Dan's Adventure

Vietnam is one of the few countries for which I cannot get a visa on arrival. Unlike many other visas which are valid for a period after issue, Vietnam visas are valid between two specific dates. This is an advantage as it lets me apply for it now, but it also means that the dates I provide are fixed. I considered applying for a 15 day visa as I am planning to spend 2 weeks in Vietnam, but the 30 day visa gives a bit of flexibility if my entry date shifts. I will therefore be applying for a 30 day, single entry, tourist visa which currently costs £38 including processing fee.

I am going to be in London from this Saturday until the following Wednesday so I thought that I would be able to apply for the visa in person at the Vietnam Embassy. Unfortunately due to the bank holiday on Monday I won’t have enough time. The Embassy is only open Monday to Friday and the express processing service takes 2 working days, if I applied on Tuesday I wouldn’t get my passport back until Thursday. A postal application is therefore my only option. A postal application does however increase the costs as special delivery is required to send the passport to the Vietnam Embassy and also for it to be returned. The Embassy charges £8 to return it and I expect it will cost a similar amount to send it there making the total cost of a postal application around the £54 mark.