy directly in the US. The second way is to get Vietnam evisa online. The third way of obtaining a Vietnam visa is obtaining one Vietnamese visa upon arrival. 

2.1. Getting a Vietnamese visa for Americans at Vietnam Embassy

The first way is the traditional way of obtaining a Vietnam visa for US citizens prior to arriving in Vietnam. Below is a list of Embassy/Consulate of Vietnam in America:

1. Embassy of Vietnam in Washington DC, United States
Address: 1233, 20th St., NW, Suite 400, Washington DC, 20036, USA
Phone: (1-202) 861 073
Fax: 1-202) 861 0917
Email: consular@vietnamembassy.us

2. Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, United States
Address: 1700 California St, Suite 430 San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (1415) 922 1577
Fax: (1415) 922 1848
Email: info@vietnamconsulate-sf.org

Documents are required when applying Vietnam visa for US citizens at the Embassy of Vietnam:

- An application for an entry visa for a pre-printed form (the form may vary depending on the Vietnamese representative office overseas). There are two forms: one for foreigners and one for overseas Vietnamese. You need to fully and accurately declare the required items.

- Two 4x6 passport size photos to paste into the Vietnam visa application form.

- The passport of the US must be valid for at least 06 months. It could be your actual passport if you want them to put the visa stamp directly into your passport or a color copy of your passport page if you want a loose-leaf visa stamp. Both are valid for travel to Vietnam.

- The processing fees of Vietnam visa for Americans. These fees are all-inclusive for both the visa processing and for the visa stamp. You will not pay any additional fees upon your arrival in Vietnam. A group of applicants who can apply and pay one combined order. All fees are listed in U.S. dollars. You can refer to the rates below:

• • 1-month single entry: $80
  • 1-month multiple entries: $135
  • 3 months single entry: $110
  • 3 months multiple entries: $160
  • 6 months multiple entries: $180
  • 1-year multiple entries: $220

Note that this is only a relative fee at a time. For exact charges, please contact the Vietnamese Government Embassy in the US

- A pre-paid, self-addressed stamped envelope for the Vietnam Embassy to return your documents to you. The Vietnam Embassy recommends FedEx, UPS or USPS tracked mail but does not recommend DHL.

Visa applications can be submitted directly at the Embassy or by post to the Embassy. If you send your application by post, you need to send a pre-paid, a stamped envelope with your exact address on for the Vietnam Embassy to return your documents to you.

In the Embassy, Vietnam visa for US takes approximately 5 to 7 working days to process once they have received your documents. That is the time when the Embassy will process your application and send it to the Immigration Department - Ministry of Public Security, then the Approval letter upon arrival will be faxed from the Immigration Department back to the Embassy of Vietnam.

The pros and cons:

Pros: Obtaining a visa at the Embassy is a traditional way that Americans have applied, it is more reliable when having a visa already stamped onto your passport before entry Vietnam. In addition, travelers from the USA can go to Vietnam by any transports.

Cons: It is required that your physical visit to a nearest Vietnamese Embassy, so it's difficult for those who live far from the Vietnamese Embassy. If you do not want to spend your time and effort at the Embassy, you must send your original passport and necessary documents by post and remember to attach a stamped envelope and you're exactly addressing the transfer fee to the Embassy. This way is also take a long time to get a visa, sometimes you need to pay extra fees.

Get visa at Vietnamese Embassy in the USA is the traditional way to apply Vietnam visa for US citizens

2.2. A better option is Vietnam e visa

An electronic visa (E-visa) is one of the visa types issued to Americans to enter Vietnam in 30 days with single entry visa for tourist purposes. Vietnamese Immigration Department or travel agency supplies Vietnam evisa for Americans registration via an electronic system. E-visa fee is paid via an electronic payment gateway as prescribed by the Immigration Department include visa service and stamping fee. 

Vietnam introduced single entry e-visas for citizens of 82 countries (eligible countries here), also it includes Vietnam visa for US citizens. Anyone applying for Vietnam E-visa must fill out the E-visa application form.

