vietnam

cannot find any posts on here relating to vietnam, ie trip reports.. i here there are manys expats whom used to live in thailand heading there recently.. my brother was just about to board a plane to go to vietnam today from phuket, as he understood via the internet he could obtain a visa upon arrival, but the airline said he needed a visa or a letter from the embassy, so was unable to fly but got a voucher for another flight, but he tells me this also happened to atleast 10 other passengers that did the same

I traveled to Hanoi a few months ago. By the internet, got a "letter" from the Vietmanese Government that allowed me to obatain a visa on arrival in Vietnam. Basically, you pay $25 or $35 USD to have an agency secure the offical letter for you. They fax or e-mail the letter and you take the copy with you to the airline. After arrival in Vietnam you take the letter to the visa processing area and pay another $25 USD and they stamp your passport for a 30 day stay.

This seems to be the easiest way to get your visa if you want to avoid the complicated procedures and bureaucracy. The entry visa will be stamped on your passport as you pass through the immigration checkpoint. This kind of visa is available for entering the country by air only.

There are lots of agencies on the web who will handle this procedure for you. Just google Vietnam visa on arrival.

The Thai wife required no such letter and just got her passport stamped by Vietnam immigration at the Hanoi airport and no charge.

Although I never actually travelled to Vietnam, because Air Asia messed with the flights, I obtained my Vietnam visa at their Embassy(or is it Consulate) in Khon Kaen. Very straightforward. Not required for TW.