Laos visa in Vietnam during Tet

Hi

We're going to be crossing into Laos from Vietnam (border nearest to Hue) and to avoid getting ripped off by the immigration guys we want to try to buy a visa beforehand in Vietnam. LP book doesn't have any info about whether this is possible let alone which agencies might do it (we got quoted a cheaper price in Phnom Penh for a Laos visa but didn't have time to get that as well as a visa for Vietnam!)

Would it be possible to buy one in Ho Chi Minh City? And can anyone advise how long it takes and a price? We're wondering whether trying to get one in Ho Chi Minh City is feasible during Tet? If all government operations do shut down for a week (which we're heard is likely due to the dates on which Tet falls this year) are we better off trying to get one in Hue and would it be possible there?

Thanks very much

Helen

Visas to Laos on arrival are at a set cost, depending on your nationality. The cost is usually posted at immigration at border crossings. It's around 30USD for most nationalities.

Question,, why do you think Lao border staff will rip you off?

Getting your Visa on arrival at Densavanh Lao border gate(=near Hue) is avalable.

And i also want to ask you like #1, "why do you think Lao people will rip you off like Vietnamese?

People in 2 countries are quite different----and i think your lackness of information about
VOA at Lao border and your misunderstanding of the difference between 2
countries=people is at tha same.level.

Any way, as for VOA(=Visa on Arrival) at Lao border:
Its cost at another Lao border gate(=at TayTrang/PangHok border=the most northern VN/Lao border) was as below---(Mar.2012) and maybe it's almost the same at Dansavanh Lao border gate near Hue.

*Affganistan, Bangradesh, India,Pakistan, Srilanka---40usd
*USA, Austria,British,Belgium,Finland,Iceland,Italy,Ireland,Norway,Portugal, Spain, Turkey---35usd
*Sweden---31usd
*Australia---30usd
*Brustal(?)---30usd
---------------------------
other countries---30usd

VOA fee---1usd
Overtime fee(after 16:00pm & Sat.& Sun)---1usd
Check fee(your passport check or health check?)---1usd
Taking photography fee---2usd

a mistake in #2 post

X Check fee---1usd
○ Check fee---2000Kip(1usd=8000Kip)

I'm with the others. Border is set price, a couple bucks more on weekends perhaps.

Trying to get anything official done in VN during Tet is silly.

Sorry, perhaps my wording wasn't clear but I didn't say the Vietnamese will try to rip us off, they're actually really friendly and helpful...I would never make a sweeping judgment like that about any nationality anyway and certainly not about people who've had to deal with so many horrors in their recent history yet are always greeting us with friendly smiles and waves. I said the immigration guards for Laos would as we were told in PP that when we get to the border the guards want $50 for a visa, no matter which country we come from....so we are trying to avoid that $50 if we can pay less in advance....

Or is the $50 charge a false accusation by the travel agencies in PP? (who would have charged less than that and gave us a good price for our Vietnam visas)

If it's not can anyone please shed any light on whether it's possible to get them in Hue since Saigon seems to be out of the question?

Thanks

You are totaly confused. Nobody will try to take 50$ from you at the border. Whoever told you that is lying.Just get to the Lao border, pay your visa fee and that is it.