• Firstly, you will specify the type of visa, visa purpose, entry and exit dates and checkpoint of entry.
• Then, you will fill out your personal details and passport information.
• Check and payment. Finally, you can receive Vietnam Evisa via email after 2-3 days

You should create an e-Visa application at least 7 days before your departure.

The pros of obtaining a Vietnam evisa is your visa officially approved before you travel and expedited entry to Vietnam upon arrival. Instead of going a long way to the Embassy, you only need to register for a visa at home, cafe, workplace, wherever you can connect to the Internet. Entering / Exiting Vietnam via one of the 28 international border gates. There is no trouble, no long time waiting or additional fees. All fees including service fees and stamping are paid when you apply E-visa, you can go straight to the immigration queue upon arrival.

The cons: You can only register for a Vietnam visa for US citizens with one-month single entry visa and tourist purpose. If you want to apply for a visa with another purpose, duration, and a number of visits to Vietnam, you must choose to apply for a visa at the Embassy or using Vietnam visa on arrival service.

2.3. Visa on arrival - the best choice for Vietnam visa from USA

Thanks for the convenience, simplicity, fast processing, and time-saving, Vietnam visa on arrival is the very first option to getting a valid Vietnam visa for US citizens which has been preferred by a lot of foreigners around the world. Americans obtaining Vietnam VOA are allowed to enter Vietnam through any of 4 international airports in Hanoi, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City.

To obtain a visa stamp on arrival in Vietnam, you must first obtain a Vietnam visa approval letter. Next, we will guide you on how to apply Vietnam visa for US citizens and get an approval letter in Vietnam visa application form. Complete their online application form and pay their visa processing fee, that's what you need to do. Is it simple? You should be careful about the information you provide, any errors that make the process of processing visas become delayed. 

Step 1: Fill in online form exactly personal details, your trip, and passport information

Step 2: Pay the visa processing fee.

Step 3: Receive an email a couple of days later with your visa approval letter with normal service, you can get Approval letter earlier with urgent service, only 4-8 hours; in an emergency case, you just wait for 15 - 30 minutes.

Step 4: Keep this as your proof of approved travel to Vietnam for the airlines.

At Vietnam international airport you arrive, go to the landing visa counter (follow "visa on arrival" sign), and present Approval letter along with some documents such as: two (4cm x 6cm) photos, a valid passport that will still be valid for at least 6 months after entry, and it must have at least two blank pages, Vietnam entry and exit form (N1). Pay the visa stamp fee which we mentioned at the beginning of the article. And the customs official will then place the visa stamp in your passport.

As before, there are only two types of stamping quite cheap: $25/pax for single visa entry, $50/pax for multiple visa entries; now, Americans want to stay in Vietnam from 90 days to less than 180 days to register multiple entries visa needs to pay stamping fee of $95/pax, and if US residents need to pay $135/pax for 1 year multiple entries visa stamping fee. 

Pros and Cons:

Similar to E-visa, On Arrival Vietnam Visa for US also have such advantages, even make the applicants more interesting and convenient:

• Cheaper overall fees
• 24/7/365 email support and assistance
• The easy application process requires less work
• NO need to send your original passport away
• NO need to dealing directly with Immigration authorities. We'll deal with them on your behalf.
• Saving time and visa to get the same type of visa.
• Multiple Methods of Payment used worldwide

The one disadvantage to this method is your tourist visa is you have to queue at the counter to get a Vietnam visa when you arrive, but if you don't like this, we will help you with the Fast-Track Service.

Notes:

• Visa on arrival is available for Air travelers. Those arriving by land or cruise are required to contact the local Vietnam embassy to get a full Vietnam visa before departure.
• Visa on arrival must be picked up at Vietnam airports after landing. See detailed visa on arrival procedures at Vietnam airports.
• To fasten and smooth out your process of getting visa stamped at Vietnam airports; consider using our Airport services here.