Another Visa Question (Cambodia/Vietnam)
Replies: 6 - Last Post: Feb 11, 2013 12:33 AM Last Post By: rasheeed
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Another Visa Question (Cambodia/Vietnam)
From my research I understand that most foreign nationals, including Australians, are required to obtain a tourist visa for Vietnam prior to entering the country, be it by air or land. Is that the case, or is it also possible to obtain a tourist visa at one of the land borders with Cambodia? I intend on going to Vietnam from Cambodia by land crossing. If I am required to get a visa in advance, do you think it's better I get it in Phnom Penh, where I expect it's cheaper and faster than getting one here in Australia which costs $85 and takes 3 working days.Oh and is there any one border crossing that's better than the others coming from Cambodia with regards to convenience, smoothness of process, corrupt border officials etc?
Thanks in advance to any who care to reply. Cheers :)
1
Unless you pay extra for online visa processing, it's not possible to get a Vietnam. visa on arrival at the airport or at land borders.Assuming you'll have the time whilst travelling, agree that it will be easiest to get the visa in Phnom Penh - most travel agencies should be able to organise it quickly for you.
Which land border really depends on which city in Cambodia you are travelling to which city in Vietnam. I did the Phnom Penh - Saigon bus many times (although this was years ago now) with no real hassles.
P.S Make sure you have USD on arrival in Phnom Penh for your Cambodian visa. I've had friends get stuck on the wrong side of immigration with only AUD on them. I think it's around $30-$35 USD from memory.
2
Visa On Arrival (VOA) for Cambodia is $20USD not the $30-$35USD suggested above, and YES it will be more if you try to pay in other than U$D.You can easily get a visa for Vietnam in Phnom Penh, from the embassy or from travel agents, cost about $60U$D. Vietnam visa prices went up 1/1/13 so it may be more than $85 in OZ.
It's often cheaper and just as fast to get your visa in PP from an agency, strange but true, you would think the embassy would be cheapest.
3
It is no cheaper wasting your time by doing it your-self at their Embassy,than having your Hotel/Guest Houseobtain it for you.
Takes 3 days or there is a more expense next day service.
From P.P.the Bavet/Moc Bai crossing is the easiest and most direct.
Bus is about $10 takes between 6 - 7 hours,
Terminating at the Phan Ngu Lao St. District 1 Tourist Area
4
On http://www.canbypublications.com you have good map of all border crossings between Camb. and its neighbours and detailed explanation of each crossing.5
If you travel by land, you must get your visa at a Vietnam embassy. I know a fast way of getting visa from an embassy: apply online to get an approval letter ( I saw on the website vietnamimmigration.com, it's only 10 USD), then bring this letter to the embassy to get Vietnam visa. I don't know for sure how much you have to pay at the embassy for the fee to be granted a visa.If you travel by air, it's easier to get a Vietnam visa. You can also need to apply for an approval letter (18USD for a 1 month visa from the website I mentioned above), when you are in a Vietnam airport, you need to pay 45 USD for stamping fee and the total fee is 63 USD only. It takes just 24 working hours to get visa.
6
Just give your passport to your Phnom Penh guesthouse. Say 'I want Vietnam visa.' Next day you get Vietnam visa.
