Dear Vietnam visa agent,

We wondering what visa preparation a China passport holder needs to do before flying to Hanoi and staying a few days. Also wondering if you can give us the advice on visa requirements for a China passport holder (also U.S. resident and green card holder) to travel through Vietnam.

We also will be travelling through Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore before returning to Kunming, but our understanding is that those countries issue visas on arrival. Any information you offer is greatly appreciated.

Zhang Cupid

Answer

Dear Zhang Cupid,

Chinese citizens CANNOT get the Vietnam visa on arrival if they travel from China mainland, they must do visa prior to arriving in Vietnam. That mean, if you travel from China, you have to apply visa in Vietnam Embassy in China.

Normally, applying visa in Vietnam Embassy will take long time and cost much. In order to get rid of these troubles, we will offer Vietnam visa code which is approved by Vietnam Immigration Department in advance then faxed directly to the Vietnam Embassy in China. The applicants just bring the original passport and present the copy of the visa approval code to the Vietnam Embassy and get the visa stamped there.

If Chinese citizens arrive from a third country that is not China mainland, Vietnam visa on arrival is available. In this case, what they need to do is fill in the online application form, make payment and get the letter of approval within 36 - 48 hours.

Chinese passport holders who is also United States of America resident and green card holder must use the China passport to apply for Vietnam visa, not a green cards.

In Thailand, Laos and Cambodia all issue visa on arrival for Chinese citizens with specific conditions (e.g. round trip air ticket required in the case of air arrivals in Thailand), but the only way a Chinese citizen can qualify for this is by arriving from a third country, not China mainland.

Best regards,
Zhoumin

China,