Any Updates on the newly passed 12 month tourist visa for US citizens

It's good news that other visas are possible.

To ALL expats--check with multiple sources before applying for a visa. Many of the visa agents charge a hell of a lot more than others for the same "service".

u can still get one month visa as American. cost is about 70 bucks. when is Vietnam going to give americans 15 days free. entry

I got the visa. 135 dollars. you can even pay by cc if you pay online.

very easy.  very very easy.

dec 15. rules just opened up. I still think Vietnam should give a free 30 day visa . would help tourist numbers

1.  Regarding Visa on Dec 15, I got mine almost 2 months ago.  Dec 15 is not the correct date.  Do not know the correct date.
2.  Regarding free Visa.  Vietnam is trying to control the quality of the people coming.  Over Touristed now.  One part of government believes that over development is turning the country into an amusement park.  Another views maximum development as a way to get short term capital. Chinese do zero based tours.  Illegal in every country.  Chinese will come and consume, like locusts in a wheat field.  Koreans are ..
3.  DaNang chairman chose between industrial development and tourism.  Arguments on those two sides, and other sides as well.  The Dragon Bridge is American work, but America has no decent bridge on home soil.
4.  Smoking is a big deal.  Need tougher, more expensive, smoking laws.

Shifting Visa Fees can make travel to VN confusing and costly

Hi All ...

Caucasian male, US Citizen, retired.
Heading back to USA in May,  then return to VN in July of 2017.

Would like to get the Business Visa this 2nd time around.
Currently have the one year tourist Visa (which was told the same as business).

I just came back from Phnom Penh Cambodia.  Just for a visa stamp.
Such a hassle with immigration and money, and then back here with immigration and local officials.

What do I need to do to get a business Visa?
Do I just ask for one?
What is the letter about?

In the mean time ...
Is there a cheap bus that only goes to the the Cambodian border casinos for the day?
Planing to move some funds into a local VN bank.

thanks
Jefferson

binh thanh p11

How can you deposit into a VN bank if you do not work in VN?

I was told that I can have a bank account, but cannot deposit if I do not work in VN.

I have tried.

Regarding Cambodia.  Why do you call Cambodia expensive?

How can you live in VN if you think that a few dollars are expensive?

I have not been to Cambodia for many years.  Is Cambodia worth a visit?  I saw online videos of bar and despot areas.   What I saw on the internet looked awful.

I am in Da Nang.  Cannot find a good restaurant.  Discouraging.

DaNangCity wrote:

How can you deposit into a VN bank if you do not work in VN?

I was told that I can have a bank account, but cannot deposit if I do not work in VN.

I have tried.

Regarding Cambodia.  Why do you call Cambodia expensive?

How can you live in VN if you think that a few dollars are expensive?

I have not been to Cambodia for many years.  Is Cambodia worth a visit?  I saw online videos of bar and despot areas.   What I saw on the internet looked awful.

I am in Da Nang.  Cannot find a good restaurant.  Discouraging.

Trying to see where he said Cambodia is expensive  🤔

DaNangCity wrote:

How can you deposit into a VN bank if you do not work in VN?

I was told that I can have a bank account, but cannot deposit if I do not work in VN.

I am in my 70's and retired and have had a USD account at Vietinbank for many years. About once a month I call up my US bank and have them send USD to My account in Viet Nam. Then I drop by the bank and pick up my money in either USD or VMD. I do normally maintain a few thousand USD in the bank for emergencies.

I asked about depositing in a VN bank, and was told that I cannot.

I am retired.

My retirement is going into the Bangkok Bank, which goes into my account in THB.

I would also like information about issues regarding a) loneliness.  Do you have any social outlets? b) Can you assist me in how, where to get a Bank Account in VN?  I could transfer money from Thailand. c) I am maintaining medical in the Thailand.  I have not discovered an affordable way to access healthcare in VN. d) medications .. I cannot find the medications which I need. e) I had a CPAP imported from Kentucky.  Customs beat the tarnation out of a brand new machine.  Fedex then rewrapped the machine, without the protective packaging or original packaging, and damaged the machine.  Fedex said that they are not responsible because the outside of the box was not damaged.  I do not know how to deal with these issues.  I was told that I needed a certificate in advance from the health minister, but the contact information on the internet is not correct.  I get no response when I petition them.

