“Vietnam Visa approval letter” is a document issued by Vietnam Immigration Department (Vietnam Ministry of Public Security). It functions as an official permission allowing person(s) having name(s) on it to board the flight to Vietnam and get visa stamped onto the passport upon arrival at Vietnam airport.

Following is the sample of a visa approval letter:

To get this approval letter, the visa applicant is required to submit an online application form to a travel agent which will then work with the Vietnam Immigration Department to return the visa approval letter via email.

Please be also informed that the visa approval letter may contain names of some others whose visa requests are processed at the same time as yours.

To complete the online application for a Vietnam visa approval letter, the visa applicants need to provide the following information n exactly as shown in their passports (as once issued, the approval letter could not be amended in any way).

• Full name (exactly as in your passport)
• Date of birth (DOB)
• Nationality
• Passport Number
• Passport expiry date
• Proposed arrival date
• Proposed exit date
• Purpose of visit

“No, you cannot. You can enter Vietnam later than your granted arrival date by no earlier arrival is allowed. In case you change your plan and wish to enter Vietnam earlier than the granted arrival date, you are recommended to apply for a new visa approval letter

“No, you cannot. You can exit Vietnam earlier than your granted exit date, but no later exit is allowed. In case you wish to stay longer than your visa expiry date, you are recommended to apply for a visa extension or leave Vietnam and come back with a new visa.

“No, you cannot. Vietnam visa on arrival is applicable to air travelers only since the visa applicant(s) must get visa stamped at the arrival airport in Vietnam. If this is the case, you are recommended to contact the most convenient Vietnam Embassy/Consulate to apply for a visa.

“Please be informed that you are allowed to change your arrival airport regardless of which airport you provided in the application form. Since the visa approval letter works at three international airports of Vietnam (Noi Bai in Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat  in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang in Danang City), you still get the visa stamped onto your passport at any of these three airport regardless of which you put in your visa application.

“There is a big difference between a single entry visa and a multiple entry visa to Vietnam which lies in number of entries:

• Single entry visa: If you own a single entry visa, you are permitted to enter Vietnam ONCE during your visa validity. After you exit Vietnam, you visa will automatically become invalid. If you would like to re-enter you need to apply for multiple entry visa.
• Multiple entry visa: In case you own a multiple entry visa, you can enter and exit Vietnam many times as you want during your visa validity.

Here, Vietnam visa is classified in two ways:

Regarding traveling purposes, Vietnam visa is classified into two types:
– Tourist Visa: applied for visa of up to 3 months
– Visa for other purposes: applied for 3 months visa
But regarding length of stay and number of entries, Vietnam visa is classified into four types:
. 1 month single entry visa
. 1 month multiple entry visa
. 3 months single entry visa
. 3 months multiple entry visa

With Vietnam visa on arrival, the visa applicants must prepare two photos to get visa stamped at the arrival airport in Vietnam. Following is the list of regulations regarding photos for visa on arrival:

• The photograph must be passport-sized, identical, taken within the past 6 months.
• The image size from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head should be between 1 inch and 13/8 inches.
• The photograph may be in color or black and white. They must be full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background.
• The photograph should be taken in normal street attire, without a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline.
• Uniforms should not be worn in the photograph with the exception of religious attire which is worn daily.
• If prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles are normally and consistently worn, they should be worn when the picture is taken.
• Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required to support the wearing of such glasses in the photograph.

Yes, you can. You can pay for stamping fee in VND or AUD, SGD, etc. but USD is highly recommended to avoid any unbalanced exchange rate at the airport.

As Vietnamese overseas, you are kindly advised to choose either of two following options:

Apply for a visa exemption by visiting Vietnam Embassy/Consulate. Further information about Vietnam visa exemption for Vietnamese overseas, please read this link http://mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/.
If you would like to save time, you could apply for Vietnam visa online with Vietnamvsum.dk.