Vietnam, one of the most stunningly beautiful countries in Asia, has become a favorite amongst backpackers and other travelers. Not only is the country known for being very budget-friendly, it’s also very diverse. You can find everything here: grand mountains, golden sand beaches, islands, jungle, charming towns, metropole cities and much more. The diversity is what makes travelers come back over and over again because there’s simply so much left to do and see. It’s also one of the safest countries to travel around in, making it even more attractive for travelers.
Whether you’re going to Vietnam for business or leisure, citizen of South Korea are NOT required to apply for a visa if stay in Vietnam for less than 15 days. As a citizen of South Korea, if you want to visit Vietnam for more than 15 days visa-free, you have three options. The first two are online visas. It’s highly recommended to get a so-called “Visa on Arrival” since it’s a bit more flexible than the “E-Visa”, which is a 30 day, single-entry visa. With the Visa on Arrival, you can apply to stay for longer than one month for example, and you can also renew your visa, if you decide that you wish to stay even longer. However, if you’re arriving to Vietnam by land, you have to go to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate and apply for a visa with them. Read on for further information about the three types of visas.
1. Electronic visa or Vietnam E-Visa for citizens of South Korea
A sample of an eVisa Vietnam
The e-Visa is a single entry visa that’s valid for 30 days, from the proposed date of entry that you indicated on your application, and is issued in PDF format. Citizens of 80 countries are allowed to apply for this type of visa and South Korea is one of them. The e-Visa is highly popular because everything is done online, it only takes about 3 business days to get the visa and you can enter via 28 different ports. However, if your visa is denied, you won’t get a refund. This type of visa is also non-extendable. If you want to stay in Vietnam for longer than 30 days, it might be better to get a Visa on Arrival.
2. Visa on Arrival – Apply online for pre-approval then pick up your visa on arrival at the airports of Vietnam
Vietnam visa on arrival office in Da Nang Int’l Airport, Vietnam
This is the most preferred option for travelers who are going to Vietnam. 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 the best option for you. It’s easy to apply to, quick to get and affordable. To apply for a VOA, you only 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 in South Korea
Vietnam tourist visa – single entry
The reason why applying for a visa with the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea might not be recommended is because it’s not as convenient if you don’t live close to the embassy. You will have to spend more time on transportation for example, and money to get to and from the embassy. You also need to remember to bring all the necessary documents such as your passport, and if you happen to forget anything, you need to start the process all over again. You will also 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.
Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Address : 123 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea 110-230
- Tel: +82-2-720.5124/+82-2-725.2487
- Fax: +82-2-720.4684/+82-2-739.2064
- Email: vietnamembassyseoul@gmail.com
- Website : https://vnembassy-seoul.mofa.gov.vn
Working time:
Office of the Embassy:
– Monday – Friday: 09:00-17:00
Consular Office:
- Receiving Documents Hours:
- – Monday and Thursday: 09:30-12:00
- – Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 09:00-12:00
- Returning Results Hours: 14.30-17.00 every working day
- Cases relating to death will be received and processed at any time
- Special cases will be processed on a case-by-case basis
- Saturday, Sunday and Holidays of Vietnam and Korea: Closed