Cambodia being expensive.

He said:  "Is there a cheap bus that only goes to the the Cambodian border"

My age, I much prefer comfort over cheap.  I also prefer the comfort travelers over the cheap travelers.

Implied meaning: Cambodia is expensive.

I would like some wholesome information about Cambodia, and even how to find social life in DaNang.

I have never been to Saigon, except one quick night a decade earlier.  I really detest the gays and the loud people, and the smokers ...  so, I'm not sure about going to Saigon.  Nobody ever advertises "gay management," or "illegal tobacco smoke blown in every patron's face".

DaNangCity wrote:

I asked about depositing in a VN bank, and was told that I cannot.

I am retired.

My retirement is going into the Bangkok Bank, which goes into my account in THB.

I would also like information about issues regarding a) loneliness.  Do you have any social outlets? b) Can you assist me in how, where to get a Bank Account in VN?  I could transfer money from Thailand. c) I am maintaining medical in the Thailand.  I have not discovered an affordable way to access healthcare in VN. d) medications .. I cannot find the medications which I need. e) I had a CPAP imported from Kentucky.  Customs beat the tarnation out of a brand new machine.  Fedex then rewrapped the machine, without the protective packaging or original packaging, and damaged the machine.  Fedex said that they are not responsible because the outside of the box was not damaged.  I do not know how to deal with these issues.  I was told that I needed a certificate in advance from the health minister, but the contact information on the internet is not correct.  I get no response when I petition them.

Their is a long thread about how to do it. But, different banks have different rules. I use a branch office of Vietinbank and they have no English speaking tellers at that branch. But, my Vietnamese is good enough to handle banking and most other stuff. Many of the foreign Banks do not have that service.

International SOS is fairly expensive. But, my retired Army Medical insurance reimburses me. If it is available in Viet Nam International SOS can get it and they do speak excellent English and several other languages. Oxygen concentrators are widely available in Saigon in cheap Chinese versions and expensive versions from elsewhere. CIH Hospital is the hospital that we use. FV Hospital is also popular
choray.vn/TinTuc.aspx?NEWS_ID=409
CHO RAY HOSPITAL 201B Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, VIET NAM Tel: 84-8-38554137 Research-Training Department: 84-8-38553318

has an excellent foreigner program and is likely your least expensive choice. The issue is that the VN side is a mad house.

Their is at least one good thread on hospitals as well.

DaNangCity wrote:

I would like some wholesome information about Cambodia, and even how to find social life in DaNang.

I have never been to Saigon, except one quick night a decade earlier.  I really detest the gays and the loud people, and the smokers ...  so, I'm not sure about going to Saigon.  Nobody ever advertises "gay management," or "illegal tobacco smoke blown in every patron's face".

Note: I added bold face to the quote above to make it easier to see the points I discuss below.

WOW! Please wait while I get out the violins for your pity party. Maybe you don't have a social life because you're a homophobic jerk (yes, I know that's redundant)  who feels the need to judge others. If you don't like loud people and have a fit every time smoke's blown into your face, you need to live in another country. Maybe Saudia Arabia where gays are persecuted. If you're lucky, maybe you could even attend a public execution of one.

Why is it that those who hate gays are the ones who think about them the most? I've been here two years, spend a lot of time in Saigon, and have never once noticed "gay management" or thought twice about who may or may not be gay.

Could it be that you're lonely 'cause you're fishing in the wrong pond?

One more thing... there are some very good (and inexpensive) restaurants in DaNang. If I found them on my first day there, they can't be that hard to find.

CPAP has nothing to do with oxygen.

I cannot find any data on CPAPs.

None.

DaNangCity wrote:

CPAP has nothing to do with oxygen.

I cannot find any data on CPAPs.

None.

I did an online world wide search on "CPAP" the only thing I found was in reference to Oxygen generators. Perhaps you could provide more information. Unlike 10 years ago Viet Nam has(a few) world class hospitals and virtually all medical equipment is available for sale.

