What's going on with Vietnam visas?

Ong Tay · Post by **Ong Tay** » Thu Nov 10, 2022 10:41 pm

johnny lightning wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 9:29 pm As far as I know tourist visas for VN are currently evisa only. Why the hell they don't allow VOA with the right paperwork or via Embassy/consulate I have no idea. Idiots.

There's been a major investigation underway at the immigration department and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with many arrests of high-ranking officials. There's speculation that until that has been resolved, evisas will be the only way for tourists to visit. The tourism industry and others have been pushing for a return to the prior system, but apparently that's falling on deaf ears...to the country's detriment.

Cowshed Cowboy · Post by **Cowshed Cowboy** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 8:01 am

Ong Tay wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 10:41 pm
johnny lightning wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 9:29 pm As far as I know tourist visas for VN are currently evisa only. Why the hell they don't allow VOA with the right paperwork or via Embassy/consulate I have no idea. Idiots.
There's been a major investigation underway at the immigration department and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with many arrests of high-ranking officials. There's speculation that until that has been resolved, evisas will be the only way for tourists to visit. The tourism industry and others have been pushing for a return to the prior system, but apparently that's falling on deaf ears...to the country's detriment.

Out of personal interest in the recovery of tourism since ground zero I monitor their tourist numbers relative to Thailand month by month, and they have really gone backwards since reopening. In 2019 they were getting 45% of Thailand's numbers, this year to September that figure had declined to 33%. Clear proof of the impact of what you are highlighting.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:28 pm

They're losing a lot of business that's up for grabs. I would have spent a lot more time in Vietnam this year if the 3-month multi-entry tourist visa had been available again, and I bet many other potential visitors as well.

Cowshed Cowboy · Post by **Cowshed Cowboy** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:07 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:28 pm They're losing a lot of business that's up for grabs. I would have spent a lot more time in Vietnam this year if the 3-month multi-entry tourist visa had been available again, and I bet many other potential visitors as well.

Likewise Alex, I had my first ever trip to Vietnam planned that was cancelled due to the start of Covid, now I've got my new passport and can travel again I still won't even entertain the idea until an easy decent length of visa is available. I'd prefer to maximise the benefit of the cost of a flight and visa by staying longer on a trip, especially a first time exploratory mission.

Good those in the know are keeping us informed on visa developments.

ExPenhMan · Post by **ExPenhMan** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:46 pm

Ong Tay wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 10:41 pm
johnny lightning wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 9:29 pm As far as I know tourist visas for VN are currently evisa only. Why the hell they don't allow VOA with the right paperwork or via Embassy/consulate I have no idea. Idiots.
There's been a major investigation underway at the immigration department and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with many arrests of high-ranking officials. There's speculation that until that has been resolved, evisas will be the only way for tourists to visit. The tourism industry and others have been pushing for a return to the prior system, but apparently that's falling on deaf ears...to the country's detriment.

Aha, very good, sir. I knew something was wrong in Vietnam when you see the gov completely blow the chance to attract snowbirds from Europe and NorthAm -- many of whom, via anecdotal comments, said they've already booked their winter escapes to Thailand and elsewhere despite really wanting to spend their time and money in VN.

I scan 8-9 VN news sites a day and never saw anything about this investigation. If I might ask, Ong Tay, do you have insider info or was it published somewhere? Anyway, thanks for providing an explanation to the question that's confounded me since the March 15 re-opening.

UPDATE: Are you referring to the investigation over the bribery scandals during the Viet repatriation flights? I suppose this could cause severe delays in any immigration and foreign affairs functions.

Jerry Atrick · Post by **Jerry Atrick** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:51 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:28 pm They're losing a lot of business that's up for grabs. I would have spent a lot more time in Vietnam this year if the 3-month multi-entry tourist visa had been available again, and I bet many other potential visitors as well.

Americans can pretty much stay without restrictions afaik

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:03 pm

Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:51 pm
Alex wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:28 pm They're losing a lot of business that's up for grabs. I would have spent a lot more time in Vietnam this year if the 3-month multi-entry tourist visa had been available again, and I bet many other potential visitors as well.
Americans can pretty much stay without restrictions afaik

Well yes, you could just rinse and repeat the 30-day eVisa, I just cannot be arsed because I disagree with their unwillingness to reinstate better options.

My solution was to spend more time in Cambodia instead. Easy.

Kahuna · Post by **Kahuna** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:09 pm

@ExPenhMan the govt has been cracking down severely on the visa system and perhaps as there have been a lot of news stories about upper level corruption this has not been noticed as much.
I was talking to a well respected visa agent here in Vietnam who said that prior to and during Covid when the borders were closed people were "buying" two year visas (employment, business etc). Now the government has a list of at least 500 companies that were involved in the scheme by putting the visa holders name on the books so as to give them legitimacy. This is now being investigated by immigration and people found to hold a dodgy visa are denied entry back into Vietnam after doing the border run to renew their visa and officially blacklisted for a period of time. She told me that she knows several people this has happened to. Those who just had monthly visas throughout the border closure are not affected.

Jerry Atrick · Post by **Jerry Atrick** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:13 pm

Kahuna wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:09 pm @ExPenhMan the govt has been cracking down severely on the visa system and perhaps as there have been a lot of news stories about upper level corruption this has not been noticed as much.
I was talking to a well respected visa agent here in Vietnam who said that prior to and during Covid when the borders were closed people were "buying" two year visas (employment, business etc). Now the government has a list of at least 500 companies that were involved in the scheme by putting the visa holders name on the books so as to give them legitimacy. This is now being investigated by immigration and people found to hold a dodgy visa are denied entry back into Vietnam after doing the border run to renew their visa and officially blacklisted for a period of time. She told me that she knows several people this has happened to. Those who just had monthly visas throughout the border closure are not affected.

I was offered a multi year visa, bank account combo for Vietnam in 2019 and declined as I didn't need it - so that might well be true

Ong Tay · Post by **Ong Tay** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 10:22 pm

Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:51 pm
Alex wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:28 pm They're losing a lot of business that's up for grabs. I would have spent a lot more time in Vietnam this year if the 3-month multi-entry tourist visa had been available again, and I bet many other potential visitors as well.
Americans can pretty much stay without restrictions afaik

Unfortunately, that's not true at the moment. The 1-year multiple entry visa Americans were able to obtain was suspended and has yet to be reinstated.

What's going on with Vietnam visas?

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