My Solo L30 Tourist Visa Application Journey in Ho Chi Minh City
I'd heard whispers that visa approvals were taking a while lately, so I decided to get a head start, even though my trip isn't until November. To my surprise, the process was quite speedy when I had all my documents in order!
Step 1: Online Submission on August 28th
I uploaded the following documents online:
- Scanned CT07 form
- Scanned savings book confirmation with official stamp and signature
- Flight tickets: I booked through the Vietnam Airlines website, received a booking confirmation email, and then took a screenshot and saved it as a PDF.
- Hotel bookings that matched my itinerary (in English)
- Detailed itinerary (in English): I simply listed my planned activities for each day in China, including a column for the corresponding hotel stays. I used ChatGPT to draft the initial outline and then fine-tuned it myself.
- White background passport-style photo
- Scanned information page of my passport, plus scans of all pages with entry stamps and visas from other countries.
Since there was a public holiday, I received the approval email on September 5th, with no requests for any revisions.
Step 2: In-Person Submission on September 8th
I visited the visa center, and they only required the following documents:
- Printed copy of the online application form
- Printed copy of the online approval review
- Original passport
Even though I brought other supporting documents, they were not accepted. The fee at this stage was 725,000 VND.
Step 3: Scheduled Collection on September 17th
My collection date was September 17th, but I ended up picking it up on September 18th. An additional payment of 45 USD completed the process.
Helpful Notes from My Experience
- Visiting the center between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM seems to be less crowded and quicker.
- The total cost for this visa came to approximately 1,9xx,000 VND. For the USD payment, you can visit the Eximbank counter on Dong Khoi street; they can exchange smaller amounts of USD.
- You don't need to have your flight tickets fully paid for; a screenshot of the booking email with all the necessary details is sufficient.
- On the online form, I declared my profession as an office worker, but no additional documents like an employment contract or leave approval letter were requested.
Credit: Khanh Trương
