Dear Vietnam visa booking team,

I am taking a trip to Bangkok on Jan 11th and plan to fly to Hanoi from Bangkok on Jan 15th. I have not booked a flight to Hanoi yet, and should arrive at the international airport the same day, the 15th. I want to arrange a visa upon arrival here in the U.S.. When is the visa activated? When I arrive in Hanoi or when I state when I should arrive on the document visa on arrival form? What I want to know is, if there is a foul up, let's say with the scheduled airline and I don't arrive exactly on the date indicated on the visa arrival form, will this prevent me from entering the country or cause any undue delay? Should I now today book my flight from Bangkok to Hanoi before I fill out your visa upon arrival form to be certain that the scheduled flight and the date of entry on the visa on arrival form are the same? In other words is there any flexibility on actual entry into the country and the date I indicate on the form?

I will wait for your prompt response to my questions.

P.S. I see the time difference between Portland Oregon and Hanoi, so I probably won't get a response until this evening my time. It is 12 noon here and 3 a.m. your time, and your office doesn't open until 8 a.m. Please send an email response as soon as possible, thank you.

Ron

Answer

Dear Ron,

Thank you very much for contacting us.

Regarding to Vietnam visa validity we would like to inform that, the visa will be activated from the date mentioned in the letter of approval but you can enter Vietnam anytime behind that date and it doesn't prevent you from entering the country or cause any delay.

Normally, it is said that in the approval letter: The [number of applicant] people are permitted to enter and exit Vietnam one time [or multiple time] from [proposed date of entry DATE 1] to [date of expiry DATE 2]. You can arrive exactly on the DATE 1 or anytime later than proposed date of entry DATE 1 mention above. It is really flexible to follow up your entry.

At the arrival airport you are requested to fill out an "Application for Entry and exit visa" which can be downloaded here. In order to save your time at the airport, you should fill out in advance, bring it with the approval letter, original passport and 2 photos (04x06) to present at the arrival airport to have your visa stamped.

If you have scheduled your trip perfectly, you can book the flight ticket first and then apply for a visa follow up the departure date issued in an air ticket. If you are not sure about the departure date, you can apply for a visa first with a proposed entry date and the actual entry date can be later than it is proposed.

Sample of approval letter here

Kind regards,

validity, visa on arrival,