Vietnam is a beautiful and diverse country full of lush landscapes, pristine beaches, pretty towns and cities. Vietnam is also famous for its delicious food and affordability. If you are on a strict budget, it is fully possible to travel here, even for a longer period of time if you are good with your money. Travel here if you want to get the most out of your vacation, where you can choose to relax on the beach one day and then visit a metropolitan city another. Then when you want to escape the city, head to the mountains where you can go trekking. The climate in Vietnam is also mild all year round if you stay in the south, and the north is beautiful to visit during the cooler and drier months. In fact, peak season in Halong Bay for example is during the winter months, because there are less possibilities for rain and typhoons. But if you want to be guaranteed to have sun, head south to Mui Ne for example, where you can try to kitesurfing. There is simply no such thing as a bad period to visit Vietnam.
If you are staying here for a few weeks, you can go cross country if you do not mind a bit of traveling. Many people go either from north to south or the other way around, and visit places such as Hanoi, Halong Bay, Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Ho Chi Minh City. Make sure you try to visit all of these places – they all offer something very unique and different.
An important thing to remember before going to Vietnam from Djibouti is to apply for a Vietnam visa. As a citizen of Djibouti, you have two options to choose from and they are:
I heard about Vietnam e-visa. Can I apply for Vietnam e-visa if I am citizens of Djibouti? (No, citizens of Djibouti are not eligible for Vietnam e-visa)
From 01 Feb 2019, under Decision 17/2019/NĐ-CP of the Government of Vietnam, there are 80 countries which citizens of it are eligible to apply online for an e-visa of Vietnam online (e-visa is a single entry valid for staying 30 days). We check but not found Djibouti national in this list, therefore, citizens of Djibouti should choose two options below to get a visa for Vietnam
1. Visa on Arrival (VOA) – Apply online for pre-approval then pick up your visa on arrival at the airport of Vietnam
Tourist pick up visa on arrival at Da Nang Int’l Airport, Vietnam
You can apply for a Visa on Arrival from anywhere in the world. All you need is your computer and internet. If you apply for this type of visa, you are allowed to enter Vietnam through any of the 5 international airports in following cities: Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hai Phong. You can only travel by air if you get a VOA, meaning you can’t enter Vietnam by bus, car, and so forth.
The process is very easy. What you need to do is fill out the Online Application form where you state your date of birth and other relevant information. You will then have to wait for a confirmation email that usually arrives within 1-2 working hours. Normally you will receive an Approval Letter within 2 working days. When the letter comes don’t forget to print it out so the immigration officers in Vietnam can stamp your passport. If by chance you need to get an emergency visa, it will cost you more money, but you will be able to get it faster. You will get it within 30 minutes to 4 hours.
On arrival support for fast check-in at Vietnam Airports
You also have the option to buy “On Arrival Support” which is a very good option for those who wants to check in to Vietnam faster:
- Standard Support : +US$20/pp
Our staff will meet you in front of the “visa on arrival” desk with a welcome board, then take care of all procedures necessary to get the visa stamped on your passport. Please prepare 25 USD/person and give it to our staff to pay for the visa stamp fee.
- VIP Support : +US$35/pp
Our staff will meet you in front of the “visa on arrival” desk with a welcome board, receive your passport and give it back with the visa within 5-10 minutes, then escort you to check out via the VIP gate. Please prepare 25 USD/person and give it to our staff to pay for the visa stamp fee.
2. Apply for a visa through the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the nearby countries of Djibouti
Vietnamese-visa-sticker-in-a-passport
The second option is to apply for a visa in the nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in Djibouti. However, this option is not so convenient if you do not live close to the embassy. It means you will have to spend time on transportation and money. You will also need to remember to bring all the necessary documents, such as your passport, and if you by any chance forget anything, you need to start over the process. It is time consuming and you usually need to pick up your passport in the embassy or consulate. Also, be kindly advised that the fees and procedures are subject to change depending on where you apply.
Do not forget to print out all necessary documents, such as your visa approval letter. You also have to remember to bring cash (for the visa stamp) and photos of yourself to the Vietnamese immigration officers at the airport.
