To those who are with the intention of experiencing a Vietnam tour package and especially Vietnam budget tour package, making an application for getting Vietnam visa is indispensable to the trip’s preparation. In fact, it is not difficult to apply for the Vietnam visa since there are up to two ways: picking up the visa at Embassy or visa on arrival (VOA). Then, the question concerning everyone is “which one should be chosen, Vietnam Visa on Arrival vs Vietnam Visa at Embassy?”. Before making a decision, let’s take a look at these 2 kinds of visa.

Relevant applicants

While Vietnam Visa on Arrival is only for travelers to Vietnam by plane, getting the visa at the Embassy is;applied for those who use any means of transport.

Required documents

For VOA, it is convenient and prompt as you just fill out the offered online form of application, but one thing you must remember that this document just helps to get Visa approval letter. Meanwhile, visa at the embassy requires the full application form with the applicant’s photo, signature, and original passport (or a copy of the original passport).

Where to gain the visa stamped

VOA: gain the visa stamped at the VOA counter upon arriving in Vietnam

At embassy: at the Vietnam Embassy after your visa application has been approved.

Getting a Vietnam visa in Vietnam Embassy or Vietnam Consulate

This type of visa is only applicable for all types of transportation: land, sea or air. To apply for a visa, foreigners should reach the nearest Vietnam Embassy or Consulate to submit the required documents including original passports, completed application form and one passport sized photo of 4×6 cm. After a processing time (can be varies depending on each Embassy) of at least 5 working days, applicants will have a notice from the Embassy if your visa is processed or not. The total cost for getting a Vietnam visa in Embassy or Consulate includes visa approval arrangement fee, processing fee, shipping, handling and expedited services.

Obtaining a Vietnam Visa on arrival

Many can be doubtful about this but Vietnam visa on arrival is absolutely legitimate because it is also issued by Vietnam Immigration Department – the issuing authority in Vietnam. But please be;noted this type is;used by anyone traveling by air only. It is a way of getting a valid visa to Vietnam, in which the applicants will need to get a visa approval letter online beforehand and pick up full visa at Vietnam international airport upon arrival. Transparently, compared with the traditional way in getting a Vietnam visa, this new type shows more advantages because it requires applicants just to implement 3 simple following steps:

• Step 1: Get access to the link https://visaonlinevietnam.com/apply-vietnam-visa-form, in which you need to choose visa options and fill out the form containing information related to full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, date of arrival and type of visa.
• Step 2: After a certain time period, normally working 2 days (tourist visa, normal service), applicants will receive a visa approval letter via email. Remember to print it I along with Vietnam entry and exit form of passport-sized photos 4x6cm and cash for stamping fee.
• Step 3: Show all prepared documents to Immigration;officers at Vietnam arrival airport to get visa stamped.

As compared to the price of visa at Embassy, the total cost only includes 2 types: service fee;paid online for service provider and stamping fee paid in cash for Immigration Officer. It is fair enough to say that, both ways of applying show their own advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages and Disadvantages

	Advantages	Disadvantages
VOA	-No use of original passport -Processing online completely -Spending not much time on making an application -All service fees published on the sites of related service companies -Quick responses -Excellent support (24/7)	-Waiting in line for the visa stamped in the VOA counter -The likelihood of having the approval letter of a wrong name – Just accepting for travel by plane
At Embassy	-Having the passport stamped before departing for Vietnam -All means of transport are applicable -Just settling the payment one time	-Providing your original passport or a copy of it. -Doing various procedures -Slow responses

Through analyses, it’s highly;recommended that applicants get Vietnam visa on arrival for those who wish to enter Vietnam by plane;thanks to its time-saving, cost-efficient and transparent strength.