I didn't have much time nor did I want to send my passport through the mail to the nearest consulate so I applied online for an approval letter that would allow me to get my visa upon arrival in Vietnam. It was really quick, cheap, and easy.
You do not need to know your exact arrival or departure date yet when applying. You simply put an estimated date of arrival and you will be allowed to enter the country any time from that date on, just not before. It will be valid for 1 month after that estimated date of arrival that you chose.
You can do this as long as you are flying into any of the international airports Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, Noi Bai in Hanoi, Da Nang (in Da Nang) and Nha Trang City Cam Ranh Airport. You do not need to know the exact airport if you don't have a ticket yet. Just put any of them down when applying.
Here's how to do it:
Go to My Vietnam Visa Website
Click "Apply Online"
Choose what kind of visa you want. I chose the "1 month single entry"
Choose "standard processing of 3-5 working days". You can pay extra for quicker service but, mine only took 3 days with standard processing.
Pay the $20 online
Once you are approved, it will send you a few emails. Wait for the one that says "Confirmed Approval Letter"
You will get an approval letter and a form to print out.
It will also send an email stating what else you will need to bring which are:
Original passport (must not be expiring within 6 months and that you have at least 2 empty pages in your passport)
$25 USD for single entry 1 month/3 month
or $50 USD for multiple entry 1 month/3 month (be sure to bring the money with you, there are no USD atms there)
Two (2) 4 by 6CM passport size photos (i just printed these on my computer)
The Arrival Form to print and fill out that they emailed you
Once you have received your approval letter, your arrival form, and you have all of these listed items and you booked your flight, just show your approval letter when checking in at your departing airport.
Upon arrival in the Vietnam airport, just follow the signs to immigration/baggage/customs area. You will see a booth that says "Visa Application". You go there first and give your letter, form, passport, and photos.
You then sit and wait until your name is called and your passport appears on the monitor at the booth beside there that says "Visa Fee". This can take a bit of time depending on how busy it is.
Once your name is called, go to the booth. You will give the $25 or $50 and they will give you your passport back that has the Vietnam visa in it as well as a pink slip of paper. You then continue on as usual through immigration. And, that's all!
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