WARNING re: Vietnam eVisa & Tết 2023

How many border runs you did in total?

How many border runs you did in total?
-@narcrepellant2525

When? This year or since 2018?

thx for sharing this information.

can i copy/past your post for Fench people ?

@Brecon Sure. Please be my guest in the French language forum. Nice of you to help out. Cheers!

@OceanBeach92107 Since 2018   I do not understand that you are doing visa runs since 2018 regularly and that AUS dude was told to take 12  months break after his 8th visa run, something fishy in that story..maybe?

@OceanBeach92107 Since 2018 I do not understand that you are doing visa runs since 2018 regularly and that AUS dude was told to take 12 months break after his 8th visa run, something fishy in that story..maybe?
-@narcrepellant2525

Wrong guess, Inspector Clouseau, and you are going off-topic, so I don't mind if Admin deletes our conversation.

After returning to VN in 2018 I did a visa run (Hanoi to Laos) 2019 after 1 year on business visa.

In 2020 I couldn't do a visa run due to COVID, so instead I received 3 consecutive in-country 3-month extensions.

No extension was available in June 2021 so I returned to the US and came back to VN last July, 2022 on an eVisa.

Border run August 3rd and another short border run on August 26th.

Received TRC in September.

Now let's please get back on topic.

@OceanBeach92107

Thank you for those info,

As an British passport holder,

Do i have to be concerned ...

Wil be arriving just before Tet.

Still 15 days free visa is that correct sorry i know we talked about this all ready but just to check.

After what i will do runs to Cambodia, to get an additional 15 days,

Regards to you all ,

And sorry was not very active these days a lot of work here,

You all take care !

@OceanBeach92107
As an British passport holder,
Do i have to be concerned ...
Wil be arriving just before Tet.
Still 15 days free visa is that correct sorry i know we talked about this all ready but just to check.
After what i will do runs to Cambodia, to get an additional 15 days,
-@satph84

No problem with the border crossings as you were previously told.

However, transportation may be more expensive and/or difficult to find.

If you have specific questions about that or about your trip to HCMC, please start a new thread topic.

Thanks!

@OceanBeach92107 Thx !

@OceanBeach92107 I did not wanted to sniff your personal life, I was just interested in practical problems aroun e-visa runs. Thanks for great info.

@OceanBeach92107 Many thanks for this practical advice. Much appreciated!

@OceanBeach92107
As an British passport holder,
Do i have to be concerned ...
Wil be arriving just before Tet.
Still 15 days free visa is that correct sorry i know we talked about this all ready but just to check.
After what i will do runs to Cambodia, to get an additional 15 days,
-@satph84

No problem with the border crossings as you were previously told.

However, transportation may be more expensive and/or difficult to find.

If you have specific questions about that or about your trip to HCMC, please start a new thread topic.

Thanks!
-@OceanBeach92107

The New topic about TET has been moved here

So what happening to one of the friendliest countries in SE Asia?

Posted on DAISON TOURIST facebook page today 15 Dec 2022

Visa Services, Translation, Legal Advice

[link moderated]

Dear all, now foreigners over 60 years old, only can get 1 month Evisa entry VN, no extension.

Business visa only issue people not reach 60 years old with this one get job and company legal sponsor .

Good day to anyone.

Sơn visa

Group by Son Khac Le

So what happening to one of the friendliest countries in SE Asia?
Posted on DAISON TOURIST facebook page today 15 Dec 2022
Visa Services:

Dear all, now foreigners over 60 years old, only can get 1 month Evisa entry VN, no extension. Business visa only issue people not reach 60 years old with this one get job and company legal sponsor .

-@Safepeter

if we go by that exact wording, no one has been able to get any extensions anyway.

Everyone (under or over 60) has had to leave the country and re-enter on a totally brand new evisa.

However, if this is saying that people over 60 cannot get hired, that would seem to be a new thing.

