The Philippines and Vietnam has a lot of things in common – beautiful beaches, warm and friendly locals, big cities and landscape that will take your breath away. It is also two of the most popular destinations to visit in Asia. So why should you visit another country that has a lot of things you also do in your home country? Well, the answer is easy; because each country is unique and so is every place. The culture will differ as well as the food. So even if you will find a lot of similarities, you will also find differences.
In Vietnam you can eat “pho” which is a noodle based soup with either chicken, pork or vegetarian. It has become a worldwide classic and there won’t be many people who does not know about this dish. If you want to do some hiking or trekking, head north to the mountains. Vietnam also has some spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites that is very well worth your visit.
Enjoy your Pho (Vietnamese noodle)
As a citizen of the Philippines you can stay in Vietnam up to 21 days visa free. If you are planning on staying for longer than that, you are required to apply for a Vietnam visa. The process is very easy and affordable. There are three ways for you to apply: either you apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA), E-Visa or you apply for a visa at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate.
1. Visa on Arrival – Apply online for pre-approval then pick up your visa on arrival at the airport of Vietnam
Vietnam landing visa in Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh city
The other choice is to apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA). This is another popular way of getting a Vietnam visa because of its convenience, quickness, safety and it is also inexpensive. It also gives you multi-entries, so you can go to another country and come back to Vietnam. You can apply for this anywhere in the world. All you need to do is have a computer and internet. With a “visa on arrival”, there is no need to send your passport or any other important private documents. What you need to do is fill out an Online Application Form, wait for your confirmation letter and you will normally receive a Visa Approval Letter within 2 working days. When everything is done, don’t forget to print out the finalized document, bring it to the airport in Vietnam and get it stamped by one of the immigration officers.
If you forgot to apply for a visa in good time, there is also the opportunity to get an Emergency Visa. It is then proceeded from 30 minutes to 4 hours. You will then receive an approval letter via email before boarding the plane. When you land in the country, the visa will be ready and stamped for you.
2. Electronic visa or Vietnam E-Visa for citizens of the Philippines
A sample of an eVisa Vietnam
The second option is to apply for an E-visa. This visa will be issued electronically, and you can show it at the passport control when you are entering Vietnam. You don’t need to stop by the landing visa desk to pick up the actual visa as you would have to if you apply for a “Visa on Arrival” (VOA). The official website address is https://evisa.immigration.gov.vn (please note that the fee is low and is non-refundable if rejected or failed). There is, however, an opportunity to get a 100% Money Back Guarantee policy if you apply an e-visa through our website https://evisa-vietnam.com – the price is higher with this insurance. The E-Visa is really easy to apply to and you can do it directly online. It also allows you to enter Vietnam via airports, land ports and seaports. So if you are planning on coming to Vietnam by cruise ship, road or airplane, this is a good choice.
The E-visa is valid for 30 days, single entry, which means that if you intend on staying for longer and wish to have a multiple-entries visa, you will have to apply for a Visa on Arrival.
3. Vietnamese Consulate or Embassy in the Philippines
Vietnamese-visa-sticker-in-a-passport
The third option is applying for a visa at the Vietnamese Consulate or Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines. If you choose to go this way, you have to bring your passport and any relevant documents to the consulate or embassy. If you live far away from the Embassy or Consulate, it might be a bit inconvenient for you. Sometimes the progress of your application will take a longer time as well, especially if there are important documents that are missing.
After that you are good to go! There are many affordable flights that goes from Manila to Hanoi daily, so all you need to do now is to apply for a Vietnam visa, book your flight and enjoy one of Asia’s gems.
A tourist in Aodai and traditional hats in the old town of Hoi An, Vietnam
