7 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT VIETNAM VISA ON ARRIVAL

1. Assuming You Can Get the Visa Directly at the Airport

One of the biggest misconceptions is that a Visa on Arrival can be obtained immediately upon landing, without any prior application. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Unlike other countries, Vietnam requires travelers to apply online first and receive a visa approval letter before they can board their flight.

Without this letter, airlines will deny boarding, or immigration will refuse entry. Please ensure you apply online through a trusted agency before your trip and bring the printed approval letter with you.

2. Spelling/Typo mistakes in the Vietnam visa application

Many applicants make errors in the application form, such as misspelling their full name, entering the wrong passport number, or providing an incorrect date of birth. It can result in being denied boarding at the departure airport, as the details on the approval letter must match your passport exactly.

To avoid any issues, double-check everything correctly and carefully before submitting your application

3. Get a Vietnam visa approval letter at one specific airport

A common misunderstanding is that a visa approval letter can be used at just one specific airport - for example, only in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. In fact, they are accepted at all international airports in Vietnam, including Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Cat Bi (Hai Phong), Phu Quoc, and Can Tho. This update gives travelers much more flexibility when booking flights.

4. Misunderstanding Visa Validity Dates

Many travelers assume that the visa’s validity begins from the day they actually enter Vietnam - but that’s incorrect. The visa validity starts from the intended arrival date you provided during applying for your approval letter.

You can enter after that date, but not before. To avoid cutting your trip short, plan your travel dates carefully before applying.

5. Thinking that the Visa Approval Letter is already the visa

In reality, the approval letter is only a pre-authorization document issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department.

This letter serves as official permission for you to board your flight to Vietnam and obtain your visa stamp upon arrival at any international airport in the country. It is not a replacement for the visa itself.

Once you arrive, you’ll need to present the approval letter along with your passport, complete the Vietnam visa application form (N1), two passport-sized photos, and the stamping fee in cash (USD or VND) at the Visa on Arrival counter. Only after this process will the immigration officer place the actual visa sticker or stamp in your passport.

Failing to understand this step can cause unnecessary confusion or even denied boarding at departure airports. So, remember: the approval letter is your entry authorization, not your final visa.

6. Misconceptions about the Vietnam visa fee

Many travelers believe that the visa fee is paid one time in advance and are not aware that they have to pay another fee. This fee is called the Vietnam visa stamping fee and is paid at the Vietnam airport. In fact, regarding to Vietnam visa on arrival, you have to separately pay visa fee and stamping fee with different methods.

• Visa service fee: directly charged (online with credit card/bank transfer/..) by a travel agent to process your Vietnam visa approval letter.

• The stamping fee: pay in CASH only to the Immigration Officer to get a visa stamped in your passport.

7. Believing Visa Extensions Are Available

Previously, travelers could extend their visas after arriving in Vietnam. However, visa extensions are currently unavailable for most visa types. This means you’ll need to leave Vietnam and apply for a new visa if you wish to stay longer.

To avoid inconvenience, plan your trip carefully and consider applying for a longer-validity visa (such as a 3-month evisa) right from the start. This will save you both time and effort during your stay in Vietnam.

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If you are going to apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival, do not let these false misconceptions ruin your trip to Vietnam.

Please share with us if you find any other mistakes regarding the Vietnam visa on arrival in the comment section below. We will add it to make our article informative and helpful to our readers.

And if you want us to handle your Vietnam visa on arrival smoothly, just submit your Vietnam visa request at: https://vietnamvisavoa.com/apply

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