However, if this is saying that people over 60 cannot get hired, that would seem to be a new thing.
-@OceanBeach92107

This has been a generally unspoken issue for a while, particularly for older ESL teachers.   Generally, Vietnamese seem to retire earlier than Westerners, or at least earlier than Americans who generally retire by 65.   Furthermore, teachers in the West often work well past normal retirement ages.   While teaching, I met several retired Viet school teachers who were younger than I was at the time.  This must have a bearing on the mindset of those who do the hiring as well as on those who write the rules.

Not now. Anyone who has the documents and still healthy enough to make it up the stsirs to the classroom...70s 80s even 90s.

I don't know how it's possible, but I got a eVisa that is only allowing me to stay for 14 days

No idea if they changed my application, or if I goofed up the eVisa form but I only noticed while taking it out at in front of immigration.

And the worst it ends 02.02, so getting the next one in time will be almost impossible... what a crap.

I don't know how it's possible, but I got a eVisa that is only allowing me to stay for 14 days
No idea if they changed my application, or if I goofed up the eVisa form but I only noticed while taking it out at in front of immigration.
And the worst it ends 02.02, so getting the next one in time will be almost impossible... what a crap.
-@flothus

Not impossible, but immigration will almost certainly be backed up after coming back to work on the 27th.

Bite the bullet and pay for the assistance of a trusted Visa agent.

@flothus Hi!

Here's what I usually do: if I only need to stay another 14 days, I take the local bus to the border (Tinh Bien, in my case), and simply check out from Vietnam, and into Cambodia.

I happen to have a 6-month "Ordinary Visa" for Cambodia, but you can easily buy an e-visa for Cam on the internet.

I then immediately turn around, and check out from Cam and into Viet on the same day. The Vietnamese will grant me a FREE 14 days visa (a Swedish passport).

Since I don't know your details, this is all I can say.

I don't know how it's possible, but I got a eVisa that is only allowing me to stay for 14 days
No idea if they changed my application, or if I goofed up the eVisa form but I only noticed while taking it out at in front of immigration.
And the worst it ends 02.02, so getting the next one in time will be almost impossible... what a crap.
-@flothus

Whether you receive a new eVisa or not, you will exit on 02/02 anyway.

Here's my suggestion. On 02/02, exit VN, turn around and re-enter. As a German citizen, you are entitled to 15 days visa free entry to VN. You can then make your new 30-day eVisa application stating an entry date the same as your 15 day visa free expiration date. So, on 17/02/2023 when your 15 days free ends, you exit VN and re-enter with the new eVisa for 30 days.

This will entail two exits/entries for a 45 day total.

Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out.

@Aidan in HCMC Dear Aidan!

It sounds too good to be true, and here's the reason why:

Even if buy a 30-day Viet visa (while you're still in Viet), the Immigration will hold your visa back for 1-3 days AFTER YOU HAVE STAMPED OUT FROM Vietnam.

You will not be able to download any e-visa immediately. It takes 1-3 days for the computer to recognise that you have exited Vietnam.

"Swedish passport"💋

@pucko1

Is this something specific to citizens from countries qualifying for the 15 day visa free entry?

I'd not heard of this restriction.

@Aidan in HCMC Hi, Aidan!

No, I don't think it's specific to the countries which enjoy "14 days free visa".

Here's what I'm saying:

If you apply for a "Viet e-visa 30 days" while you're still in Vietnam, and are paying the fee online, you absolutely will NOT receive the link to download the visa until 1-3 days AFTER you have stamped out from Vietnam.

It's simply because the computer can't see you before that.

This means that you'll have to sit and pay for a hotel until your visa arrives online.

For this reason, it's better to consider two options:

1) You check out from Vietnam and apply for a visa online, and wait 1-3 days.

2) You check out from Vietnam and return the same day on a "free 14 day visa".

Normally, the Viet Border Police will not object to your returning the same day... But you may perhaps have to argue a little bit.

@Aidan in HCMC Hi, Aidan!
No, I don't think it's specific to the countries which enjoy "14 days free visa".

Here's what I'm saying:

If you apply for a "Viet e-visa 30 days" while you're still in Vietnam, and are paying the fee online, you absolutely will NOT receive the link to download the visa until 1-3 days AFTER you have stamped out from Vietnam.

