Visa for Thailand and Vietnam

Tusky

Flying into Thailand and spending about three weeks there. Then flying to Vietnam for two weeks. Returning to Bangkok to fly home.Total trip is five weeks.

Can anyone tell me what I need to do to get a Visa? Some people have told me that I will get 30 day entry each time without a visa, as I'm entering and leaving by air. Others have said I need to post off passport etc to Irish Thai consulate.

Any help would be much appreciated!

[edit]Just read this: IMPORTANT As of early December 2008, Thailand's visa-free-entry rules have changed -- effective immediately. If you're entering Thailand for tourism purposes and you're from one of the following 40 countries, you're eligible for a free 30-day stay in Thailand -- if you arrive by air. If you arrive by an overland crossing you will be granted only 15 days. You can leave Thailand and re-enter Thailand to get another 30 days for a total duration of 90 days within 6 months (assumming each time you arrive is by air). This means, for example, if you're planning a trip to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, which involves four stays in Thailand of ten days each, you DO NOT NEED to get a visa in advance. However if one of the stays is longer than 15 days, and you're arriving by land, you will need a tourist visa. If you're planning on more than 90 days in Thailand though, you will need to look into getting a proper Tourist visa at a Thai consulate or embassy.

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2490

So my understanding is I get 30 days (will only be using 20 of these) when I enter by air, but will have to get a VISA for Vietnam in advance. When I return to Thailand from Vietnam, I get another 30 days (will only be using about 5 of these).

daveyboy_1ie

Thailand is an easy process,fill out the tourist visa form on the plane when landing and this entitles you to a tourist visa for 30 days, free of charge. I also believe your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your exit date. And yes every time you visit Thailand you gt he visa foc.

As for Vietnam, found this site helpful as I have never been myself http://www.vietnamvisa.ie/, seems you need to apply for an approval letter with Vietnam consulate and pay €20 for a one month tourist visa

Tusky

daveyboy_1ie wrote: »

Thailand is an easy process,fill out the tourist visa form on the plane when landing and this entitles you to a tourist visa for 30 days, free of charge. I also believe your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your exit date. And yes every time you visit Thailand you gt he visa foc.

As for Vietnam, found this site helpful as I have never been myself http://www.vietnamvisa.ie/, seems you need to apply for an approval letter with Vietnam consulate and pay €20 for a one month tourist visa

You're a gent - I take it that website is all above board and vetted?

Gatica

by the way, if you're worried about your privacy, you'll need to check with them or request that they do a private visa application for you because apparently it's common for them (those kinds of agencies) to submit for visa for dozens of people on the same letter/form, so your personal details like DOB, passport number and names are accessible to everyone else who is on that list.
Personally when we travel there we plan to apply through http://www.starvietnamvisa.com/ as they offer a private application service for an extra $6.

daveyboy_1ie

Tusky wrote: »

You're a gent - I take it that website is all above board and vetted?

Sorry Tusky, had gone to bed by the time you posted this (actually recovering from a holiday, not to SE Asia this time though).

I have never been to Vietnam so would have no clue on the validity of the site, just done a simple Google search. I was in Cambodia and Laos though and had to do the visas whilst actually in Thailand which involved going to a reputable agency in Bangkok, sending my passport away with the forms and money and receiving the tourist visa the next day. It's a common occurrence over there so there was no real hassle, although personally i would have preferred to have sorted it out before heading over as I felt anxious not having my passport with meat all times.

wallpaper12

Gatica wrote: »

by the way, if you're worried about your privacy, you'll need to check with them or request that they do a private visa application for you because apparently it's common for them (those kinds of agencies) to submit for visa for dozens of people on the same letter/form, so your personal details like DOB, passport number and names are accessible to everyone else who is on that list.
Personally when we travel there we plan to apply through http://www.starvietnamvisa.com/ as they offer a private application service for an extra $6.

That 6 dollars is such a waste of money! What are you scared peopple will do with that info? Here is some info for you, every guesthouse you go to in SE Asia will ask for these to be written down in a book where any other guest in the guesthouse can see them!

Such a waste of $6.. Private applications are pointless. A different person will see your passport everyday while you travel. And sometimes they'll keep it to.