5 Common Vietnam Visa on Arrival Mistakes

Are you planning a trip to Vietnam? Getting a Vietnam Visa on Arrival (VOA) is a convenient option, but many travelers make critical errors that can ruin their trip.

According to Govietnamvisa.com, many passengers have been refused entry at Vietnam airports simply because they lacked a pre-approved visa letter. To ensure a smooth journey, make sure you avoid these 5 frequent visa mistakes:

1. Forgetting to Apply Online in Advance

Unlike neighboring Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia, or Laos, you cannot get a Vietnam visa directly at the airport without prior preparation.

• ✔️ The Reality: You must apply online for a Visa Approval Letter before you board your flight.
• ❌ The Risk: Without this letter, you will be denied boarding at the departure airport or forced to delay/cancel your flight.

2. Trying to Use Visa on Arrival at Land or Sea Borders

• ✔️ The Rule: Visa on Arrival works for air travel only.
• ⚠️ The Exception: There is NO Visa on Arrival for overland border crossings or sea/water entry. If you are entering Vietnam by cruise ship, bus, or train, you must secure your Evisa in advance.

3. Spelling/typo mistakes

The information on your Visa Approval Letter must match your passport exactly.

• ❌ Common Errors: Misspelling full names, entering the wrong passport number, or messing up the date of birth.
• ➔ The Consequence: Even a tiny typo can lead to a declined entry at the airport. Always double-check your information before submitting.

4. Misunderstanding the Visa Validity & Arrival Date

Many people think that the visa validity will start from the date they enter Vietnam, not from the date stated on the visa letter. This is not correct.

➔ The visa validity will commence from the date you provide in advance, not from the date you enter the country. So, just make sure that you make a clear plan of when to enter before ordering a visa to Vietnam.

For example: the letter says you are allowed to enter and remain in the country for 1 month from September 25th 2026 - this means you must leave the country on or before October 25th 2026 no matter what day you enter the country.

5. Visa extension

Many people think that it is easy to extend a visa once they are in Vietnam. In reality, it’s not quite that simple.

➔ Extending a visa may be a costly and time-consuming process, so, if you know you may have to stay for longer, apply for a three month visa in advance instead of a one month in order to save money on visa extension.