Vietnam Visa from Cape Town

G

gaboom

Active Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2019
Messages
71
Reaction score
18
So, looking to go to Vietnam... And, apparently need a visa! So, I know we need to get an approval letter but any recommendations on how to actually apply for visa considering the embassy in Pretoria and no consulate here in Cape Town. Should I look at a visa agent or just use courier guy?

BTW, the embassy person said I should post the application... and yes, I managed not to laugh at the suggestion :p
 
Unfortunately, a lot of conflicting information on various websites. IATA says we (SAns) need :( Hoping that there may be one of us that has some recent vietnamese leisure travel experience...
 
I visited Vietnam 5yrs ago and we did the eVisa. It was a smooth and inexpensive process. Maybe phone the embassy and find out?
 
Napalm2880 said:
I visited Vietnam 5yrs ago and we did the eVisa. It was a smooth and inexpensive process. Maybe phone the embassy and find out?
Click to expand...
Yeah, will try again... VERY entertaining first call... and they dont pick up any phonecall after 1200
 
Don't you still just get one at the airport when you arrive in Vietnam? They had a booth right near the immigration counters where you applied for one and it was just put in your passport then you headed through immigration. It was like that two years ago for me.
 
Wut said:
Don't you still just get one at the airport when you arrive in Vietnam? They had a booth right near the immigration counters where you applied for one and it was just put in your passport then you headed through immigration. It was like that two years ago for me.
Click to expand...
2 years ago we had Level 2 Stage 2
Times are different now
 
Napalm2880 said:
I visited Vietnam 5yrs ago and we did the eVisa. It was a smooth and inexpensive process. Maybe phone the embassy and find out?
Click to expand...
This.

I recall sending my passport via courier and then arranged a courier to fetch when ready.

If nothing changed I believe you can also apply for a visa at destination airport. Massive queueing involved tho.
 
Most countries need a visa to visit Vietnam. It all got f*** up for Saffers since covid and evisa/VOA is not possible for the time being. It has now become an expensive schlep to obtain a visa:

"However, things have changed much after Covid, and in order to get a tourist visa for Vietnam now, South African travelers must have sponsorship from a tour company registered in Vietnam. Such a company will prepare paperwork and work with the Vietnam Immigration Department to get your Vietnam visa approval letter, and you will then get the visa stamped upon arrival at Vietnam airport and join its tour."

So you have to pay a travel agent for this damn invite visa letter thing on top of paying for the visa itself. I have not been there after covid, but apparently many people on my expat group used Swallow Travel, so maybe contact them > https://swallowtravel.com/
 
Bill Clitnon said:
Most countries need a visa to visit Vietnam. It all got f*** up for Saffers since covid and evisa/VOA is not possible for the time being. It has now become an expensive schlep to obtain a visa:

"However, things have changed much after Covid, and in order to get a tourist visa for Vietnam now, South African travelers must have sponsorship from a tour company registered in Vietnam. Such a company will prepare paperwork and work with the Vietnam Immigration Department to get your Vietnam visa approval letter, and you will then get the visa stamped upon arrival at Vietnam airport and join its tour."

So you have to pay a travel agent for this damn invite visa letter thing on top of paying for the visa itself. I have not been there after covid, but apparently many people on my expat group used Swallow Travel, so maybe contact them > https://swallowtravel.com/
Click to expand...
Yeah, this is in line with what I heard. Will give swallows a look
 
Napalm2880 said:
How long are you going for and do you have a travel plan?
Click to expand...
I always try to sort out the visa complexities before getting into the excitement of planning. But, 14 days more or less and Hanoi, HCM, and hoi an and maybe something in between.
 
gaboom said:
I always try to sort out the visa complexities before getting into the excitement of planning. But, 14 days more or less and Hanoi, HCM, and hoi an and maybe something in between.
Click to expand...
That was pretty much my itinerary. Had an awesome time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X