Travel to Vietnam for an adventure you won’t soon forget! The best thing to do here is to travel slowly, take the time to discover this charming country and you will discover an incredible diversity of sceneries, food, and people. Vietnam is one of Asia’s rapidly developing countries and is attracting million of visitors each year. There’s plenty of top sites that you shouldn’t miss out on such as Halong Bay, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Sapa, Mekong Delta, Hoi An, Ha Giang, and of course the two biggest cities: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In Vietnam, you’ll find a wonderful mix of golden sand beaches, historic monuments, picturesque mountainous areas, jungle, metropole cities, and much more. There’s so much to see and do here that people either stay for a longer period of time or returns to the country.
Whatever your plan is, one thing is for sure: you have to apply for a Vietnam visa before arriving to the country. Otherwise, the immigration officers will deny you entry to the country. As a citizen of Namibia, you have two options to choose from. Either you apply via the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate or you opt for the recommended visa, the ‘Visa on Arrival’. You apply for it online and you can do it from wherever in the world. It’s fast, easy to get and there’s also an option to get an emergency visa if you forgot to apply for one in good time, or plans changed. Read on to find out more about the two visa options.
I heard about Vietnam e-visa. Can I apply for Vietnam e-visa if I am citizens of Namibia? (No, citizens of Namibia 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 Namibia national in this list, therefore, citizens of Namibia should choose two options below to get a visa for Vietnam
1. Visa on Arrival – 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
This is the most preferred option for many travellers. If you live far away from the Vietnamese Embassy for example, or you do not want to send important documents such as your passport, this is a good option for you. It’s also easy, quick and affordable. To apply for a VOA, you need your computer and internet. If you get a Visa on Arrival, you are allowed to enter Vietnam through any of the 5 international airports: 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 simple. What you need to do is fill out the Online Application form with all relevant information. What you need to state in the application form is:
- Your full name, as stated in your passport
- Date of Birth – The format they use in Vietnam is DD/MM/YY
- Your nationality – as stated in your passport
- Your passport number
- Date of Arrival – you can state a date of arrival and then arrive later, but not earlier
After you have filled this information out, you have to wait for a confirmation email which 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 you need an emergency visa, you can get one within 40 minutes to 4 hours. This will cost you more money, but you will be able to get it much faster.
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.
3. Apply for a visa through the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the nearby country of Namibia
Vietnam tourist visa – single entry
The reason why applying for a visa with the Consulate or Embassy of Vietnam in the nearby country of Namibia might not be recommended is because it’s not as convenient if you don’t live close to the embassy. It means you will have to spend time on transportation and money. You also need to remember to bring all the necessary documents, such as passport, and if you happen to forget anything, you need to start the process all over again. It’s 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.