Also Thai Bhat(?) is listed on Vietinbank's currency board and the only issue with transferring Thai currency to a Vietinbank account would would be language as many Vietinbank branches do not have English speaking employees. Also note, you may have to take a number and wait for an hour or so.

I did a bit more research on CPAPs. If you are referring to sanitizers, these are also for sale in abundance. I chose to buy a UV sanitizer as it fitted my wife's needs quite adequately. The high temp/high pressure sanitizers are also widely available. You really need to hire someone who is fluent in Vietnamese and English to take you around and shop for your medical stuff.

This thread has really strayed 

Not that I have never been guilty of the same as I certainly have, but since this is a sticky thread on a topic of importance maybe we should keep our gripes about not being able to find medical supplies and friends off this thread and either find an appropriate thread or start a new one.

Hi everyone,

Like THIGV said, please focus on the topic which is  "Any Updates on the newly passed 12 month tourist visa for US citizens " .

If you wish to talk on another subject, please feel free to create a new thread on the Ho Chi Minh City forum.

Thanks,

Priscilla 

DaNangCity wrote:

Cambodia being expensive.

He said:  "Is there a cheap bus that only goes to the the Cambodian border"

My age, I much prefer comfort over cheap.  I also prefer the comfort travelers over the cheap travelers.

Implied meaning: Cambodia is expensive.

I would like some wholesome information about Cambodia, and even how to find social life in DaNang.

I have never been to Saigon, except one quick night a decade earlier.  I really detest the gays and the loud people, and the smokers ...  so, I'm not sure about going to Saigon.  Nobody ever advertises "gay management," or "illegal tobacco smoke blown in every patron's face".

No, it means a bus that goes from Saigon to Moc Bai-Bavet, not sure how this relates to Cambodia being expensive as its coming from Viet Nam side and has nothing to do with Cambodian costs,troi oi.

It's been a while since this thread was updated, but I can tell you that the Vietnam embassy in Washington DC started issuing year long visas around September.  I just moved to HCM in December and I arrived with a year long visa for myself, wife and each of the two kids.

aschwabe wrote:

...I can tell you that the US embassy in Washington DC started issuing year long visas around September.

Can we assume that you meant the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, DC?     Was there any mention of leaving the country every 90 days?

I don't recall any restriction about leaving the country every 90 days.  The visa is multiple entry. Did you read about the 90-day thing somewhere?

It's what everyone says is needed on a one-year tourist visa, but no one has posted yet about having any hassles because they didn't leave. The claims are why I got a business visa instead.

aschwabe wrote:

I don't recall any restriction about leaving the country every 90 days.  The visa is multiple entry. Did you read about the 90-day thing somewhere?

Yes here.  See post #202.  However the one who posted #202 did not follow up with a photo as promised.  Do you have a red circle and a blue square as he described?

My OLD one-month visa has two stamps - red circle and blue square (marked as used).  The new one-year visa has a red circle stamp and NO blue square stamp.

For reference, my DN business visa has one blue square stamp.

Got my visa for one yr in DEC.  I will pick up in Hanoi   Cost is $150 in Hanoi. I had no extra charges since I went to travel agent in Hanoi, person friend.  I fly to Vietnam yearly for 3 months a time. Professional Photographer, landscapes, life and wedding in Vietnam. I'm told it's I have to leave every 3 months, but not sure how that works. Take quick trip to Cambodia or Hong Kong. Been traveling for 10 yrs here. If you doing pre arrangements with travel agents (tours, hotel etc etc) ask them to do your visa. Shouldn't cost more than $25.00   Good luck

If you are American, and got one year visa, you get multiple entries. come and go as often as you like.

150 is too expensive.

friend's should not make a profit off of friends.

That is western thinking.  Here in VN whether it is cultural or economic reasons relatives make profit off each other.   It is ok so long as not completely rip you off blind.  @danang, I think you are setting yourself up for disappointment, frustration and potentially hatred.

Can't go to people's houses and keep thinking your own decors are better than others.

***

Any idea if VN issue work permits for Aussie PP holders? My company is thinking of opening a small office there.

