Self-Applying for a China L30 Tourist Visa in Ho Chi Minh City: My Experience
Navigating the L30 Tourist Visa Application in Ho Chi Minh City: A Personal Journey
Hello everyone! I'm excited to share my detailed experience applying for a tourist visa, as I navigated the process myself and was successful. I believe this information might be invaluable to some of you. Please remember, this account is based entirely on my personal experience and application, so I can't offer advice beyond what I've gone through. I'm a 21-year-old student residing in Ho Chi Minh City. My previous trips to China include two L30 visa entries in September 2023 and March 2025. For this particular application, my itinerary was quite extensive, so the details I provided were solely for visa purposes and not for immigration upon arrival. Step 1: Gathering Your Documents
My first crucial step was securing proof of funds. I opened an online savings account with MB, depositing over 50 million VND. I then obtained an official confirmation letter from the bank. As soon as I left the bank, I closed the account and scanned the confirmation letter – I'll share a visual of this below. Next, I prepared scans of my passport's information page and all previous visa pages. I also included a scan of my household registration book, highlighting the main registrant and my relationship to them. For the itinerary, I crafted a detailed plan, even if it was somewhat embellished, ensuring it aligned with my application. You can see an example below. I also booked refundable hotels on Trip.com, focusing on locations matching my itinerary. The key here is to find hotels offering free cancellation. Once I received the PDF booking confirmation via email, I promptly cancelled the reservations. Similarly, I took screenshots of my flight bookings made through Traveloka without making any payments. A visual of this is also available. Finally, I included a recent photo taken within the last six months, adhering to standard passport photo specifications. Step 2: Completing the Online Application
I filled out the entire application form in English. I focused on providing detailed and transparent information that accurately reflected my personal background and planned itinerary. I submitted my application online on the evening of July 16th. By the afternoon of July 18th, I received an email requesting corrections. I promptly submitted the revised application on the same day. Subsequently, on July 23rd, I received a confirmation email indicating my visa had been approved. Step 3: In-Person Submission at the Visa Application Centre
I arrived at the visa centre at 10 a.m. on July 24th. Parking was available at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, with a fee of 4,000 VND, payable upon exit. A short walk brought me to the visa centre building, where I proceeded to the 16th floor via elevator. I presented the following documents: My original passport My original citizen identity card My original household registration book Printed copies of pages 1 and 7 of the application form, printed single-sided (they will guide you on where to sign) The savings account confirmation letter The Visa Application Certificate, which was attached to the approval email One 4x6 passport-sized photograph After verification, my household registration book, citizen identity card, and savings confirmation letter were returned to me. I paid the application fee of 725,000 VND at the counter and received a collection slip. Step 4: Awaiting and Collecting Your Visa
My collection slip indicated August 4th as the collection date. I arrived at 11 a.m. and paid the visa fee of 45 USD. I provided two 20-dollar bills and one 5-dollar bill, ensuring the currency was new and dated 2013 or later. --- Honestly, the most time-consuming part for me was filling out the online application due to the sheer volume of information required. If you're looking to save money by applying yourself, be prepared for a significant investment of effort, energy, and time! Wishing you all the best in your visa application journey!
