So I'm getting closer to my departure date for Vietnam; February 10. I'm trying to figure out a couple of travel visas in the meantime and would appreciate any help.
I plan on being in Vietnam about a year and want to go to Cambodia and Laos. I'm coming from the USA and I think Laos requires me to get a visa here before leaving and Cambodia strongly suggests I get one here. Three questions:
1.) Does anyone know how easy/hard it is to get a Cambodia visa while in Vietnam?
2.) I don't know exactly when I would want to travel to Cambodia or Laos but the applications request Date of Entry/Exit. Are these dates flexible? Or do I have to travel on or around them for the visa to be valid?
3.) Is, say, a one-month visa to Cambodia and Laos (I'm not sure if there's a difference in this matter) valid for one month after I get the visa, or one month after date of entry to Cambodia or Laos?
Oh, and one more, unrelated, question- Any sense how long it takes to find an apartment upon arrival? My plan is to set down at a hotel for a bit and look around. Assuming middle-of-the-road pickiness, and hoping for a $400 - $800/month 1 bed/1 bath apartment in Hoan Kiem or Hai ba Trung... any idea of timeline?
Thanks for any help you guys can give. I can't wait to get this stuff over with and get to Hanoi.
OlMucky posted about 6 months ago to Other. Viewed 54 times. Answered 5 times.
There is no need to get visas for Laos or Cambodia in advance. They're available on arrival at the airports (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap) and at most land crossings. It's also easy to get the visas in Hanoi if you want. More importantly, be sure your Vietnam visa is 'multiple entry.' Otherwise, you'll need to get a new one to re-enter Vietnam.
Your plan to stay in a guesthouse on arrival while you look for a permanent place is good. Plan on taking a month to look around and get a feel for the city. There are often rooms advertised on this site, and sometimes houses, as well as recommendations for housing agents who will assist you in your search. Within your price range you will find something nice.
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Exactly. There is a lot of misinformation floating around regarding visas. And just about every other aspect of living abroad, for that matter.
Any travel agent in Vietnam can arrange a Vietnamese visa or visas for the surrounding countries. And most of them are pretty cheap.
$400-$800/month will get you a really nice place. Our five-story, three huge bedroom, 3 gigantic bathroom, two living room, modern kitchen, two storage room house in a great neighborhood costs $800/month TOTAL. If you're looking to share a house, you should easily be able to find something for $200-$300/month.
Just be careful with those housing agents. They'll try to convince you that an unfurnished $300 pile of crap is worth a thousand dollars.
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don't know about Laos but Cambodia - ultra easy. You can get it upon arrival, it is fast, fuss free and courteous officers. Just fill in a form, hand in the fee and passport .... g luck !
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Just one thing about Laotian and Cambodian visas -- the VOA is only available to people of certain countries -- where are you from? For example, our Jordanian friend had to arrange for her Laotian visa in Hanoi b/c VOA was not available to Jordanians.
That said, if you are eligible for the VOA, it's easy and cheap (just remember to take passport photos!). You can also arrange it here in Hanoi at either embassy.
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kparsons, I am from the USA. Thanks, everyone, lot of good info. I appreciate it.
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