I have recently confirmed that you DO have to leave the country every 90 days under the 1-year visa program for americans.  This is largely due to the infrastructure in Vietnam not changing things from the previous 3-month visa program. The Vietnamese embassy in US confirmed that as of right now, you still need to leave the country every 90 days.  This may change, but even when it does, will take a long time for the local gov't to know and understand that it changed.  Best bet: forced vacation every 3 months to be safe.

the heading reads " newly passed" it was Obama who ratified the PPT agreement, now he has gone and Trump is threatening to tear it up, what will happen to the 1 year tourist visa for US citizens/

MarkinNam wrote:

the heading reads " newly passed" it was Obama who ratified the PPT agreement, now he has gone and Trump is threatening to tear it up, what will happen to the 1 year tourist visa for US citizens/

I am sorry that I can't give you a link, (it may be gone now anyway,) but I have read on a US State Dept. web page that the one year business visa was part of the TPP.  The one year tourist visa for Americans was negotiated simultaneously but separately.  Of course the tourist visa was negotiated under the more optimistic light of the TPP negotiations but is apparently not tied directly to the TPP.  Of course the Vietnamese could choose to continue with both the business and tourist visas but they are not obligated to, as they would have been for the business visa had the US ratified the treaty.

For those used to the efficiency of British style parliamentary democracy or even "the dictatorship of the proletariat", note that under the US Constitution, the administration may negotiate treaties, but they must be ratified by the Senate.  That was not going to happen since the Republican party took back the Senate in 2014, but now the Trump administration will completely withdraw the request for ratification.  Our system was designed to make things not work.      The TPP requires a certain percent of the nations, based on GDP, to formally ratify before the treaty becomes active. This percentage is such that without the US, it is dead for every signatory.  What is most unfortunate is that now China has already begun corralling SE Asian nations, including Vietnam, into their own multilateral trade pacts.  The US has missed an opportunity of a generation.

aschwabe wrote:

I have recently confirmed that you DO have to leave the country every 90 days under the 1-year visa program for americans.  This is largely due to the infrastructure in Vietnam not changing things from the previous 3-month visa program. The Vietnamese embassy in US confirmed that as of right now, you still need to leave the country every 90 days.  This may change, but even when it does, will take a long time for the local gov't to know and understand that it changed.  Best bet: forced vacation every 3 months to be safe.

Get the one year DN visa and there is no need to leave every 3 months.

aschwabe wrote:

I have recently confirmed that you DO have to leave the country every 90 days under the 1-year visa program for americans.  This is largely due to the infrastructure in Vietnam not changing things from the previous 3-month visa program. The Vietnamese embassy in US confirmed that as of right now, you still need to leave the country every 90 days.

If you think about it, this is an amazingly lame excuse.   All it would take is a circular distributed to every immigration office.  If nothing else, the party makeup of the government insures central control.  That's why they call it the "Central Committee."  They can inform the Embassy in Washington but they can't reach provincial officials?  I have to imagine that at the very minimum every provincial capital has at least one email address.  What infrastructure are they talking about?  Do they mean new rubber stamps?  There are no physical impediments;  only an unwillingness to change.  If the price of the visa went up 100%, you can bet that every immigration official in the country would know overnight.

THIGV wrote:

aschwabe wrote:

I have recently confirmed that you DO have to leave the country every 90 days under the 1-year visa program for americans.  This is largely due to the infrastructure in Vietnam not changing things from the previous 3-month visa program. The Vietnamese embassy in US confirmed that as of right now, you still need to leave the country every 90 days.

If you think about it, this is an amazingly lame excuse.   All it would take is a circular distributed to every immigration office.  If nothing else, the party makeup of the government insures central control.  That's why they call it the "Central Committee."  They can inform the Embassy in Washington but they can't reach provincial officials?  I have to imagine that at the very minimu every provincial capital has at least one email address.  What infrastructure are they talking about?  Do they mean new rubber stamps?  There are no physical impediments;  only an unwillingness to change.  If the price of the visa went up 100%, you can bet that every immigration official in the country would know overnight.

Agree, you hit the nail on the head.

Call XXX Cambodian call. Get it there

Never!  You asked.