No longer issuing Chinese tourist visas in Hanoi?

I believe that your question has been answered in the China Visa sticky.

I also made some suggestions for budget flights form Hanoi.

You might want to bookmark these sites for future reference:
which budget,
flybudget,
cheap0,
europebyair.com,
Air Ninja
kayak
zuji
openjet, and
asia budget airlines
budget long haul

Ruth

Hi Ruth, yes I didn't realise there was so much activity on the Chinese visa sticky so posted as a separate thread, thanks for your help!

Spend more time in Vietnam or Mainland SEAsia if you don't want to go to China.

Ruth

I just got a visa in hanoi about a week ago... went to one of the travel agencies as i had heard from everyone that the embassy was extremely difficult. A friend of mine did go to the embassy, with a flight out, train in, and proof of a hotel reservation in Kunming (with a stamp of the hotel, that is necessary). He also dressed as best he could and said it made a difference. I, on the other hand, have no travel plans or flights, and a travel agency said they could do it, so I decided to give it a try (they say they fake the documents and do it in bulk and it works), and they had my passport back to me in 3 days as promised, for $64 USD. (Canadian passport). The travel agency i used was 'Friendly Hotel and Travel', 68 Ma May in the old quarter. The guys who worked there were really nice. I am now in China, entered with no problems. Hope this helps, and good luck!

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the tip. Went there yesterday and they said they could only do it in 4 days for $85, the only problem is I need it in 3 days as our Vietnam visa will run out in 6 days including the weekend so 4 days won't work, may get a vietnam visa extension then the china visa depending on time restraints. Also had a different travel agent say to cross the border having overstayed a day but I think this is much too risky, especially at a land crossing. Hopefully it will all work out, hope you are enjoying China, thank you for your help!

Thank you dingxiaowei, but I think we are going to go through a travel agent as they also need to fake flights, seems like they are the easiest option at the moment.

I overstayed by one day, had to pay 100 Yuan, which is about USD$15

a travel agency said they could do it, so I decided to give it a try (they say they fake the documents and do it in bulk and it works), and they had my passport back to me in 3 days as promised, for $64 USD.

Are you sure they didn't fake the Chinese visa in your passport as well? ;)

$15 dollars isn't so bad, don't think I'd risk it to be at the mercy of whoever's working that day!