Vietnam... get a visa.

[Laughs]

Thought I'd share my experience at Ho Chi Minh airport three years ago. This is quite a long post so apologies in advance for boring some of you.

My mate had I had planned to fly into Saigon, spend four or five days there, then work our way up through the Mekong delta by boat, to Cambodia. The plan then was to travel overland to Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and then take the ferry to Koh Kong on the Thai border. Remaining two weeks of the trip would be spent relaxing in LOS.

I could not wait. The only downside I could see was that we had to fly Air France, as they were the only commercial airline flying direct to Vietnam from Europe. No offence to the French but I'd flown AF before and their service is diabolique.

My mate had to pull out a week before we were meant to travel so I guess I should have smelt trouble, but there was no way I was changing my plans.

Uneventful and sleepless flight to first Bangkok, for an hour stopover, then off to Ho Chi Minh. Spent most of the flight reading up on what I wanted to see and do and learning a few Vietnamese words and phrases.

At the airport I was waiting in the queue at passport control when I spotted the sign I as looking for "Visa Here - $25". I thought yup, that'll do for me and sauntered over. This all seemed to be going well.

Some of you may see where this is going though....

Got to the head of the queue, handed over the 25 bucks and said "Visa please". Unsmiling stare and the official sternly retorts "Where is your visa!". I'm not thinking anything of it, smile and point to the sign saying $25 a visa and ask again if I can have one. He then demands my passport and travel documents, and shouts something in Vietnamese into the back room. Alarm bells start ringing when two heads pop round the door and gimme that stare that says, trouble.

I'm asked to take a seat and told someone will see me shortly. A part of me was thinking I could sort things out but I knew I was in ****.

Then this little middle aged guy with a kind face appears. He asks me in perfect English if I have already arranged for a visa prior to arriving. I explain no, but that I thought I could buy one on arrival. I apologise for being such a dumb ass, smile, and ask him if we can sort something out and maybe I can arrange for it now. He then flies off the handle and I'm told in no uncertain terms that "This is communist country! Must have visa!". This was now pretty clear to me.

I was obviously pretty pissed that I was not going to be admitted, but I was now more bothered about what was next.

He asked me what the rest of my travel plans were and I explained I was going to Cambodia then on to Thailand. He checked my tickets then dropped the bomb that, as I was flying home from BKK, they were sending me straight there. No Phnom Penh, no arguing. :shock:

He then asks me to stay in my seat and "Not Move! Not Smoke! Not Do Anything!"...okay I get the message.

I eventually take a seat further back and watch the last of the flights coming in and passport control gradually closing up. I've not had a cigarette for 16 hours or so and I could really do with one. I try to sneak a quick one in the toilets but the cleaner smacks me with her mop and ushers me away.

I've been on the go for 20 hours or so but I'm strangely relaxed about the whole thing and remember to ring the hotels in Saigon and PP to cancel my reservations and ring friends in Thailand to advise of my earlier than expected arrival, and to arrange a hotel for me in Bangkok.

One interesting thing I noticed is the way the way the passport control guys arrange their peak caps when they finish up. There's four desks, one cap is placed on the top of the desk and points north, the others placed to face south, east and west. Communist routine and discipline? It wanders through my head that not many people will have witnessed this scene...would've made an interesting photo but I didn't want to provoke any additional hassle.

Eventually my middle aged mate arrives back and he has a bottle of water and some snacks for me. His kind demeanor seems to have returned. He's brought an armed friend with him however...seems we're going walkabout.

He leads me down to the check in desks at the front of the building and I can actually see cars going by and vietnamese going about their business only 100 feet or so away. This is the closest I'll get.

He asks me to identify my bag from the flight and the I'm charged $200 for a flight to BKK....lucky I had my Visa card.

I'm led back upstairs and through to the departure lounge. My passport and documents are returned to me and my mate wishes me luck...he was a nice guy, just doing his job. Turns out I'm to board the same flight I got off four hours earlier.

While we're waiting to board I'm kept separate from the rest of the waiting passengers, the armed guard is at my side staring sternly forwards. Some of the passengers are staring at me and I feel like some kind of criminal, it did not feel pleasant.

When we're ready to board I have to wait until all the other passengers are safely down the tunnel then the guard and I follow. Then the strangest thing happened.

As soon as we were out of sight in the tunnel, this goose stepping, stone faced guy, who hadn't said a word since I met him, broke into a massive smile and laughing, says "Sorry sorry, come back Vietnam, you like very much for sure....but get visa!" I start laughing my head off and thank the guy, shake hands and wander down to the plane. It was kinda surreal, but I was smiling as I boarded.

That guy in the tunnel had made the experience almost worthwhile. As soon as he was out of sight of his superiors he was just a nice guy. Says as much about the friendliness of the Vietnamese people as it does about state control and the communist mind set.

A couple of hours later I'm crashed out in my hotel in BKK. It'd been a long day.

Sorry again for the long post, but....if you're going to Vietnam, get a visa BEFORE you go. I was a complete muppet and screwed up big time - don't do what I did.

It's not put me off though, I'm planning on going back in January or February. But I'll make all the arrangements in Thailand - most local travel agents can arrange everything for you, including the visa. I can't wait to get there! 8)

Cheers.

[tallboyno1]

I like your story. You are not the only one that have done this and will do this. We have a problem in Sweden here just travelling to

I have been travelling many times to communist countries in former Easteurope and lol yeah I know the attitude. Its so much control in these communist countries so thats why people are scared - of each other.

[inamorato25]

Fantastic story!! When I was in 'Nam the guards were just like you described. Stone faced pricks doing the paperwork, but as soon as that was done, smiling and joking and saying "Welcome to Vietnam" or "Please come visit again" on the way out. But getting refused at the border, that's a story you can proudly share with your grandkids!

[LudwigVonMises]

Thanks for the tip.

[DJTX]

Being one that travels A LOT I learned a long time ago to verify visa requirements before you go. But it's interesting the airline did not verify you had a visa before even letting you on the plane.

[MisterMatlock]

Love the post dude. I've had my fair share of visa problems. Nice to see the guards had a sense of humour about it like you.

[flinca]

I'm looking to fly to Vietnam via BKK this spring. How long does it take to get a Vietnam tourist visa processed in BKK?