It's simply because the computer can't see you before that.

This means that you'll have to sit and pay for a hotel until your visa arrives online.

For this reason, it's better to consider two options:

1) You check out from Vietnam and apply for a visa online, and wait 1-3 days.

2) You check out from Vietnam and return the same day on a "free 14 day visa".

Normally, the Viet Border Police will not object to your returning the same day... But you may perhaps have to argue a little bit.
-@pucko1

This sounds like speculation to me, especially since that has not been my experience multiple times, applying for an Evisa from within Vietnam.

I don't hear you saying that this has been your experience.

I know others such as PogiWayne haven't had this experience either.

Maybe if you included the words "I think" people would understand that you're just guessing.

If you apply for a "Viet e-visa 30 days" while you're still in Vietnam, and are paying the fee online, you absolutely will NOT receive the link to download the visa until 1-3 days AFTER you have stamped out from Vietnam. It's simply because the computer can't see you before that.

This is incorrect, and I would be skeptical of your source's knowledge/familiarity with VN eVisas. I have assisted several expats in applying for new eVisas whilst they were still in VN, and without fail, all have been approved, downloaded and printed.

This means that you'll have to sit and pay for a hotel until your visa arrives online.

If this were true, then "border runs" would be impossible. Border runs are in fact encouraged by VN immigration.

You check out from Vietnam and apply for a visa online, and wait 1-3 days.

Not at all necessary. With your new eVisa in hand, you can exit and re-enter VN in a single border visit.

Normally, the Viet Border Police will not object to your returning the same day... But you may perhaps have to argue a little bit. -@pucko1

The VN immigration have no objection whatsoever to people re-entering VN when they hold an eVisa. I had heard rumours of there being a minimum time spent out of country from people who qualify for the visa free entry, but further reports from these same members indicate that they were in fact, just rumours.

When you have a moment, please provide us with the source of your information.

As this is a "Sticky" thread, it is important that the information it contains be accurate.

@Aidan in HCMC Hi, Aidan!
No, I don't think it's specific to the countries which enjoy "14 days free visa".

Here's what I'm saying:

If you apply for a "Viet e-visa 30 days" while you're still in Vietnam, and are paying the fee online, you absolutely will NOT receive the link to download the visa until 1-3 days AFTER you have stamped out from Vietnam.

It's simply because the computer can't see you before that.

This means that you'll have to sit and pay for a hotel until your visa arrives online.

For this reason, it's better to consider two options:

1) You check out from Vietnam and apply for a visa online, and wait 1-3 days.

2) You check out from Vietnam and return the same day on a "free 14 day visa".

Normally, the Viet Border Police will not object to your returning the same day... But you may perhaps have to argue a little bit.
-@pucko1

Oceanbeach and Aidan are correct! You can apply for a new eVisa immediately after you entered Vietnam. Entry date can be the same day as your current visa expires and it will be processed in the usual 3+ days. Staying in Da Nang, I've been doing this for the last couple months . Flying in the morning to BKK and returning in the afternoon. No issues so far, but yesterday I pulled out my eVisa, doing the usual routine, and it was only for 15 days (14 was a miscount). 

Will check if it makes sense to get a visa agent for a "tet visa", otherwise I might have to wait in Thailand until the next one is processed.

@Aidan in HCMC Hi, Aidan!
No, I don't think it's specific to the countries which enjoy "14 days free visa".

Here's what I'm saying:

If you apply for a "Viet e-visa 30 days" while you're still in Vietnam, and are paying the fee online, you absolutely will NOT receive the link to download the visa until 1-3 days AFTER you have stamped out from Vietnam.

It's simply because the computer can't see you before that.

This means that you'll have to sit and pay for a hotel until your visa arrives online.

For this reason, it's better to consider two options:

1) You check out from Vietnam and apply for a visa online, and wait 1-3 days.

2) You check out from Vietnam and return the same day on a "free 14 day visa".

