Visit a Vietnamese consulate. According to the website Consular Services, there are many Vietnamese consulates around the world. In order to apply, you will need a current passport, a completed application form (that the consulate will provide) and a check or money order for the consular fees. Some consulates also charge fees for visa approval arrangement, processing, shipping, handling and expediting services. These fees vary depending on how quickly you need your visa and on the consulate you visit.
In the U.S., contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, D.C. or the Vietnamese Consulate General in California (see the third Reference section link for contact information).
For tourists planning on visiting Vietnam for a short time, a visa on arrival is the simplest option. The entry visa will be stamped on your passport at the airport as you pass through immigration. This type of visa is valid for 30 days and is only available for those traveling by air, according to the website Vietnam Stay.
Many travelers are uneasy about waiting until they enter a country to obtain a visa. Many travel agencies offer approval letter services to clients to facilitate this process. While approval letters are not necessary, they do provide proof of prior approval and can expedite the process of entering the country through immigration, according to Embassies Abroad.
As of 2005, all Asian and Scandinavian countries are exempt from visa regulations in Vietnam. People from these countries need only bring a valid passport as proof of their citizenship, according to Vietnam Stay.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs, certain areas in Vietnam are off-limits to U.S. tourists, as decreed by the Vietnamese government. There have been instances where U.S. travelers were detained for venturing close to the Vietnamese borders with Cambodia, Laos and China. Since these areas are not always well marked, the Bureau advises travelers to avoid them, unless they have obtained prior written permission to visit.
