Do I need a visa for Vietnam from Thailand?

Do I need a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

Forty-five days. That's...that's all they give you visa-free now. Forty-five days for tourism or business. A lifetime ago, seems like I had longer.

I remember something, yes.

Anything longer... a travel agent in Vietnam. A pre-approval letter is mentioned.

• Find one.
• They deal with the visa application.
• They tell you to pick up the visa.
• Embassy.
• Complicated, wasn't it?

The embassy thing...I don't miss it.

I think it’s the agency, and then... the embassy. Yes, and then the visa.

How to get a Vietnam visa from Bangkok?

Ugh, Vietnam visa from Bangkok? Passport, obviously. At least six months left on it, right? Mine expires next year, phew.

Need a photo. Passport-style. Hate those. Always look terrible. Should I get a professional one? Nah, my phone camera's good enough. Probably.

Flights booked. Gotta show proof. Printed itinerary should do it, right? Don't they just check online now? So annoying.

Application form. Where's that blasted thing? Found it! So many fields. My address, again. Birthday. Passport number. Blah blah blah.

Key things:

• Valid passport (six months plus)
• Decent photo (seriously, do I look that bad?)
• Flight/hotel bookings (proof)
• Filled application form.

This better work. I'm going to Phu Quoc this year. It's supposed to be amazing. Should have researched visa requirements earlier, typical. Hope I don't get stuck in Bangkok airport. That would suck. Anyway, gotta pack. Swimsuits. Sunscreen. Mosquito repellent. And...did I remember my charger?

How do I go to Vietnam from Thailand?

So, Vietnam from Thailand, eh? That's like swapping Pad Thai for pho, a culinary leap of faith I highly endorse.

Forget swimming! Plenty of airborne chariots await. Airlines are basically buses with wings, right? Except you get peanuts, maybe.

• Vietjet Air & Thai Vietjet Air: Budget-friendly flyers! Think of them as the discount department store of the skies. What a steal!
• Air Asia: Another contender in the "save-your-baht" game. Just don't expect legroom.
• Thai Airways & Vietnam Airlines: The grand dames. Reliable, if a tad… predictable. (Like my uncle's jokes. You know they’re coming!)
• Vietravel Airlines: New to the party, eager to impress. Worth a gamble, perhaps?
• Nok Air, THAI Smile, Thai Lion Air: Local heroes! Great for domestic hops, venturing beyond? Debatable.

Bangkok to Vietnam? Daily flights, galore. It's easier than finding decent durian (a personal quest, believe me).

Pro-tip: Snag a window seat. Cloud gazing beats inflight movies. Always.

How do I get a visa for Vietnam on arrival?

Pre-approval. Agencies handle it. Pay them.

Arrive. Fill forms. More fees. Done.

Airports: Hanoi, Saigon, Danang. Remember this.

Why bother? Sometimes, it's just easier, I guess. Less hassle before, more hassle later. Choices.

• E-visa: Online. Fast. Maybe.
• Agency pre-approval: Letters. Fees. Airport lines.
• Consider the queue. Contemplate existence.

Fees vary. Check current rates. Don’t get scammed, duh. It happened to my cousin Thanh once. Hilarious story.

Important Documents:

• Passport.
• Photo. Like, a real one.
• Pre-approval letter (if applicable).
• Cash. USD preferred.
• Application form (provided at arrival). I always spill coffee on it.

Enjoy Vietnam. Or not. Your call. I prefer pho. And strong coffee.

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

Whispers of Vietnam...eVisa, arrival visa, a dance of documents.

The eVisa, a digital ghost, a PDF apparition arriving before, no clammy hands on a passport, just light.

• eVisas are a file!
• Arrive sooner!

Then, arrival visa. An approval letter, faith held in hand, the airport's humid breath, a stamp, thunk, official now.

• Stamped visa upon landing.
• Letter first, stamp later.

Which...easier? The eVisa, perhaps, a modern hum. But the stamp, oh, the stamp is concrete. I think. My grandmother liked stamps. Little sticky squares, little worlds held within. My grandmother loved me.

• Granny loved stamps!
• Like worlds held in.

Eviza arrives as file.Visa on arrival is approval letter .

What happens if I arrive in Vietnam without a visa?

Denied. Entry denied. A heavy door swings shut. Vietnam. A dream dissolving. Dust motes dance in the harsh airport light, a silent ballet of disappointment. I see her face, fading, like a photograph left too long in the sun. Oh, Vietnam.

Visa. A fragile paper bridge, unbuilt. Forgotten. Left on the kitchen counter, perhaps? Next to the half-finished cup of tea, the one she made, the morning before.

• No visa, no entry. Simple. Brutal.

• The U.S. Mission can't help. Alone.

• E-visa. Crucial, now a phantom.

I imagine her now, waiting. Wearing that dress, the blue one. Did I tell her how much I loved it?

The reality bites. Turn around. Go back.