Normally, the Viet Border Police will not object to your returning the same day... But you may perhaps have to argue a little bit.
-@pucko1

Oceanbeach and Aidan are correct! You can apply for a new eVisa immediately after you entered Vietnam. Entry date can be the same day as your current visa expires and it will be processed in the usual 3+ days. Staying in Da Nang, I've been doing this for the last couple months . Flying in the morning to BKK and returning in the afternoon. No issues so far, but yesterday I pulled out my eVisa, doing the usual routine, and it was only for 15 days (14 was a miscount).

Will check if it makes sense to get a visa agent for a "tet visa", otherwise I might have to wait in Thailand until the next one is processed.
-@flothus

I've been promoting the idea of the round-trip visa run to BKK from Dà Nẵng (normally about $105 USD) for a while now to foreigners here in Hội An & Dà Nẵng.

It makes a lot of sense to me.

Don't wait too long to decide.

Today will be the last day that even the very best visa agents will be able to get an emergency eVisa for you.

Immigration is definitely shutting down eVisa processing from tomorrow, January 20th through January 26th.

Good luck whatever you choose to do, and when you return, lasst uns hier im Dorf Hội An zusammen ein Bier trinken.

🇩🇪 🍻 🇺🇲

Hello, thanks for sharing the info

I am a bit worried. I had to amend my application due to low quality passport page. I sent the amended application on the 13th Jan and I still haven't received my visa.  Now Tet is coming....

Should I wait patiently or send a new application?

I will appreciate your advice.

Best regards

Agata

@Aidan in HCMC Dear Sirs!

I don't have any other "sources" than my own experiences.

Let's be clear about one thing: it makes a difference whether you arrive through an airport, or if you cross at a land border.

The officers at land crossings are not always up to snuff about the latest rules. I've argued a lot with them, and after an hour or so, always have prevailed.

All my crossings have been over land.

I've been doing "visa-runs" during six months now, all of them at the Viet/Cam border (Tinh Bien).

All in all I must have crossed 10 times now, and I can tell you it's usually a tedious hassle.

Either it's the Cambodians making a problem (asking for money), or the Vietnamese making funny jokes about why return so early, haha...

It's important to understand that neither side actually appreciate foreigners making exit/entry on the same day, but grudgingly have to follow the rules put to them from respective authorities in the capital.

As for making a Viet e-visa INSIDE Vietnam, I'm not an expert. However, I can say that I did try in the fall of last year.

I applied for a visa, and paid the fee, and reckoned that four days would be enough for the Viet Immigration to process the thing, but no.

After I had crossed the border into Cam, it took another three days for my e-visa to pop up in my mail.

All in all, it took seven days. If you're gonna make an e-visa INSIDE Vietnam, be sure to allocate plenty of time for the procedure, so you have the paper in your hand upon return to Vietnam.

About making an e-visa OUTSIDE Vietnam, well that's a quite different affair. I've never had any problem with that.

Thank's for you kind attention. See You!

@Aidan in HCMC Dear Sirs!
I don't have any other "sources" than my own experiences.

Let's be clear about one thing: it makes a difference whether you arrive through an airport, or if you cross at a land border.

The officers at land crossings are not always up to snuff about the latest rules. I've argued a lot with them, and after an hour or so, always have prevailed.

All my crossings have been over land.

I've been doing "visa-runs" during six months now, all of them at the Viet/Cam border (Tinh Bien).

All in all I must have crossed 10 times now, and I can tell you it's usually a tedious hassle.

Either it's the Cambodians making a problem (asking for money), or the Vietnamese making funny jokes about why return so early, haha...

It's important to understand that neither side actually appreciate foreigners making exit/entry on the same day, but grudgingly have to follow the rules put to them from respective authorities in the capital.

As for making a Viet e-visa INSIDE Vietnam, I'm not an expert. However, I can say that I did try in the fall of last year.

I applied for a visa, and paid the fee, and reckoned that four days would be enough for the Viet Immigration to process the thing, but no.

After I had crossed the border into Cam, it took another three days for my e-visa to pop up in my mail.

