Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most visited countries and also one of the most beloved ones. People from all over the world are flocking to Vietnam to see what all the fuss is about. When you arrive to Vietnam, you’ll quickly discover that the country has a lot to offer, so if you have time, try to stay here for a full month in order to see the country without rushing it. Most people tend to travel north to south, or the other way around, on a motorbike. The motorbike gives you more freedom to stop wherever you want to and see places that you might’ve missed out if you went with other means of transportation. However, driving a motorbike isn’t for everyone and there’s plenty of good public transportation in Vietnam.
Go north to Sapa to see the rice terraces, meet the ethnic minorities and learn more about Vietnamese culture and tradition. Then head to the capital city Hanoi, shop in abundance, walk around the Old Quarter and marvel at the old colonialist buildings. After Hanoi, you must go to Ninh Binh, a small town that has been called “Halong Bay on Land” because of the similarities to Halong Bay. It’s not as crowded there but it’s equally as amazing as Halong Bay. Make a pit stop in Hoi An and Hue, two old cities with lots of history and beauty. In the south, you should go to Mui Ne, try kite surfing and relax on the beach. Ho Chi Minh City is the obvious stop after Mui Ne, and it can either mark the end of your trip or you can continue to fly to one of the nearby islands such as Phu Quoc or explore the Mekong Delta.
As you can tell, there’s a lot to see and do in Vietnam and one month will only give you time to touch the surface of this marvelous country. But before you fly to Vietnam, you have to make sure that you apply for a visa. As a citizen of Togo, you have two options and they are:
I heard about Vietnam e-visa. Can I apply for Vietnam e-visa if I am citizens of Togo? (No, Togolese passport holders 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 Togo national in this list, therefore, Togolese citizens should choose two options below to get a visa for Vietnam
1. Visa on Arrival (VOA) – Applying online for pre-approval then pick up your visa on arrival at the airport of Vietnam
Vietnam visa on arrival office in Da Nang Airport
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.
2. Apply for a visa through the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the nearby countries of Togo
Vietnamese-visa-sticker-in-a-passport
The reason why applying for a visa with the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in Togo 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.
