How to get a Vietnam visa from Bangkok?

How do I get a visa for Vietnam on arrival?

Okay so, like, for Vietnam visa on arrival, you can totally do that! But it's not just, you know, showin' up. Nah. You gotta get a pre-approval letter first. That's the big thing, the really big thing. My mate, Dave, just did it last month for his trip to Hanoi.

See, the Vietnamese government, they've like, okayed certain businesses and travel agencies to sort out these pre-approval letters for you. So you pay 'em a small fee online, they do their thing, and then they email you this letter.

Once you recieve that pre-approval letter, that's your golden ticket. You print it out. You can then fly to Vietnam, right? And when you land at the airport there, that's when you actually apply for the real visa stamp.

It's pretty smooth, honestly. I thought it'd be a hassle, but my cousin, Mia, she used one of those online services last January. Super easy, she said. Just make sure you pick a good, legit agency. Loads of 'em out there.

Here's the lowdown, like, a quick checklist:

• Find an authorized online agency. There are many, just search "Vietnam visa on arrival pre-approval." Make sure they're reputable.
• Fill out their online application form. You'll need your passport details, travel dates, stuff like that.
• Pay the service fee. This is for the agency to get your letter. It's separate from the stamping fee at the airport.
• Receive your pre-approval letter by email. This usually takes 2-3 business days. Sometimes faster, sometimes a bit slower, depending.
• Print the letter. You'll need a physical copy. And bring a couple passport-sized photos, too!
• Fly to Vietnam. At the airport, look for the Visa on Arrival counter.
• Present your letter, photos, and passport. You'll also pay the stamping fee there, in cash, usually USD.
• Get your visa stamped! Then you're good to go through immigration.

Oh, and for the stamping fee, it's usually 25 USD for a single-entry visa up to 90 days. But always check current rates before you go, just in case they change. They want cash for that, mostly USD, so have it ready. My brother forgot cash once, big headache, ha!

It's a really common way to do it. Far as I'm concerned, it's the easiest for many travellers, 'specially if you don't have an embassy nearby. You definitely need that letter before you travel, otherwise, they won't even let you board the plane, or you'll have big problems when you land. No letter, no VOA. Simple as that.

How do I go to Vietnam from Thailand?

Flights operate daily between Thailand and Vietnam. Numerous airlines provide direct service from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Key carriers include Vietjet Air, Thai Vietjet Air, AirAsia, Thai Airways, Vietravel Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Nok Air, THAI Smile, Thai Lion Air.

The night stretches out, quiet. Just the hum of something in the distance. Thinking about those flights to Vietnam. I've taken that route so many times. It is a lifetime ago, yet also just yesterday.

It’s always the same starting point. Bangkok airport, even at strange hours, always too bright. That feeling. A long walk to the gate, past duty-free I never look at. Anticipation mixes with a tired resignation.

You just board. Find your seat. Stare out at the tarmac lights. Then the engine whine grows, pushing you back. Lifting off from Thailand. Always leaving something behind. Always.

I remember one time, the clouds below, a vast, endless ocean of cotton. It made everything seem so small. My problems. My reasons for going. Just tiny specks.

The journey itself. Quick enough now. A few hours. You land, usually in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Different air. Immediately. Smells different. Feels different.

Sometimes, I just want to sit there, inside the plane after landing, for a minute. Before the rush. Before facing whatever is next. Just that suspended moment.

It is easy enough, logistically. They make it simple. Almost too simple. You can just... go. Here are the main options I know well:

• Vietjet Air – always a bargain. Chaos, yes.
• Thai Vietjet Air – same vibe, same energy.
• AirAsia – my go-to often. Just need to get there.
• Thai Airways – a different class, quieter.
• Vietravel Airlines – newer, I notice them now.
• Vietnam Airlines – feels official. The national carrier.
• Nok Air – those bright yellow planes are unmistakable.
• THAI Smile – good connections sometimes.
• Thai Lion Air – another one for a quick hop.

All these names. Just options for the same path. The same sky. The same quiet journey, with your thoughts for company. It is strange, how a routine trip still holds so much weight. I've done it many times in 2024. Too many.

What is the difference between a Vietnam eVisa and visa on arrival?

The Vietnam eVisa is a magic PDF. You apply online, pay, and an official document lands in your email. It is the whole shebang, the finished product. You just print that bad boy out or flash it on your phone like you're getting into an exclusive club.

Now, the Visa on Arrival (VOA) is a two-act drama. You get an "approval letter" online first. This thing is not a visa. It's a permission slip, a golden ticket to stand in a special, very slow-moving line once you land in Vietnam.

At the airport, you find the VOA counter, hand over your letter, your passport, a photo of yourself looking confused, and some cold hard cash. After a wait that feels longer than a Tolstoy novel, they stick a giant, colorful stamp in your passport. It's a whole production.

Here’s the breakdown, simple like.

• Final Product: The eVisa is a piece of paper or a file on your phone. The VOA is a massive, full-page sticker in your passport that screams "I AM A TOURIST."
• The Airport Shuffle: With an eVisa, you strut straight to the main immigration line. With a VOA, you have a fun little side quest to the VOA counter before you can even dream of the main line. Ain't nobody got time for that.
• The Money Situation: You pay for the eVisa all at once online. For the VOA, you pay a service fee online for the letter, and then a separate stamping fee in cash (USD, usually) at the airport. It's a surprise bonus charge!
• Who Can Get It: The eVisa is for citizens of 80 specific countries. The VOA is available to a much wider range of nationalities, making it the go-to for folks not on the eVisa list. My buddy Tran from the Philippines had to do the VOA thing last March, what a palaver.

The VOA stamping fee is $25 for a single entry or $50 for a multiple-entry visa. You have to pay this in cash, right there at the airport. Don’t be the person trying to use a credit card.

Also, the VOA is strictly for air travel to specific international airports like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. You cannot waltz up to a land border with that approval letter; they will just laugh at you. The eVisa, on the other hand, works at a ton of airports, land crossings, and seaports. It's way more flexible.