All in all, it took seven days. If you're gonna make an e-visa INSIDE Vietnam, be sure to allocate plenty of time for the procedure, so you have the paper in your hand upon return to Vietnam.

About making an e-visa OUTSIDE Vietnam, well that's a quite different affair. I've never had any problem with that.

Thank's for you kind attention. See You!
-@pucko1

You obviously haven't enjoyed the process and I understand that.

Many people would agree that they experienced similar attitudes from border security forces.

However, you've used a lot of words to say that YOU caused the problem for yourself because YOU waited until the last minute instead of getting your eVisa sorted well ahead of the date needed.

Especially regarding the number of days needed for processing: what else aren't you saying?

Were you counting weekend days (Saturdays and Sundays) or holidays, all of which are NOT working days?

Perhaps you made your online application in the afternoon or evening and counted that as one of the full working days?

MY experience with multiple eVisa applications: don't count the day of submission as one of the 3 days necessary for processing.

So (as I've previously posted in this thread) the reasonable person who applies for an eVisa on a Monday should expect their application to be processed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with the approval available on Friday.

It doesn't always take that long.

But it's reasonable to expect that it might take that long.

It's also reasonable to expect that it might take longer for various reasons common to all office situations regarding personnel availability (sickness, training days, deaths, weekend backlog of applications submitted on nonworking days).

It's not reasonable to wait until 72 hours before the eVisa is needed to apply for it and expect the eVisa to be available before 73 hours have transpired.

Again, your attitude is understandable, but please don't make the mistake of converting how you feel about the process into dubious statements of fact.

Hello, thanks for sharing the info
I am a bit worried. I had to amend my application due to low quality passport page. I sent the amended application on the 13th Jan and I still haven't received my visa. Now Tet is coming....
Should I wait patiently or send a new application?
I will appreciate your advice.
Best regards
Agata
-@agatabukowicka

You should almost certainly create a new application.

As of last night, Immigration is closed untill early on January 27th.

Processing of visas is always delayed after the Tết holiday period, so you probably won't be able to get an eVisa approval until the 2nd week of February (6th or later; reasonable expectations).

I personally don't know of any Visa agent who will be able to give you emergency assistance during Tết.

@OceanBeach92107

Thanks a lot.

I will do so.

@OceanBeach92107 Hi!

Yes, you're right. It was partially my own fault. I applied for an e-visa on the evening of a Thur, so technically they didn't receive it until Fri morning.

However, I did expect them to work on Sat also, since that's what is common in most offices in Vietnam.

In any case, my recommendation would be to allocate AT LEAST one week for the procedure (including Sat-Sun).

No, I'm not trying to present my observations as A FACT, but merely referring to them as "my experiences", as you can read in my previous message.

Have another happy day in Paradise!❤️

If traffic in Face.book groups is a good barometer, there are going to be many, many frustrated and disappointed people on eVisas expiring over the next couple of weeks.

Question after question indicating that many people are coming here without a clue as to what happens at the end of 30 days.

Europeans from the Schengen zone seem to be especially frustrated and having difficulty grasping the need for Visa runs.

Reminding me of the fellow we had on here last spring (?) who couldn't wrap his mind around it.

If traffic in Face.book groups is a good barometer, there are going to be many, many frustrated and disappointed people on eVisas expiring over the next couple of weeks.
Question after question indicating that many people are coming here without a clue as to what happens at the end of 30 days.

Europeans from the Schengen zone seem to be especially frustrated and having difficulty grasping the need for Visa runs.

Reminding me of the fellow we had on here last spring (?) who couldn't wrap his mind around it.
-@OceanBeach92107

I think i may have been this thread https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =3#5367968 thats around March -> i'll see if I can remember the other thread it may have been on.

I've been doing "visa-runs" during six months now, all of them at the Viet/Cam border (Tinh Bien).

All in all I must have crossed 10 times now, and I can tell you it's usually a tedious hassle.


As for making a Viet e-visa INSIDE Vietnam, I'm not an expert. However, I can say that I did try in the fall of last year.

