If you are planning on traveling to Vietnam anytime soon from Yemen,make sure that you do not forget to apply for a Vietnam visa in good time.Usually the process is easy and fast, but if you go through the Vietnam Embassy or Consulate, the process can take longer. For citizens of Yemen who either wish to go to Vietnam on leisure or business, it is required of you to apply for a Vietnam visa no matter the duration of your stay. This means that even though you plan on a shorter trip for just a few days, even hours, you will need to present a visa at the border.

I heard about Vietnam e-visa. Can I apply for Vietnam e-visa if I am citizens of Yemen? (No, citizens of Yemen 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 Yemen national in this list, therefore, citizens of Yemen should choose two options below to get a visa for Vietnam

If you want to apply for a Vietnam visa, you have two options. Either you apply for a Visa on Arrival, which is the much preferred option amongst internationals, or go to the nearest Vietnam Embassy or Consulate. Here are the two options further explained:

1. Visa on Arrival – VOA

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 in following cities: Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi MinhCity, 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 in 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 arrivelater, 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.

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 25USD/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 Yemen

The second option is to apply for a visa in your local or nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in Yemen. The reason why this option might not be recommended is because it is not as 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 passport, and if you by any chance forget anything, you need to start all over again with 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.

Remember that you always need to bring 2 passport copies of yourself, cash (EUR and USD is accepted) and all the necessary documents such as the visa approval letter. If you fail to bring any of these, the immigration officers may deny you entry to the country. Please make sure that your passport has a validity of at least 6 months, counting from day of arrival, and that your passport has blank pages for the stamp.