I applied for a visa, and paid the fee, and reckoned that four days would be enough for the Viet Immigration to process the thing, but no.

After I had crossed the border into Cam, it took another three days for my e-visa to pop up in my mail.

All in all, it took seven days. If you're gonna make an e-visa INSIDE Vietnam, be sure to allocate plenty of time for the procedure, so you have the paper in your hand upon return to Vietnam.

Thank's for you kind attention. See You!
-@pucko1

Can I ask you something Pucko ............how many e visas have you been granted so far?

My personal experience. .......All my e visa's (3 so far) have been applied for & granted from inside Vietnam & never had a problem "so far" & every time have received the new e visa within 3 days every time. I try to cover my ass by applying for the next new e visa almost as soon as I get back in to Vietnam & again so far have not had a problem "so far" Mind you as I have said before I am more than happy to pay my long time trusted Visa Agent her fee of 20usd to do the biz for me.

If traffic in Face.book groups is a good barometer, there are going to be many, many frustrated and disappointed people on eVisas expiring over the next couple of weeks.
Question after question indicating that many people are coming here without a clue as to what happens at the end of 30 days.

Europeans from the Schengen zone seem to be especially frustrated and having difficulty grasping the need for Visa runs.

Reminding me of the fellow we had on here last spring (?) who couldn't wrap his mind around it.
-@OceanBeach92107
I think i may have been this thread https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =3#5367968 thats around March -> i'll see if I can remember the other thread it may have been on.
-@AndyHCMC

interesting to reread that (nostalgic? 😉) but I was thinking of a thread with repetitive questions from somebody in the Eurozone or the UK about the logic of Visa runs and stepping across the border just to turn around and step back in again.

Colin and I ended up having an exchange with him because of his sense of superiority that things like that shouldn't be applying to him (or perhaps I should say, shouldn't be applying to anyone).

that's the attitude I'm seeing repeated now on social media such as FB.

@goodolboy Hi!

All together I have probably bought 10-15 evisa's over the last five years.

I live so close to the Cambodian border, in Chau Doc, that I've lately begun to take the local bus to Tinh Bien and check into Cam (with an "Ordinary Visa", retirement visa 6 months), walk across the border and return immediately for a Viet "Exemption Visa, 14 days".

I save some money on the evisa (25 USD), but sometimes have to argue with either the Cam Immigration, the Vietnamese, or both.

It's a learning process for the Cambodians mainly, but we're beginning to like each more now...

As I've said in a previous message, it's important to allocate enough time for the evisa to be processed, for example 7 days, including Sat-Sun, but usually that should be ample time.

@goodolboy Hi!
All together I have probably bought 10-15 evisa's over the last five years.

I live so close to the Cambodian border, in Chau Doc, that I've lately begun to take the local bus to Tinh Bien and check into Cam (with an "Ordinary Visa", retirement visa 6 months), walk across the border and return immediately for a Viet "Exemption Visa, 14 days".

I save some money on the evisa (25 USD), but sometimes have to argue with either the Cam Immigration, the Vietnamese, or both.

It's a learning process for the Cambodians mainly, but we're beginning to like each more now...

As I've said in a previous message, it's important to allocate enough time for the evisa to be processed, for example 7 days, including Sat-Sun, but usually that should be ample time.
-@pucko1

Morning pucko & thanks for the clarification, sounds like you have a good set up going there. I have also been thinking about getting the 1 year multi entry Cambodia retirement visa & made contact with an agent recommended by one of the Cambodia forum guys who was very helpful. The agent will handle it for me if I go ahead & it seems quite straight forward & a cost of about 300 usd which is quite cost effective compared to getting a new Cambodia visa every time & also most important for me is the pages taken up every time in my Passport.

All together I have probably bought 10-15 evisa's over the last five years.   I was wondering if you could clarify how many Vietnam 30 days e visas you have had since it kicked off after covid as there seems to be some debate on how many 30 days back to back Vietnam e visas you can get before they stop issuing them. One post on the forum said a maximum of 8 or 9 & then you cant apply for 1 year?